What does the fan control module do? A/C
What are the symptoms of a faulty cooling fan switch?
Common signs include engine overheating, the Check Engine Light coming on, and a broken or shorter signal wire .
What does the fan control module do? A/C
Common signs include engine overheating, the Check Engine Light coming on, and a broken or shorter signal wire .
In addition to the power, ground, and tach signal, 4-wire fans have a PWM input , which is used to control the speed of the fan.
The cooling fan control module in your vehicle is located at the front left of the engine compartment next to the radiator .
On most modern cars, the cooling fan is controlled by the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which gets a signal from the coolant temperature sensor .
If the relay fails, it will be unable to supply power to the fans, and as a result they will not operate . This can lead to overheating, especially when the vehicle is at a stop, where there is no forward motion by the vehicle to pass air over the radiator.
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.
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.
CIRCUIT OPERATION
The engine-ECU <M/T> or engine-A/T-ECU <A/T> controls the fan controller to activate the radiator fan motor and the condenser fan motor.
The A/C condenser (the part which sits in front of the coolant radiator) is a heat exchanger. If air isn’t flowing over it, it won’t exchange the heat it needs get rid of so the A/C core inside the vehicle can become cold and make you comfortable . If the fan didn’t come on, you’d still be warm inside.
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.
The fan relay is usually located near the bottom of the engine compartment on a metal frame member . The metal acts as a heat sink to keep the fan relay cool. So, unplug the connector at the relay and repeat the check for power. If you get power, you’ve got a bum relay.
Thermostat issues
Solution: While the thermostat is not strictly a part of the radiator fan system , a bad one can definitely cause problems for your cooling system. Depending on the symptoms your car is displaying, your mechanic may want to check the thermostat and rule it in or out as a cause.
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.
Testing: Before checking the radiator fan switch it is important that the ignition is switched off and the engine bay has had time to cool down. Once cool, disconnect the switch from the radiator fan, and connect the car battery to the fan motor . If the fan operates this suggests that the fan is not the problem.
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.
The PCM controls fan operation ; it uses the signal from the ECT or engine coolant temperature sensor. This sensor senses the temperature of the engine’s coolant and sends a variable voltage signal to the PCM. The PCM operates the fan motor through the engine’s cooling fan relay.
The condenser fan relay is the electronic relay that controls the power to the AC condenser cooling fan. When the relay is activated the AC condenser fan is switched on so that it can keep the AC condenser cool.
Wait 15-20 minutes for the fan to come on after the control valve has been closed.
If the fan comes on, you may have a bad temperature sensor or gauge . A cooling fan temperature switch (or sensor, in some vehicles) can also get stuck, which may cause the fan to run continuously any time you turn the ignition key on or start the engine.
When the coolant reaches a specified temperature, this switch turns on the vehicle’s coolant fan, which draws air through the radiator to regulate engine temperature .
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.