DTC P0480 Cooling Fan Relay Control Circuit. Chevrolet PJJ 2000

For 1990-2009 cars
Engine Controls Components
Cooling Fan Controls
OBD II Symbol Description Notice
Powertrain Control Module Connector End Views
Handling ESD Sensitive Parts Notice

### Circuit Description

The electric cooling fan is controlled by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) through the cooling fan relay based on inputs from the following components:

• | Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor.

• | Intake Air Temperature (IAT) sensor.

• | A/C selector switch.

• | A/C refrigerant pressure sensor.

• | Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS).

The PCM controls the cooling fan by grounding the cooling fan control circuit which turns ON the cooling fan relay.

The cooling fan relay will be commanded ON when the following conditions are met:

• | Engine coolant temperature reaches 106°C (223°F) or more.

• | A/C clutch requested.

• | Vehicle speed is less than 38 MPH.

The cooling fan relay will be commanded ON regardless of vehicle speed when the following conditions are met:

• | A DTC is set that requests the coolant fan to be ON.

• | Engine coolant temperature is 151°C (304°F) or more.

• | A/C refrigerant pressure is high.

The cooling fan may be commanded ON when the engine is not running under a fan Run-On conditions described in the Engine Cooling Fan Description - Electric portion of the service manual.

### Conditions for Running the DTC

• | The engine is running.

• | The battery voltage is greater than 9.5 volts.

### Conditions for Setting the DTC

• | The PCM detects that the commanded state of the driver and the actual state of the control circuit do not match.

• | The condition must be present for a minimum of 6 seconds.

### Action Taken When the DTC Sets

• | The PCM will illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) after tow consecutive ignition cycles in which the diagnostic runs with the fault active.

• | The PCM will record the operating conditions at the time during which the diagnostic fails. This information will store in the Freeze Frame and/or Failure Records.

### Conditions for Clearing the MIL/DTC

• | The MIL will turn OFF after three consecutive ignition cycles in which the diagnostic runs without a fault.

• | A history DTC will clear after 40 consecutive warm up cycles without a fault.

• | Use a scan tool to clears the DTCs.

### Diagnostic Aids

• | If the cooling fan or cooling fan control circuit is shorted to ground the cooling fan fuse will open. An open cooling fan fuse will cause the DTC to set.

• | If the owner complained of an overheating problem, it must be determined if the complaint was due to an actual boil over, or if the Temp light, or temperature gage indicated overheating.

• | Check for the proper amount of coolant in the system.

• | If the gage, or light, indicates overheating, but no boil over is detected, the gage or light circuit should be checked. The gage accuracy can also be checked by comparing the engine coolant temperature sensor reading using a scan tool with the gage reading.

• | If the engine is actually overheating, and the gage indicates overheating, but the cooling fan is not coming ON, the Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor may have shifted out of calibration and should be checked. Refer to Temperature Versus Resistance for a Temperature vs. Resistance table.

• | If the engine is overheating, and the coolant fan is ON, the cooling system should be checked. Refer to the cooling and radiator of the service manual.

### Test Description

The numbers below refer to the step numbers on the diagnostic table.

1. Listen for an audible click when the fan control relay operates. Be sure that both the ON and the OFF states are commanded. Repeat the commands as necessary.

2. This check can detect a partially shorted coil which would cause an excessive current flow. Allow the coil to warm up by leaving the circuit energized for 2 minutes. When the fan control relay is warm, the coil may open (Amps drop to 0), or short (goes above 0.75 amp).

3. It is important to identify and test the fan control relay coil terminals in order to avoid an improper diagnosis.

4. Reprogram the replacement PCM and perform the crankshaft position system variation learn procedure. Refer to the latest Techline information for PCM programming.

#### DTC P0480 Fan Control Relay Control Circuit

Step | Action | Value(s) | Yes | No
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
1 | Did you perform the On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check? | -- | Go to Step 2 | Go to Powertrain On Board Diagnostic (OBD) System Check

2

1. Install a scan tool.
2. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF
3. Command the fan control relay ON and OFF with the scan tool.

Does the fan control relay turn ON and OFF with each command?

--

Go to Step 3

Go to Step 5

3

1. Turn OFF the ignition.
2. Disconnect the PCM electrical connector containing the fan control relay control circuit.
3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
4. Measure the current from the fan control relay control circuit in the PCM harness electrical connector to ground for 2 minutes using a DMM on the 10 Amp scale.

Does the current draw measure less than the specified value shown but not 0?

0.75 A

Go to Diagnostic Aids

Go to Step 4

4

1. Turn OFF the ignition.
2. Disconnect the fan control relay.
3. Measure the resistance from the fan control relay control circuit in the PCM harness electrical connector to ground using a DMM.

Does the DMM display infinite resistance?

--

Go to Step 12

Go to Step 10

5

1. Turn OFF the ignition.
2. Disconnect the fan control relay.
3. Connect a test lamp between the following circuits in the relay harness electrical connector.

• | Fan control relay control terminal

• | Fan control relay battery feed terminal

4. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
5. Command the fan control relay ON and OFF with the scan tool.

Does the test lamp turn ON and OFF with each command?

--

Go to Step 8

Go to Step 6

6

1. Connect a test lamp to ground.
2. Probe the coil feed circuit in the fan control relay harness connector.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

--

Go to Step 7

Go to Step 11

7

1. Turn OFF the ignition.
2. Reconnect the fan control relay.
3. Disconnect the PCM connector containing the fan control relay control circuit.
4. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
5. Connect a fused jumper wire to ground.
6. Probe the fan control relay control circuit in the PCM harness connector.

Does the relay operate?

--

Go to Step 9

Go to Step 10

8

1. Turn OFF the ignition.
2. Inspect the terminal connections at the fan control relay. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 12

9

1. Turn OFF the ignition.
2. Inspect the terminal connections at the PCM. If a problem is found, repair as necessary.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 13

10

1. Turn OFF the ignition.
2. Repair the malfunctioning fan control relay control circuit. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 14

--

11

1. Turn OFF the ignition.
2. Repair the malfunctioning fan control relay coil feed circuit. Refer to Wiring Repairs in Wiring Systems.

Did you complete the repair?

--

Go to Step 14

--

12 | Replace the malfunctioning fan control relay. Refer to the Air Conditioning (A/C) Compressor and Cooling Fan Relays Replacement . Did you complete the replacement? | -- | Go to Step 14 | --
13 | Important: The replacement PCM must be programmed. Refer to Powertrain Control Module Replacement/Programming . Replace the PCM. Refer to Powertrain Control Module Replacement . Did you complete the replacement? | -- | Go to Step 14 | --

14

1. Use a scan tool to clear the DTCs.
2. Operate the vehicle within the Conditions for Running the DTC as specified in the supporting text.

Does the DTC reset?

--

Go to Step 2

System OK