01 Intrigue-Slow Cooling Fans-Engine getting hot.

I have an 01 Intrigue-3.5L engine. Problem seems to be when my car is running but sitting still, it begins to get hot...As soon as I start moving again and the coolant starts to flow, it cools back to normal temp. I noticed that my cooling fans where not running at full speed when idleing in my driveway. Once I start the car, after a few seconds the fans kick into high gear for a few seconds and then they go completely off. If they are even running while I am driving, I have no idea. I do know that after driving for 2 hours straight and I stop, they should be running at full speed. My belief is that their not running at full speed is why the car begans to get too hot while idleing....I checked the fuses and Relays....not sure if maybe one of the relays is possible faulty and not engaging the high speed on the fans...any helpful ideas would be appreciated.
THanks, Charles

Check to see if your coolant sensor on the side of the motor is going out on you.

It should be mounted in the side of one your heads.not sure which though.


From the diagram it looks to be mounted on the right side of the rear head.Hope this helps.

Problem seems to be when my car is running but sitting still, it begins to get hot

What do you mean by "begins to get hot"? Mine will run with the needle at the half mark. Does yours get higher than that? Does it get to the red? Does it start to run with reduced power?

Could be a head gasket on its way out - that's what mine did, and never got to the red. Check the inside of the oil cap for cream colored goop. If you suspect this, get a $50 block tester from NAPA and check for combustion gases in the coolant.

I noticed that my cooling fans where not running at full speed when idleing in my driveway. Once I start the car, after a few seconds the fans kick into high gear for a few seconds and then they go completely off.

Seriously, they kick on after a few seconds? Regardless of where the temp gauge is? They really run for only a few seconds? Does the coolant cool down? Do you have a scanner that will give you the actual coolant readout?

I do know that after driving for 2 hours straight and I stop, they should be running at full speed.

Depends on the driving. As you say, highway speeds do improve airflow through the radiator.

Cooling system problems have to be addressed by the basics. Has it been worked on lately? Was it bled properly? Is the radiator / condensor free of any dirt blocking it?

what I mean by gets hot is that as it is sitting there ideling the temp gauge will creep up until it is beginning to go above the half way mark...needless to say, I am not going to let it get hotter than that.

As far as when the fans come on highspeed...yes, when i first start the car, the fans will come on full speed for a few seconds, then kick off....There is a dramatic drop in fan speed when I check them while the car is idleing after I have driven it for a bit. For instance today, I drove about 5 miles to the gas station from my house....temp gauge was fine the whole way.....by the time I finished filling my tank, the gauge was creeping above the half way mark....about 15 seconds after I started moving again, the gauge dropped back to normal and stayed that way for the next 2 hours of non-stop driving.

The only thing recently done in regards to the cooling system is the water pump was changed last summer. I just got this car from my mom, so to my knowledge there have been no other issues.

I have a 99 intrigue that no longer works...had the same problem with the cooling fans not staying on....I replaced the cooling sensor and checked the relays...nothing worked...I eventually unplugged the sensor and this allowed the fans to run constantly, but the drawback is that you will not be able to tell if your car is over heating.

I have not gone as far as changing the radiator out or anything yet....I figured there was something else to check first...I trully believe its an issue with the fans not kicking into high gear as needed. Please let me know if you have any other thoughts...thanks.

Had a similar problem with my intrigue (3.5L). Replaced water pump and it started to overheat. Engine temps would go down to normal when driving around (water pump was pushing coolant through bypass). Oddly enough my thermostat wasn't opening after replacing water pump. Replaced thermostat and all is back to normal. Fans rarely run, temp gauge is always below halfway mark.

Have you tried replacing your thermostat? $20.00 at autozone and $5.00 for the gasket. About an hour to do. My 99's water pump blew and when it got replaced the shop never replaced the t-stat. So shortly after that it began doing similar things as yours. Just replaced the t-stat and havent had the problem since. If it is your t-stat yours would be stuck closed. OR like mine the t-stat was stuck in between open and closed but I over heated because it was stuck closed more. If its stuck open generally you have a very low engine temp and no heat while the car is in motion. Worth a try first.

I will give that a wirl.......Will re-post results....

Interesting change that seems to fix the fan and raise in temperature problem......Since I was confident the issue had something to do with the fans, I decided to change out the relay......I changed out mini Relay for Cool Fan 2 or if your looking at your fuse/relay list in the box under your hood, it would be #9.....I immediately noticed the fans would now kick into high gear when needed, and I can be sitting in place idleing without my temp gauge climbing....Hopefully this will help someone else...Thanks for the input everyone!!!!!

Since I was confident the issue had something to do with the fans, I decided to change out the relay. . . .
What do you mean, "change out." Did you buy a new one or replace it with a used one?

I replaced with a used one from the salvage yard...I was there to get something else and they gave it to me, so I said might as well try it....I have been driving it pretty hard since then in 90+ degree weather....no getting hot issues whatsoever.......If your having the same problem, give it a wirl....

Cool. Lol. (get it?)