01 When to Replace the Brakes: A Comprehensive Guide for Drive… • 02 From Farm Tracks To City Streets: Why The Land Rover Defend… • 03 Car Won't Start or Running Rough? Don't Ignore a Faulty Cam… • 04 5 Things You Need to Know About Faulty Oxygen Sensors in Ca… • 05 What Is the Minimum Compression for an Engine to Run? • 06 Mechanics Reveal Why Disconnecting Your Battery Can Confuse… • 07 How to Find Out How Much Oil Your Car Needs • 08 Is WD-40 Good for Car Locks? The Truth Revealed • 09 WHAT IS AN ABS SENSOR? • 10 Engine Overheating: Causes and Solutions for Modern Cars •

DTC codes / Chrysler codes / P1489

P1489 · ChryslerHigh Speed Fan CTRL Relay Circuit Open Or Shorted

P1489 on a Chrysler vehicle means the powertrain control module (PCM) has detected an open or shorted circuit in the control wire for the high-speed cooling fan relay. The PCM commands the relay on during high coolant temperature or air conditioning (A/C) operation, and it monitors the control circuit for expected voltage changes; when the voltage stays out of range, this code sets.

SystemPowertrain
Code typeChrysler specific
SeverityMedium
Fix difficultyIntermediate
AreaAuxiliary emission controls

Symptoms you may notice

  • The check engine light is illuminated, often with no other noticeable symptoms.
  • The high-speed cooling fan may not run at all, leading to higher coolant temperatures in traffic or during A/C use.
  • The A/C may blow warm air or cut out when the engine is hot because the high-speed fan is disabled.
  • The engine temperature gauge may climb above normal in stop-and-go driving or when idling for long periods.
  • In some cases, the low-speed fan works but the high-speed fan never engages, which the driver may not notice until the engine overheats.
  • A stored P1489 may be accompanied by a P0480 or P0481 code if the fan relay control circuit affects multiple fan speeds.

Common causes, most likely first

  1. A failed high-speed cooling fan relay (open coil or burned contacts).
  2. A broken, corroded, or disconnected wire in the relay control circuit between the PCM and the relay.
  3. A short to ground or short to voltage in the control wire, often from chafed insulation near the fan shroud or relay box.
  4. Corroded or loose terminals at the relay socket or at the PCM connector.
  5. A faulty powertrain control module (PCM) driver for the fan relay, though this is less common.
  6. A seized or shorted cooling fan motor that draws excessive current and damages the relay or wiring.
  7. Water intrusion into the relay box or fan connector causing intermittent opens or shorts.

How to diagnose and fix it

  1. Verify the code with a scan tool and check for any related fan or A/C codes before replacing parts.
  2. Inspect the high-speed fan relay and its socket for corrosion, loose terminals, or a burned smell; swap the relay with a known-good identical relay to test.
  3. Check the control wire from the PCM to the relay for continuity and shorts to ground or power using a digital multimeter (DMM).
  4. Test the cooling fan motor by applying battery voltage directly to the fan connector to confirm it spins freely and does not draw excessive current.
  5. Inspect the wiring harness along the fan shroud and near the relay box for chafing, heat damage, or water intrusion.
  6. If the control circuit and relay are good, check the PCM driver output with a test light or oscilloscope; replace the PCM only after confirming all other possibilities.
  7. Clear the code and verify the high-speed fan operates when commanded by the scan tool or when the engine reaches the activation temperature.

Before you replace the fan relay

  • A common mistake is replacing the high-speed fan relay without checking the control wire for a short to ground, which will burn out the new relay as soon as it is installed.
  • The PCM may set P1489 even when the fan still works at low speed, because the high-speed circuit is monitored separately and a failure there does not always affect low-speed operation.
  • Corrosion inside the relay box from a leaking battery or clogged drain can cause intermittent opens that only appear in wet weather, so inspect for water tracks before condemning the relay.
  • A shorted cooling fan motor can damage the relay and the control circuit, so always test the motor before installing a new relay to avoid a repeat failure.
  • On some Chrysler models, the high-speed fan relay is controlled by a ground-side driver in the PCM, so a short to ground on the control wire will set this code even if the relay itself is good.

Can I keep driving with P1489?

You can drive the vehicle short distances at low speed, but avoid heavy traffic, long idling, and sustained A/C use until the fault is repaired because the high-speed fan may not engage and the engine could overheat. If the temperature gauge rises above normal, pull over and shut the engine off.

Tools that help

Tools we recommend are in the Auto Veteran shop on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Guidance is general and written for Chrysler vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.

Running on fumes Free guides aren't free to make. Top up the tank. Any amount, one time. Fuel the Garage