What could cause a radiator fan to not work?
How do you know if your radiator fan is not working? The most common symptom of a faulty cooling fan motor are cooling fans that do not come on. If the cooling fan motors burn out or fail, the cooling fans will be disabled. The cooling fan motors work together with the cooling fan blades to pull air through the radiator.
How do you know if your Radiator is not working?
· Connect one lead to the power circuit and one lead to the power terminal. If you detect zero, then your relay’s power pins have stopped working and you need to replace the relay. Replacing the relay could fix your radiator fan from having stopped working. Reasons Why Your Radiator Fan Isn’t Coming On
How to troubleshoot radiator fan not working?
· You will be able to locate the fan relay under the hood. Check for current from relay till the fan. That is where the current needs to flow. If there is voltage present there, a fault in the fan is the reason for the radiator fan not working. It is then, the fan that you will need to replace. READ MORE. How You Can Replace A Radiator Hose; 3.
Why my radiator fan does not turn on?
· When the radiator cooling fan motor begins to fail, it can emit a whirring sound or loud clicking. These sounds can also occur if one of the fan blades becomes damaged and starts touching other components. If you are hearing sounds, at least you know the fan is still working, even minimally.
How can I tell 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.
How can you tell if your radiator fan 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.
What happens if the radiator fan stops working?
What happens if the cooling fan stops working? If your cooling fan stops working, your engine could overheat. This could cause damage to your engine parts. It's a serious issue and needs to be looked at by a garage.
Can I drive my car if the fan is not working?
Yes, you can drive your car without a radiator fan, but you never should. Your vehicle's cooling system is crucial to its performance, and every time your engine overheats, you cause damage.
How do you test a cooling fan motor?
That's why, you will need to test it. Unplug the fan connector, closest to the fan. Make up some jumper cables. Then connect them directly, from the battery to the fan motor, to see if it spins.
Should radiator fan run 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.
Do radiator fans always spin?
Temperature will often determine the time that a radiator fan starts up. A temperature-sensitive switch functions to turn the fan on and off periodically. Radiator fans are designed to start when the temperature of the engine coolant reaches around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do you test a radiator fan switch?
Turn on the burner and slowly increase the water temperature. The ohmeter should be turned on and have a reading of high resistance. When the water reaches between 180 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit, the switch should turn on and the resistance seen by the ohmmeter should change to zero.
How much does it cost to fix a radiator fan?
The average radiator fan replacement cost is typically between $550 and $650. In many cases, the radiator fan will cost around $400 to $450, while the labor adds $150 to $200. However, some vehicles can be more expensive, depending on the design.
How much does it cost to replace a cooling fan in car?
between $597 and $639The Best in Auto Repair The average cost for radiator fan motor replacement is between $597 and $639. Labor costs are estimated between $131 and $166 while parts are priced between $466 and $473. This range does not include taxes and fees, and does not factor in your specific vehicle or unique location.
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.
Is radiator fan important?
On a hot day the cooling ability of the radiator is compromised and the cooling fan is essential. When the cooling fan fails the amount of air traveling across the radiator is significantly decreased and the vehicle will overheat.
How to tell if radiator fan is working?
If you’ve started to notice your vehicle’s temperature gauge edging closer to the red than normal when sitting in traffic, parked or moving very slowly through gridlock, that’s typically a sign that your car radiator fan isn’t engaging. Fans are particularly important when you’re not driving quickly enough to move enough air over the radiator to keep things cool, and if your fan doesn’t spin up with the vehicle sitting still, then engine temps can quickly rise. Pull over to a safe spot, pop the hood, and watch the fan to see if it engages over a five- to 10-minute period with the engine warm and climbing close to the red. Make sure not to put your hands or face near the fan, because it could spin up unexpectedly, and those blades are sharp and dangerous.
How to tell if a car fan needs replacing?
When a fan starts to act up, it’s important to move quickly in order to avoid potential damage to your vehicle. Check out these three common signs it’s time for a replacement fan. 1. Temperature Creep While Idling or Driving Slowly. If you’ve started to notice your vehicle’s temperature gauge edging closer to the red than normal when sitting in ...
Why is a radiator fan important?
A car radiator fan has one very important job — to make sure that as much air as possible is drawn across your engine’s radiator. This helps to ensure that your motor is able to maintain a safe and stable temperature no matter how fast you’re driving or how hot external temperatures get. When a fan starts to act up, ...
What causes an electric car fan to blow out?
