Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
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HOMESERVICE MANUALSPONTIAC1990FIREBIRD FORMULA, 5.0 F, AUTOMATIC, 4L60/MD8REPAIR AND DIAGNOSIS (SINGLE PAGE)ENGINE PERFORMANCESYSTEMENGINE CONTROLS - SYSTEM/COMPONENT TESTSCOOLING FANCOOLING FAN SYSTEM & QUAD-DRIVER CHECK
1990 Pontiac Firebird Formula, 5.0 F, Automatic, 4L60/MD8
Cooling Fan System & Quad-Driver Check
1990 Pontiac Firebird Formula, 5.0 F, Automatic, 4L60/MD8SECTION Cooling Fan System & Quad-Driver Check
- Connect a test light to battery voltage. Touch test light probe to the cooling fan control driver terminal of the ECM. See Figure-62. Disconnect coolant temperature sensor. This should set a code, causing ECM to engage cooling fan through relay. On some models it may be necessary to jumper the coolant temperature sensor harness connectors. On some models, grounding the ALDL with the ignition on and engine off will cause the ECM to activate the cooling fan control driver (ground circuit).
- If test light illuminates and cooling fan does not come on, check cooling fan relay, power circuits, cooling fan motor, and relay and fan motor ground circuits. If test light does not illuminate, problem is a faulty ECM connector or ECM. Clear trouble code(s) from ECM memory after testing.
- If cooling fan functions normally during testing but fails to operate under normal conditions, check ECM monitored inputs which affect cooling fan operation. These include the following: coolant temperature sensor, A/C request signal from A/C control switch and A/C pressure sensor or pressure/temperature switch signals (if equipped).
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- β’ You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- β’ Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- β’ The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- β’ You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- β’ You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.