If you suspect the condenser fan motor in your 1.6L Honda Civic might be bad —testing it to confirm whether it’s good or bad is easier than you might think.
In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through a simple, step-by-step process to test the condenser fan motor.
By the end, your test results will clearly show whether the fan motor is working as it should or if it needs to be replaced.
Contents of this tutorial:
APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:
- 1.6L Honda Civic CX: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
- 1.6L Honda Civic DX: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
- 1.6L Honda Civic EX: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
- 1.6L Honda Civic LX: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000.
WIRING DIAGRAM: You can find the condenser fan motor wiring diagram here:
- Radiator And Condenser Fan Motor Circuit Wiring Diagram (1995 1.6L Honda Civic).
- Radiator And Condenser Fan Motor Circuit Wiring Diagram (1996-1998 1.6L Honda Civic).
- Radiator And Condenser Fan Motor Circuit Wiring Diagram (1999-2000 1.6L Honda Civic).
Symptoms Of A Bad Condenser Fan Motor
When the AC is turned on, the PCM in your Honda Civic activates the condenser fan to help cool the air conditioning system.
Over time, the bearings in the condenser fan motor can wear out, causing the fan motor’s shaft to encounter more friction as it spins.
As the friction builds up, the fan motor starts drawing more current to function properly.
Eventually, this increased current can blow the condenser fan motor fuse or burn out the fan motor relay. When this happens, the condenser fan motor will stop working as it should.
Here are some common symptoms of a bad AC condenser fan motor:
- AC System Performance Issues: The AC doesn’t cool as it should, especially when the car is stationary or idling, because the condenser fan isn’t operating.
- Blown Fuse: The condenser fan motor fuse may blow repeatedly due to the motor drawing too much current.
- Burnt-Out Relay: A defective fan motor can cause the condenser fan relay to fail, preventing the fan from turning on.
- Strange Noises: Grinding or squealing sounds from the condenser fan motor may indicate worn-out bearings.
- Fan Not Turning On: The condenser fan doesn’t engage when the AC is running, leading to poor cooling performance.
Where To Buy The Condenser Fan Motor
The condenser fan motor on the 1997-2001 1.6L Honda Civic isn't an expensive part. The following links will help you comparison shop and save a few bucks:
TEST 1: Testing The Amperage Draw Of The Condenser Fan Motor
The first step is to check if the fan motor is pulling too much current, which would indicate it’s defective. We can do this by performing an amperage draw test.
To perform this test, you’ll use a multimeter set to Ohms mode to measure the fan motor’s resistance. Then, you’ll apply Ohm’s Law (Amps = Volts ÷ Ohms) to calculate the amperage draw.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the fan motor blades remain completely still during the resistance measurement. If they move, it will affect the reading and lead to inaccurate results.
Let's get started:
- 1
Disconnect the condenser fan motor from its electrical connector.
- 2
Place your multimeter in Ohms mode.
- 3
Measure the resistance of the fan motor across pins 1 and 2 with your multimeter (see photo above).
NOTE: The test is done on the connector coming out of the fan motor. This connector has male spade terminals. - 4
Divide your resistance value by 12.5. The result of this calculation is the amount of amperage the fan motor is using.
To be a little more specific: Let's say that the resistance reading was 0.4 Ohms. This is what the math would look like: 12.5 ÷ 0.4 = 31.25 and this would translate to 31.25 Amps. - 5
Amperage Draw Specification:
condenser fan motor: No greater than 20 Amps.
Condenser fan motor: No greater than 20 Amps.
Let's take a look at your test results:
CASE 1: The amperage draw of the fan motor is within specification. This the correct and expected test result.
The next step is to manually apply battery power and Ground, from your Honda Civic's battery, to the fan motor itself. For this test go to: TEST 2: Applying Power And Ground To The Condenser Fan Motor.
CASE 2: The amperage draw is higher than specified for your 1997 or 1998-1999 Honda Civic's. This test result tells you that your Honda Civic's condenser fan motor is defective and needs to be replaced.
TEST 2: Applying Power And Ground To The Condenser Fan Motor
Up to this point, you’ve confirmed the fan motor is drawing less than the specified amperage. The next step is to test the fan motor’s performance.
To do this, you’ll apply battery power (12 Volts) and Ground directly to the condenser fan motor on your 1.6L Honda Civic.
For this test, you’ll need a set of jumper wires to connect battery power and Ground to the fan motor.
IMPORTANT: Only perform this test if the fan motor’s amperage draw is under 20 Amps. If it’s 20 Amps or higher, the fan motor is defective —even if it runs when power and Ground are applied.
Here are the steps:
- 1
Disconnect the fan motor from its electrical connector.
The connector has 2 wires. The blue (BLU) wire supplies power and the black (BLK) wire supplies Ground. - 2
Apply battery power to the fan motor terminal identified with the number 2 in the illustration above.
You'll be applying power to the male spade terminal (of the condenser fan motor itself) that connects to the BLU wire of the electrical connector. - 3
Apply chassis Ground to the condenser fan motor terminal identified with the number 1 in the illustration above.
You'll be applying Ground to the male spade terminal (of the fan motor itself) that connects to the BLK wire of the electrical connector. - 4
The condenser fan motor should run.
Let's take a look at your test results:
CASE 1: The condenser fan motor ran. This is the correct test result and it confirms that your Honda Civic's condenser's fan motor is not defective.
CASE 2: The condenser fan motor DID NOT run. This test result tells you that the condenser fan motor is defective and needs to be replaced.
More 1.6L Civic Tutorials
You can find a complete list of 1.6L Honda Civic tutorials in this index:
Here's a small sample of the 1.6L Honda Civic tutorials you'll find in the index:
- Testing Shift Control Solenoid Valves A and B (1996-2000 1.6L Honda Civic).
- How To Test The Alternator (1996-2000 1.6L Honda Civic).
- How To Test: Lock-up Control Solenoid Valves (1996-2000 1.6L Honda Civic).
- How To Test Trouble Code P0135 (1995-2000 Honda 1.6L).
- How To Test The Igniter, Ignition Coil Accord, Civic, CRV, and Odyssey (at:easyautodiagnostics.com).
If this info saved the day, buy me a beer!