Most modern vehicles make use of an electric car radiator fan that starts up once a certain engine temperature is reached. Sometimes, when the electric motor begins to wear out, has failed or has issues with bad wiring, the fuse that controls the fan relay will blow out.
How to tell if clutch is worn out?
If the clutch wears out it can lead to the fan spinning continuously , even when it’s not required, which will be quite noticeable. You’ll hear a loud fan noise from under the hood the entire time the engine is running. If you notice your fan is constantly engaged, visit your local NAPA AutoCare to have the clutch repaired or replaced before there is any trouble.
What happens if your radiator fan isn't working?
Coolant Level. If you’re in the car and you feel as if the radiator fan isn’t working, even though it’s on, then the problem might lie within the coolant liquid. If your coolant level is low, then it might not feel as if your car is getting cool, even with the radiator fan turned on and working.
What to do if radiator fan doesn't work?
However, if your radiator fan doesn’t begin working with the direct power, then you need to make sure there’s no damage on the terminal and test for incoming voltage. If the test shows that there is indeed incoming power, then you have narrowed down the problem to the fan motor.
How to check if radiator fan wires are working?
Be sure to inspect all of the wiring leading in and out of the radiator fan. If your wire has worn out due to environmental factors, like heat, it will need a replacement. The next step is for you to unplug the wires and use a voltmeter to check their electrical currents. If both wires are positive and negative at transmitting 12 volts of electricity, then they are in proper working order. However, if there is an issue with the number of volts of electricity, then that usually means the wire needs to be replaced.
Why won't my radiator fan turn on?
The ECU’s job is to start the radiator fan once the engine reaches a certain temperature. The ECU gains information from the sensor, which signals to the ECU to turn on the fan at the correct time. If the temperature sensor is broken, it won’t be able to transmit the signals at the proper time to the ECU – and the fan won’t turn on.
Why is a radiator fan important?
A radiator fan is imperative in keeping the temperature of the coolant low enough. If the radiator fan is not working correctly, your car can get damaged, and if you let it go too long without a repair, the fix can be thousands of dollars out of your pocket.
What is the problem with a radiator?
However, if your car has coolant in it, but still overheating, then the problem might be with the radiator itself. Fan Clutch or Fan Belt. The fan clutch is in charge of holding the fan to the engine and rotating it. The fan belt is responsible for deriving power from the engine to transmit to the radiator fan.
How much does a radiator fan cost?
Fortunately for you, the average cost of a radiator fan is not very expensive. The cost is typically between the range of $300-$400. The mechanic might charge you an extra $100-$200 for the labor involved. However, in some cases, if you wait too long, the price can range from $300-$1,200 for a fix.
Why won't my radiator fan work?
The fan clutch is responsible for attaching the radiator fan to the engine and makes it work. If this clutch goes broke, the fan won’t work. It is the usual wear and tear over the years that may cause the springs in the clutch to corrode or even burn out. If you cannot find any other radiator fan problems, the clutch is most likely the cause.
How to check if your cooling fan is working?
The surest way to check it is by actually looking for the fan’s sound. Turn the air conditioning to the maximum setting, this should spark the cooling fan to immediately come on.
How to check 12V circuits?
Kick off the engine or switch the ignition key off to IG2. Set the multimeter’s meter to ‘20’ in the DCV section as you will be testing 12V circuits.
What causes a radiator fan to fail?
1. A Bad Fuse. It is a very common problem that results in radiator fan failure: the fuse may burn off or simply fall off. You will, though, have to consult the owner’s manual to find out where exactly you can find the fuse, but once you have, it is an easy task.
What is the first checkpoint for a radiator fan?
Remember, if anything electrical in your car doesn’t work, your first checkpoint is the fuse. Here’s how to test the radiator fan fuses with a multimeter.
How long does it take for a car to cool down?
Turn the air conditioning to the maximum setting, this should spark the cooling fan to immediately come on. In older cars, this typically takes about 15-20 minutes for the engine to reach the right temperature.
Where is the coolant sensor on a radiator?
There is a sensor on the bottom passenger side of the radiator. It does the job of taking notes of coolant temperature. It sends signals to the radiator fan to turn on when the temperature crosses 172°F. The fan should also turn on after switching on the air conditioner. Positioned between the radiator and engine, ...
How do you know if your radiator fan is bad?
The most common symptom that the radiator fan has gone bad is that it will stop working. Sometimes the motor burns up or fails. Other times, the relay stops working. Either way, you know there is an issue with the fan system if it is unable to run.
What happens when a radiator fan stops working?
