I just had the head replaced, I blew the gasket on the old one, But I found a new complete (remaned) head for super cheap. Anyways, before the head gasket went, the van was running good.

The problem was that the cooling fan wasn't coming on, it still isn't if I plug the thermal switch into the loop. If I unplug it, the fan comes on when the motor starts. The thermo Switch is new

Also with the new thermostat the van runs at 200F (I have an external temp gauge).

Also since the head was done, when it is cold it wont idle worth a damn, and it stalls unless I keep the revs up. Which leads me to my next question, Where do I find the choke on this engine.
Last, my check engine light is on... how can I turn it off..

 

you van is throttle body efi not carburated so no choke. sounds like you have an assembly error/vacuum leak causing the idle problem. The fan will not come on until temp reaches 212. depending where you have installed your temp gage, 200 is normal with a 195 stat. you turn off the check engine light by properly fixing the cause of the light going on .. or just use some black electrical tape. a huge common problem even pro's have on doing HG on these motors is getting the cam timing right on. and did you re-set ignition timing?

 

i used to have an 88 caravan and every couple of years it would refuse to idle. a new TPS on the side of the throttle body would fix it.

on my 01 ram, i can turn off the CEL by disconnecting negative battery cable and turning on headlights for 30 sec. then reconnect battery.

 

I didn't do the head, I had it done for me. I just didn't have the time to do it myself. I had the temp up to 220f, and the fan didn't come on at all. I wasn't prepared to let it blow another head / gasket again. so I just disconnected the thermo switch, and the fan comes on all by itself, and stays on until I turn the van off, at highway speeds, even with the fan on, its is a between 205 & 220F, is this normal for this van?? I'm use to Mazda B2200's and they run slightly cool..

What is the TPS? Do you know where to find a picture of it??