Car Radiator fan

Radiator fan is situated directly behind the engine coolant radiator. Admitted air is necessary to lower temperature of the coolant. It is especially important when the car stands or is in moving for long, because air current absence must be compensated. In some car models with a high-power engine there are two fans. Being a part of the coolant system, radiator fan is an important part in the automobile. It turns on automatically as and when necessary. If the coolant’s temperature is not higher then outside temperature, fan doesn’t turn on.

If the fan is faulty, this may result in engine’s overheating. Theoretically it is easy to reveal damages in the fan. But in practice you may notice the breakdown when the coolant overheats. That is why an experienced car owner always watches the indicators of coolant temperature. If it seems to you that the fan is broken down, you can check it in a simple way. If there are no noises when the fan is working but the engine remains hot, this indicates that there is a breakdown.

In most cases fan is situated in a hard-to-reach place. So it is difficult to substitute it. First of all, disconnect the accumulator battery from the fan. Then you need to disassemble forebody of the car. In order not to spend a lot of money, completely substitute the fan. If you need not only radiator fan, but also radiator grille, brake shoe facing, air filter, air conditioner compressor, outside rear-view mirror, back lamp, accelerator or another car part, look through our on-line catalogue. Due to easy-to-use search function you will quickly find all spare parts you need for car repair or maintenance.

How to detect malfunction of the motor cooling fan

First, the fan itself is tested. To do so, connect the component to the on-board 12-14 V electric system. A serviceable component will reach the maximum RPM in 2 seconds.

If the device is functioning correctly, proceed to checking the wiring. To do so, connect one end of the wire to the voltage source, and measure the voltage at the other end, using a voltmeter.

In addition, check the fan sensor that measures the engine temperature. When the temperature of the latter reaches the limit (92 oC), the fan should switch on automatically. After the engine heats up to 99-104 oC, the fan should switch to the second operating phase. If no faults of component were identified, but no automatic startup has occurred, the sensor is to be replaced.

The service life of the component has no certain limits. If the vehicle is used carefully, replacing the fan may not be required during the entire service life of the vehicle.

You may notice that the Cooling fan needs diagnostics by the following signs:

• the engine is overheating;
• the fan sensor is functioning incorrectly;
• the engine loses power at higher RPM;
• "Check Engine" flashing on the dashboard.

Reasons of the motor cooling fan malfunctions

The most typical malfunction is the fan electric motor failure, which often occurs due to ingress of dirt inside. It may also be due to voltage surges in the electrical system of the vehicle. A faulty sensor of the engine fan is the reason for the component running continuously without switching off.

Terminals may corrode under the influence of humidity and technical fluids. Ingress of dirt into the system significantly reduces service life of the component, so it is important to periodically clean its elements with a brush.

Repairing and replacement of the engine cooling fan

The component is often installed in front of the radiator. Most frequently, the fault is in the wiring. If no repair is possible, the wiring is replaced completely.

If the fan blades or shaft are clogged, the unit is to be disassembled, cleaned and lubricated. In case of complete failure or partial damage of the relay, fan blades or the drive, they are also to be replaced with new components. If the component has been mechanically damaged, or the control unit is faulty, a new component is installed, followed by calibration of the entire system.