I know that it doesn't on my '84 760T, but what about on this newer, fancy car? I ask because shorting the two terminals on the radiator thermo-electric switch doesn't get the fan to work either. I know variants of this question have been asked a thousand times...

-Steve

Hi; I have the same model and year; 1988 Volvo 740 GLE non-turbo wagon. The thermo switch that is mounted in the radiator is for only one purpose and that is in the event of the engine overheating the subplemental electric cooling fan will come on to help cool the engine down. Try this with the engine running; remove the two wires that are connected to the thermo switch that is mounted into the top part of the radiator, then use a small piece of wire and connect both wires to it ( to bridge them together) the electric cooling fan should now operate. If it doesn't, check for loose wires, bad grounds, ect. The problem I found with mine was the brush holders inside the motor were no longer allowing the brushes free movement so they could contact the commintator. I cleaned the entire assembly and checked for free brush movement , then re-assembled, and retested, it worked fine. Good luck and let me know how it works out for you,Dan Metz...

The fans sieze fron water getting into them and rusting them. They only come on when the thermo switch senses high water temperature. Probably be better if they came on more often to keep them cleaned out and operating.......

Try turning by hand to check for siezure.

Fan should come on when you jumper the thermoswitch. Check fan motor by jumpering 12V directly to the motor. Do you have 12V at the switch?