What Happens When Your Radiator Fan Stops Working?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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.

How do you know if your radiator fan is bad?

  1. Engine Overheating. When the radiator fan isn’t functioning properly, it is not able to adequately cool down the car’s engine. …
  2. Air Conditioner Function Diminished. …
  3. Loud Noise Coming From Radiator Fan.

Can you drive a car 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.

What causes radiator fan to stop working?

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.

What happens if your radiator fan breaks?

If they are not replaced periodically,

they can break and stop turning the fans

. An electric fan can fail from a blown fuse, wiring problem or if the motor in the fan fails. If this happens, the vehicle will need to be towed or possibly driven a short distance to a shop where it can be repaired.

How much does it cost to replace a radiator fan?

As one of the more expensive car repairs needed (not including the replacement of a seized car engine, obviously), the replacement of the radiator coolant fan could incur about $128 to $162 in labor costs and around $465 in parts. So, total radiator fan replacement cost could be anywhere from

$592 to $627

.

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.

When should the radiator fan kick 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 are signs of a bad thermostat?

  • The temperature gauge reads high and the engine overheats.
  • The temperature changes erratically.
  • The vehicle’s coolant leaks around the thermostat or under the vehicle.

Is it easy to replace a radiator fan?

The radiator fan is a vital component of a vehicle. … If symptoms aren’t as severe as an overheated engine,

a bad radiator fan can be replaced fairly easily

. Unfortunately, if symptoms are severe and lead to an overheated engine, the engine could seize. Not only does that mean added stress, but it also means added costs.

Can a bad thermostat cause radiator fan not to work?

Broken Thermostat

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.

How do you fix a fan that stops working?

  1. Check the Cord. It sounds simple, but your first step should be to make sure the cord is securely plugged in. …
  2. Check Your Circuit Breaker. …
  3. Check for Power to Your Outlet. …
  4. Check the Fan Fuse. …
  5. Replace the Cord. …
  6. Clean the Fan. …
  7. Grease the Motor. …
  8. Call Customer Support.

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.

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 sensor controls the radiator fan?

On most modern cars, the cooling fan is controlled by

the Engine Control Unit (ECU)

which gets a signal from the coolant temperature sensor.

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.