When the radiator fan stops working, you might notice difficulty with the air conditioning system. The radiator fan is supposed to pull air through the condenser and remove heat from the refrigerant. In fact, it creates double the amount of air compared with the condenser fan.
Why does my radiator fan make a clicking noise?
When the radiator cooling fan motor begins to fail, it can emit a whirring sound or loud clicking. These sounds can also occur if one of the fan blades becomes damaged and starts touching other components. If you are hearing sounds, at least you know the fan is still working, even minimally.
Why does my radiator fan blow out fuses?
Radiator fans will burn out a fuse because it is failing and creating too much amperage. When the electric motor surges, the fuses blow to ensure the system stays safe from this extra power. You can change the fuse, but a defective fan will probably cause another one to go out. 3. Vehicle Overheating.
Why do cars have radiator fans?
All modern vehicles are equipped with a radiator fan to remove the heat from the coolant circulating through the engine. When you are dealing with a bad radiator fan, it can cause numerous issues.
Why does my fan stop working?
Another reason the fan will stop working is if it blows a fuse. Radiator fans will burn out a fuse because it is failing and creating too much amperage.
How much does it cost to replace a radiator fan?
The average radiator fan replacement cost is typically between $550 and $650. In many cases, the radiator fan will cost around $400 to $450, while the labor adds $150 to $200. However, some vehicles can be more expensive, depending on the design.
What happens if the radiator fan does not come on?
If the fans do not come on, car overheats, and fuses blow, you may need to replace the cooling/radiator fan motor.
What is the problem with radiator fans?
Vehicle overheating. Another symptom of a possible problem with the cooling or radiator fan motors is the vehicle overheating. The cooling fans are thermostatic and are designed to come on once a certain temperature is reached, or certain conditions are met.
Why is a cooling fan motor important?
The cooling fan motors are an important component to any cooling fan assembly, and play a key role in keeping the car at safe temperatures during idle and low speeds. For this reason, if you suspect that your cooling fan motors may be having an issue, have the vehicle inspected by a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic. They will be able to look over your vehicle and replace your cooling fan motor.
Why do cooling fans not come on?
Cooling fans do not come on. The most common symptom of a faulty cooling fan motor are cooling fans that do not come on. If the cooling fan motors burn out or fail, the cooling fans will be disabled. The cooling fan motors work together with the cooling fan blades to pull air through the radiator. If the motor fails the blades will not be able ...
Why does my fan blow a fuse?
A blown cooling fan circuit fuse is another symptom of a potential problem with the cooling fan motors. If the motors fail or surge, they may cause the fuse to blow in order to protect the rest of the system from any sort of damage due to electrical surges.
How do radiator fans work?
The cooling fans are mounted on the radiator and work to pull air through the radiator fans to keep the engine cool , especially during idle and low speeds, where air flow through the radiator is significantly less than at road speeds. As the engine operates the coolant temperature will continue to rise, and if there is no air moving through the radiator to cool it, it will begin to overheat. It is the job of the cooling fans to provide that air flow, and they do so using electric motors.
What happens if the cooling fan motors fail?
If the cooling fan motors fail, and disable the fans, the engine temperature will continue to climb until the engine overheats. Engine overheating, however, can also be caused by a wide variety of other problems, so having the vehicle properly diagnosed is highly recommended. 3. Blown fuse.
How to check radiator fan?
To check an electric radiator fan, start the car and let it get up to the temperature where the fan normally kicks on.
How to tell if radiator fan is electric or manual?
Determine whether your radiator fan is manual or electric. A manual radiator fan is bolted to the water pump and runs off of the same belt as the water pump. An electric radiator has wires that connect it to the car's electrical system.
What is the normal voltage for a radiator fan?
Normal voltage for a radiator fan is around 12 volts . If the volt meter reads 12 volts, the problem is not the power and the fan needs to be replaced.
Why does my car's radiator keep coolant?
Your car's radiator holds coolant fluid for the motor to ensure that the motor doesn't overheat. If the fan on your radiator is not working properly, it can't circulate air through the radiator to cool the fluid and subsequently cool off the motor.
Can a radiator fan go bad?
It is uncommon for radiator fans to go bad. In most cases, the water pump is bad and isn't pumping fresh fluids. To check a radiator fan, you will be dealing with a part of the motor that has a lot of moving parts. Use extreme caution to avoid getting injured.
Do radiator fans have clutches?
Some manual radiator fans have a fan clutch. The fan clutch has a spring inside of it to help the fan spin faster. If your radiator fan has a fan clutch, check the radiator fan while the motor is running. The radiator fan should be running at more RPMs than the motor.