Just recently purchased a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SLX Canadian model, with the 2.2 letre 4 cylinder engine. Only has 102xxx km. Never knew this up until now but the fan doesn't turn on at all. Car heats up to 90 very quickly (few mins) and climbs above 90 to the next middle mark. Will decrease back down to 90 and go up again. It was warm today and was driving the car for no more then a few minutes when the temperature gauge climbed right up to 125 (red zone). Car has lots of oil, lots of coolant. Starts up fine. Only thing I know besides of this is an exhaust leak (hole in muffler). Before I bought the car when I was first looking under the hood I noticed the fan was not moving, I assumed it worked just didn't kick in until the engine got hot or something... checked the fuse panel under the hood and the one for Cooling Fan is blown I think. Tested it and it does not light up. Took it out and there is a rattling sound like something is broken in it (all the other ones light up and sound pretty normal). Is this what is called a relay? Did some research online before coming here and heard a bunch of different answers, could be the fan is broke, could be relay, could be pully, could be belt, thermostat, waterpump. Where the car has 102xxx km I was also assuming it had all the preventative maintenance done to it. Please someone reply if you have no idea what you think it might be. Also, this might help.. when engine warms up it almost sounds like the car whines when I press on the gas. Almost like a sound a super charger or turbo makes. Someone please help!! I really appreciate it

I have a 2001 2.2l OHV Sunfire

My radiator fan does the same thing. It does work when I turn on the A/C or if the car gets REALLY HOT but otherwise the temperature gauge climbs up while I idle in traffic.

I have replaced the fan, the relays ( twice), the coolant sensor (twice), the coolant, and the coolant spillover tank this year. In 2010 the water pump and the thermostat went out. My friend and I replaced the stat but a shop took care of the water pump.

Temperature seemed to level off for a while anyway but now it creeps up again. I still don't know why the fan doesn't come on like it used to. Probably a short in the connection to the the 'brain' maybe ? Not a cheap fix. I haven't tried 'burping' the system. Also note that he fan does come on if I disconnect the pigtail wire from the coolant sensor while the car is running.

The high pitched whine sound has been happening to my car off and on for a few months. Scared the hell out of me when I first heard it. I have a leak in the power steering line somewhere. When I peeked in the reservoir it was dry. Anytime that sound comes back it has always been because of low power steering fluid. I have tried one leak stop product which did not work. Going to use some dye and black penlights to locate the leak. Was going to do this project soon but damn. It is so hot outside.