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The most common reasons a radiator fan is not working are luckily due to a blown fuse, bad relay, or a broken wire. It can also be caused by a faulty coolant temp sensor, low coolant level or the fan itself can be damaged.
What happens if radiator fan not working?
What happens when a radiator fan stops working? It will cause a loud whirring noise and a stuck open thermostat (which will not allow the engine to reach the average operating temperature). A lousy radiator cooling fan could cause a blown circuit fuse, a malfunctioning relay, and engine overheating.
Can you drive a car if the radiator fan is not working?
As such, you should never drive your vehicle if the cooling fan isn’t working even though you can. If the radiator does not have cool air blowing on it constantly, it will overheat eventually, so you’d need the perfect combination of weather and traffic to drive effectively without a radiator fan.
How do I check if my radiator fan is working?
A simple way to check if the radiator fan is working is to start your engine and turn the air-conditioning system (A/C) to the maximum speed. If the fan is spinning, then it means that the fan motor, fuse, wiring, and relay are all working properly.
What will cause radiator fan not to come on?
Six things may prevent an electric cooling fan from coming on: Defective temperature switch, coolant sensor or other sensor. Engine thermostat is stuck OPEN (engine never gets hot enough to turn on the fan) Faulty fan relay. A wiring problem (blown fuse, loose or corroded connector, shorts, opens, etc.) Bad fan motor.
How do I know if my radiator fan fuse is bad?
These are the most common signs of a faulty radiator fan assembly in need of replacement: Engine Overheating. When the radiator fan isn’t functioning properly, it is not able to adequately cool down the car’s engine. Air Conditioner Function Diminished. Loud Noise Coming From Radiator Fan.
How can you tell if a fan fuse is blown?
Look at the fuse wire. If there is a visible gap in the wire or a dark or metallic smear inside the glass then the fuse is blown and needs to be replaced.
Should radiator fan come on when car starts?
The engine temperature should trigger the fan to turn on. It will also turn the fan off once the engine has cooled to under 200 degrees. You may have heard of a part called the radiator fan switch or temperature fan switch.
How much does it cost to fix a radiator fan?
As one of the more expensive car repairs needed (not including the replacement of a seized car engine, obviously), the replacement of the radiator coolant fan could incur about $128 to $162 in labor costs and around $465 in parts. So, total radiator fan replacement cost could be anywhere from $592 to $627.
Should radiator fan turn on when AC is on?
When the AC compressor is activated, it is actually expected that the radiator fan runs. For instance, the radiator fan is needed when the temperature sensor of the cooling fluid in the lower tank reaches approximately 212F.
How long do radiator fans last?
Your car fan will run for a few minutes after you turn off the car then turn it off. This is normal in many vehicles, such as BMW or Mercedes-Benz. The radiator fan may run up to five minutes and sometimes longer. Unless there is an electrical issue, it may stay on all the time until it drains the battery.
How do I know if my radiator fan motor is bad?
Bad Radiator Fan Symptoms Fan Doesn’t Come On. The most common symptom that the radiator fan has gone bad is that it will stop working. Blown Radiator Fan Fuse. Another reason the fan will stop working is if it blows a fuse. Vehicle Overheating. Poor A/C Performance. Whirring Noises.
Where is the fuse for the radiator fan?
If you don’t see one that says fan or cooling fan, you will need to find the cabin fuse box. This is located in different places, again dependent on the manufacturer and model. Some times it is located behind the glove compartment, sometimes on the lower, left end of the dash board.
How do you get a fan to work again?
Here’s how to get started to see if a simple fix is within reach to make your fan work again. Check the Cord. Check Your Circuit Breaker. Check for Power to Your Outlet. Check the Fan Fuse. Replace the Cord. Clean the Fan. Grease the Motor. Call Customer Support.
What sensor controls the radiator fan?
On most modern cars, the cooling fan is controlled by the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which gets a signal from the coolant temperature sensor.
How often do radiator fans need to be replaced?
In most cases, a properly maintained radiator fan will last between eight and ten years. When the radiator fan fails, it should be replaced as soon as possible. This is because without a cooling fan to help remove heat from the engine, your car is more likely to overheat and cause damage to important engine components.
Can a broken radiator fan cause overheating?
Engine overheating: A bad radiator fan can cause the engine to overheat, especially at low speeds. If your car starts overheating, pull off the road as quickly as you safely can and turn off the engine. An overheated engine can quickly get ruined and lead to expensive repair bills.
