The 1997–2001 2.0L Honda CR-V is equipped with two radiator fan motors: one is the radiator cooling fan and another is the A/C condenser fan.
Both fan motors are tested in the exact same way, and in this tutorial I'll show you how. This step-by-step process works for both fans and will help you quickly and accurately determine if either one is functioning properly or needs replacement.
Contents of this tutorial:
WIRING DIAGRAM: You can find the radiator and condenser fan motor wiring diagram here:
Symptoms Of A Bad Radiator Fan Motor
When the engine reaches a specified coolant temperature, your Honda CR-V's PCM activates both fans to help regulate the engine's temperature. Additionally, both fans are activated whenever the AC is turned on.
Over time, wear and tear on the bearings of the radiator or condenser fan motor can cause increased friction in the fan motor's shaft.
As the friction builds up, the fan motor requires more current to function properly.
This higher current demand will eventually lead to a blown radiator fan motor fuse or a burnt-out fan motor relay. When this happens, the radiator or condenser fan motor will fail to operate as needed.
Here are some common symptoms of a bad radiator fan motor in a 1997–2001 2.0L Honda CR-V:
- Engine Overheating: The engine temperature climbs, especially when idling or in stop-and-go traffic, because one or both fan motors aren’t cooling the engine effectively.
- AC System Performance Issues: The AC doesn’t cool as well as it should, particularly when the vehicle is stationary, due to a non-functioning condenser fan and/or radiator fan.
- Blown Fuse: The radiator fan motor or condenser fan motor fuse may blow repeatedly due to the motor drawing too much current.
- Burnt-Out Relay: A defective fan motor can cause the radiator or condenser fan relay to fail, preventing the fans from operating.
- Unusual Noises: Grinding or squealing noises may come from the fan motor, indicating worn bearings.
- Fan Fails to Turn On: Neither the radiator fan nor the condenser fan engages when the engine is running hot or the AC is on.
Where To Buy The Radiator Fan Motor
The radiator fan motor on the 1997-2001 2.0L Honda CR-V isn't an expensive part. The following links will help you comparison shop and save a few bucks:
TEST 1: Testing The Amperage Draw Of The Radiator Fan Motor
NOTE: This test and TEST 2 apply to both the radiator fan motor and the condenser fan motor.
The first step is to check if the fan motor is drawing excessive current (which will tell you it's bad) by performing an amperage draw test.
This involves measuring the resistance of the fan motor with a multimeter (in Ohms mode) and using Ohm's Law to calculate its amperage draw (Ohm's Law: Amps = Volts ÷ Ohms).
IMPORTANT: Make sure the fan motor blades remain stationary during the resistance test. Any movement can skew the resistance reading and affect the accuracy of the results.
Let's get started:
- 1
Disconnect the radiator or condenser fan motor from its electrical connector.
- 2
Place your multimeter in Ohms mode.
- 3
Measure the resistance of the fan motor across pins 1 and 2 with your multimeter (see photo above).
NOTE: The test is done on the connector coming out of the fan motor. This connector has male spade terminals. - 4
Divide your resistance value by 12.5. The result of this calculation is the amount of amperage the fan motor is using.
To be a little more specific: Let's say that the resistance reading was 0.4 Ohms. This is what the math would look like: 12.5 ÷ 0.4 = 31.25 and this would translate to 31.25 Amps. - 5
Amperage Draw Specification:
Radiator fan motor: No greater than 20 Amps.
Condenser fan motor: No greater than 20 Amps.
Let's take a look at your test results:
CASE 1: The amperage draw of the fan motor is within specification. This the correct and expected test result.
The next step is to manually apply battery power and Ground, from your Honda CR-V's battery, to the fan motor itself. For this test go to: TEST 2: Applying Power And Ground To The Radiator Fan Motor.
CASE 2: The amperage draw is higher than specified for your 1997 or 1998-1999 Honda CR-V's. This test result tells you that your Honda CR-V's radiator fan motor is defective and needs to be replaced.
TEST 2: Applying Power And Ground To The Radiator Fan Motor
In this test section, we're now gonna' apply battery power and Ground to the radiator fan motor on your 2.0L Honda CR-V's.
You'll need to use some jumper wires to apply battery power and battery Ground to the fan motor.
IMPORTANT: Perform this test only if the amperage draw of the fan motor is under 20 Amps. If the amperage draw is 20 or more Amps, the fan motor is bad even if it runs when applying battery power or Ground.
These are the test steps:
- 1
Disconnect the fan motor from its electrical connector.
The connector has 2 wires. The blue (BLU) wire supplies power and the black (BLK) wire supplies Ground. - 2
Apply battery power to the fan motor terminal identified with the number 2 in the illustration above.
You'll be applying power to the male spade terminal (of the radiator fan motor itself) that connects to the BLU wire of the electrical connector. - 3
Apply chassis Ground to the radiator fan motor terminal identified with the number 1 in the illustration above.
You'll be applying Ground to the male spade terminal (of the fan motor itself) that connects to the BLK wire of the electrical connector. - 4
The radiator fan motor should run.
Let's take a look at your test results:
CASE 1: The radiator fan motor ran. This is the correct test result. You can conclude that your Honda CR-V's fan motor is not defective.
CASE 2: The radiator fan motor DID NOT run. This test result tells you that the fan motor is defective and needs to be replaced.
More 2.0L Honda CR-V Diagnostic Tutorials
You can find a complete list of 2.0L Honda CR-V tutorials and wiring diagrams in this index:
Here's a small sample of the tutorials you'll find in the index: