How to Replace a Radiator Fan Motor on a 1999 Honda Civic

The Honda Civic was first introduced in 1973. The 1999 Honda Civic was available with nine trim packages: the CX, DX, EX, LX, HX and Si. The base model of the 1999 Civic was the CX, equipped with a 1.6-liter in-line four-cylinder engine. The 1999 Civic has two fans attached to the radiator. The driver's side fan is the radiator fan, while the passenger side fan is the air-conditioning condenser cooling fan. Removing the radiator fan requires removing other parts of the engine in the engine compartment, in order to safely access and remove the fan.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of the Civic. Remove both battery cables from the battery, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the battery hold down bolt, by adding an extension between the ratchet and socket. Remove the battery completely from the Civic. Remove the ground strap from the battery-holding tray, the relay box bracket and then the battery tray, using a ratchet and socket

2

Place a drain pan beneath the radiator, directly below the upper radiator hose. Place a radiator hose clamp or flat nosed vice grips across the upper radiator hose to close it off. Loosen the hose clamp from the upper radiator hose to the radiator, with a ratchet and socket. Pull the upper radiator hose free from the top of the radiator by hand, to make room for the removal of the radiator fan.

3

Remove the electrical harness from the plug adapter on the radiator fan. Use your fingers to lift the small locking tab, and then separate the two electrical ends. Remove the electrical wire clips from the radiator fan, by pulling them free from the fan with your hand. Remove the upper and lower radiator fan bolts, with a ratchet and socket.

4

Pull the radiator fan straight upward to remove it from the back of the radiator. Install the new radiator fan straight downward. Install the mounting bolts for the radiator by hand to ensure proper threading. Tighten all of the mounting bolts with a ratchet and socket until they are snug. Turn the ratchet 1/4-turn further to tighten each bolt completely. This "snug-and-a-quarter" method of tightening is used when no torque is needed on a bolt when adding torque can break essential parts.

5

Push the wire clips from the radiator fan wires into their designated holes. Reconnect the radiator fan electrical connector, with the plug-in adapter on the fan. Attach the upper radiator hose, and then tighten the hose clamp with a ratchet and socket. Use the "snug-and-a-quarter" method to tighten the hose clamp, so that you do not possibly break the upper radiator hose mount.

6

Install the battery tray and tighten the mounting bolts with a ratchet and socket. Install the relay box bracket onto the battery tray, and tighten the tray down with a ratchet and socket. Install the ground strap and tighten the strap with a ratchet and socket.

7

Install the battery tray in the reverse manner you took it out and insert the battery into the battery tray. Tighten the battery tie-down with a ratchet, socket and extension. Install the battery cables onto the battery, ensuring you place the black wire on the "-" or negative side and the red wire on the "+" or positive side of the battery. Tighten the battery cables with a ratchet and socket.