Auxillary Fan Wont Run, Temperture Gauge problems

[e30AlpineWhite1]

I need help. I just bought a 1991 318is with 76,000 miles , the interior was okay but the outside paint is bad , straight body and all ,the paint is just faded from being left outside for so long. My problem is the auxillary fan wont run. And my temperature gauge goes all the way almost to the red mark when the car is idle after a while but when its moving after a while the temperature gauge goes to the middle and is fine. Also the steering fluid lines are caked with what i believe is steering fluid and runs all the way down to the bottom is it the connections or the steering fluid pump? Any suggestions on where to start? I drove it 200 miles back home and it ran good and temperature gauge always stayed in the middle but when i was in the city at stop lights it would slowly go back up to the red.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

[jlevie]

It really sounds like you need to replace the fan clutch as that is the most common cause of running hot at idle.

The first step in diagnosing the aux fan is to check the fuses. If all are okay pull the thermo switch connector and jumper the low side and then the high side. You can do this with the engine off and ignition on. You should be able to hear the low speed and high speed relays close. If they do, pull the front grill and check for power to the fan at the resistor. If you have power there, the fan is bad. If not, there is a problem with the relays, wiring, or fuses.

[e30AlpineWhite1]

Okay thank you so much

[monty23psk]

There are a few things that will not allow the fan to turn on. First thing is check the fuses. Second, push the AC button. The fan should come on at low speed. Third thing is to jump the wiring where it connects to the thermo switch on the radiator on the passenger side. The fan should turn on at low and high. With the AC button on, it turns on at low. If nothing turns the fan on, power the fan directly with a 12v source. You need to work from the fan and work backwards. The system is simple and only has a few items in it.