Things to Check for Radiator Cooling Fan Problems The radiator cooling fan is one of the important components of the engine's cooling system. This fan helps to cool the radiator to stop the car from overheating. The fans are either located in front of the radiator which allows them to push air through its core or at the back of the radiator to be able to pull sufficient air.
Principle of working Most front-wheel drive cars use an electric radiator fan to assist in cooling the radiator and in turn cool the engine to prevent it from overheating. Basically, coolant from the radiator is pumped through the engine via the water pump, and the warm coolant then exits back into the radiator. The radiator fan cools down the warm coolant by passing cool air through the radiator. And then the cooled coolant is pumped back into the engine, and the same process repeats in a cyclic manner.
Types of radiator cooling fans There are basically two types of radiator fans: –Manual –Electric The manual radiator fans are mechanically driven and are attached to the car’s engine, meaning that once you turn your car on and the engine starts running, the radiator fan starts turning as well. The electric radiator fans include an electric motor and are more used in recent cars instead of the manual radiator fans. Electric radiator fans are controlled by a thermostat and are set to move only at certain temperatures, making them much more efficient when it comes to cooling your engine.
Symptoms of a bad fan assembly A radiator fan assembly consists of a mounting shroud and fan blade. In case of an electric radiator fan, the assembly will also include an electric motor. The fan shroud is a plastic funnel-shaped piece that surrounds the fan and helps cool the radiator effectively. It also keeps warm air from recirculating through the radiator. Some of the common symptoms of a bad or failing radiator fan assembly are: - The fan starts to become noisy. - The engine gets overheated when idling and driving in traffic. - A poor performance of the air conditioner.
Parts responsible for issues in the cooling fan A faulty radiator fan assembly can cause serious damage to your car. So, if you find that your radiator fan is not working properly, then it is important to find the correct reason responsible for the damage. Here are some of the common parts that affect the functioning of the radiator cooling fan.
Temperature sensor The temperature sensor determines when the radiator fan comes on by reading the cooling system temperature. When the sensor stops working, the fan won’t get started because it won’t know that the temperature is hot enough to require activation, which can frequently lead to overheating.
Fuse When the cooling fan is not moving, the first thing to check is the fuse. In order to find the fuse, refer the owner’s manual to see which fuse controls the cooling system and make sure the fuse for the radiator fan is intact.
Coolant level You need to check the coolant level in your engine. The simplest way to do this is to look at the reservoir in the engine. It will be marked with maximum and minimum levels. Always make sure the coolant level is up near the maximum level to avoid possible overheating.
Fan wires When the engine is heating, but the fan isn't rotating, then check the fan wires. The fan wires should be putting out around 12 volts of direct current. You must check both terminals of the wires as well as the fan relay to verify if there is a need for a replacement.
Fan clutch The fan clutch is the assembly that holds the radiator fan to the engine and makes it turn. When the clutch burns out or fails, it must be replaced quickly in order to avoid damage to the engine. Over time, the springs within the fan clutch wear out or corrode. The fan clutch is the most likely cause of radiator fan failure when you do not find any other possible cause of damage.
Remember A working radiator fan assembly is extremely important to the efficient operation of the automobile's cooling system. Because without the help of the fan, the radiator would be deficient of air needed to keep the engine cool.