2006 Saturn Vue 2.2 Won't Heat

[B-man715]

Having issues with the wife's car.

2006 Saturn Vue 2.2

She had a check engine light come on while I was out of town for work.

When she had her oil changed I told her to have them run a scanner. They said no codes would show up.....

When I got home I noticed that the radiator fan always runs when the car is running. Temp gauge on the dash will not go above 1/4.

I replaced the coolant temp sensor today, but the locking tab for the wiring harness is on the opposite side as the OEM, which leads me to believe it is the wrong part. Everything else (size, threads, etc) are identical to the OEM.

Should I try jumping the wires to see if the fan stops??

I have a new thermostat (not put in yet), but I don't see how that would cause the fan to run on a cold start.

I also disconnected the battery for a minute, but (after reconnecting) the light is still on and the fan runs too.

Any ideas?? (bad relay?)

Thanks Guys

[Jeremy airjer W]

When the fan comes on right away is the heater on defrost?

If the check engine light is on than there is a code somewhere. If the shop could not find it I would not return to that shop anymore.

I will bet it is a code P0128, low coolant temp. This is almost always solved by replacing the thermostat. Which would make the most sense in your situation. Coolant gauge is low and there is no heat out the vents. If the gauge where low , and there was plenty of heat out the vents I would say the temp sensor.

It's also possible that the coolant level is low. When The coolant gets low enough the heater is the first thing to stop working, the. The vehicle will start to over heat.

[B-man715]

Jeremy,

The fan comes on with the defrost both on and off.

Coolant level is good.

Thermostat is new.

Temp sensor is new, but as stated the locking tab is on the opposite side (so the harness fits together, but won't click and lock together).

Any other thoughts?

Thanks!

[Jeremy airjer W]

I don't understand what you are saying with the sensor. Do you have a pic or a part number? Why can't you turn the connector around? Did the fan and temp gauge start acting weird after you installed the sensor. If the connector does not fit than you have the wrong part.