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View Full Version : 944 Power Antenna/Fan Issues


spinnakerblue
06-20-2025, 04:53 PM
1983 944 NA.

Hi - when I bought the car recently the power antenna didn't work. I purchased an original bench tested antenna, that works great. And, I know from other forums that the cooling fan relay is connected to the same Fuse (#3 in the Aux panel) as the antenna. When you touch the black and red wires of the antenna wires, the cooling fan comes on. And the PO had a 25A fuse in a 16A spot.

My problem is bigger - when I turn the radio on with correct antenna wiring, the passenger side fan comes on. And, the heat melted the plastic of the fuse - so I figure i've got a bad driver fan, or a bad fan relay. I tried again with a new fuse, this time with the antenna power feed pulled from the fusebox. The fan didn't come on with the radio, but the fan came on due to temp, and melted the fuse again.

Everything worked fine when the temperature was cool. I'm going to pull the fan relay and bench test it, but, it doesn't seem to want to come out of the panel and I'm worried if I pull too hard it will break some solder on the fuse panel. Anyone seen an issue like this, and have advice on the relay pull? I cant get a pull tool anywhere near it due to the location.

Marcus

spinnakerblue
06-21-2025, 06:53 PM
update - today it didn't start, because the fuel pump and DME weren't getting power...aux fuse #2 was hot yesterday, and lost contact. I cleaned off all the contacts in this panel, but many of them are still getting hot. I've got a bad really or connection somewhere. The car runs at 13.2V until the cooling fans kick on, and then the care drops to 12.5. If put the rear defogger on, 12.2. So, I've got resistance somewhere, and given the AC doesn't work, I'm wondering if it's that AC relay...will feel relay heat next...

HoodPin
06-22-2025, 08:51 AM
Maybe you already have one. But if not, PowerProbe makes a very useful tester, that not only allows you to measure volts, ground, etc. But you can connect to a battery and use the probe to apply 12V or Ground to different circuits, etc. allowing you test components easily.

https://www.powerprobe.com/

If first saw this used on several TV car shows years ago, and decided to invest in one. Its been very worthwhile.