How Do I Know If My Radiator Fan Is Bad?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Fan not coming on. The most common bad cooling fan relay symptom is that the cooling fan will not come on. …
  2. Blown radiator fan fuse. …
  3. Temperature warning light. …
  4. Poor A/C performance. …
  5. Vehicle Overheating. …
  6. A loud whirring Noise. …
  7. FAQs.

When should radiator fan come on?

Your radiator fan should kick in at

about 200 degrees Fahrenheit

. If you notice your vehicle is overheating or at the very least running hotter than it normally does, listen for the fan to see if you can hear it.

What happens when your 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 you drive without a radiator fan?


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 radiator fan?

  1. Determine whether your radiator fan is manual or electric. …
  2. To check an electric radiator fan, start the car and let it get up to the temperature where the fan normally kicks on.
  3. Use the volt meter to test if there is power to the wires. …
  4. Normal voltage for a radiator fan is around 12 volts.

How much does it cost to fix a radiator fan?

The average cost for a replacement fan is

between $634 and $789

. Labor costs are between $102 and $130 while parts are between $532 and $659. Taxes and fees are not included in the estimate.

Should radiator fan turn on when AC is on?

Both radiator fans should always run when the AC compressor is engaged. To check the temperature at which the fan comes on, turn the A/C off and keep the engine running until it reaches normal operating temperature. Most fans should come on when the coolant reaches

about 200 to 230 degrees

.

What causes the radiator fan to come 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.)

Can you drive with a broken radiator fan blade?


Do not drive with broken fan blades

. Close, but not quite. The motor mounts being bad allows the engine to move too much when accelerating and decelerating. Being as the fan is attached directly to the engine via the water pump, when the engine moves, the fan hits the shroud.

How long does it take to fix a radiator fan?

It varies from person to person. A mechanic can do it in

2 to 3 hours

. A person doing it for the first time may have trouble locating the bolts and other parts and could take up to 8 hours to locate.

Should my radiator fan always be on?

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. This is linked to a thermostat and works much like your home’s HVAC system.

What does a bad radiator fan sound like?

In some cases, when your radiator cooling fan clutch fails, it will develop

a whirring or clicking noise

. The noise could result from a bearing that is out of place or a bent fan blade that is touching other components.

What is the fan behind the radiator called?

Those located at the rear of the radiator are called

puller fans

. The pusher fans receive air that comes in through the grill area and then they push that cooler air over the radiator. The puller fans pull the air from the grill, drawing it over the radiator.

Is radiator fan Same as engine fan?

The electric cooling radiator fan, which turns on and off as needed based on the internal vehicle temperature, is an

improvement

over engine-driven fans that slow down a- usually at times when they are needed the most. A failed radiator fan can result in overheating your engine.

Can a bad thermostat cause radiator fan not to work?

Thermostats are known to go bad and cause all sorts of cooling issues. … If this thermostat doesn’t open when the engine reaches the working temperature, the coolant will stay inside the engine block and the engine

will start to overheat

. This will result in the radiator fan not working.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.