5 Symptoms Of A Bad Or Failing Radiator Fan
A car cooler is a critical component needed to cool the engine. Part of the reason coolers can lower the hot temperatures is due to the fans installed. If you want to avoid an overheating engine, it is important to know the symptoms of a bad cooler.
In this guide, you will see the symptoms of a top bad cooler fan, look at its location and discuss its functionality. It also answers the biggest questions, shows you how to test your fans, and provides an average replacement cost.
Bad radiator symptoms
If the radiator fan fails, it may not activate at all. Additionally, the fuse may blow due to electrical malfunction. Apart from that, the vehicle can overheat and if the cooler reserve breaks down, you will notice that the air conditioning system is insufficient and you can hear the loud noises.
Let’s get a little closer to these five options.
1. No radiator fans will occur
Cooler fans have no cause or repair
In most cases, a broken fan is not possible even if it is broken. This is caused by engine burning and keeps the fans useless.
The car needs an engine, so the radiator fan needs a functioning engine. Otherwise, there’s nothing left for the fans. This can also be caused by a faulty relay or a poor electrical connection.
2. Radiator fan shooter protection
The fan also passes through a fuse that is supposed to protect against electrical overload. If the current increases or the engine fails, the fuse may blow. I replaced the fuse and hope it’s just a breakdown. However, if the fuse continues to blow, it creates a bigger problem.
3. Overheating of the vehicle
Idling overheat
The purpose of cooling fleece is to cool the vehicle. Once a certain temperature is reached, the cooling fan will automatically rise. If the cooling engine fails, the fan will turn on and the temperature will continue to rise. All you left is an overheated engine. Your car should have a temperature knife or warning light that will tell you when the engine is too hot. You must stop driving the vehicle as soon as you check that the engine is overheated. If this condition continues, it can cause permanent engine damage. This leads to costly repair calculations.
The problem with using only this symptom is that the engine can overheat due to many different issues, in order to determine that the cooler is bad. If the fan works as intended, it can overheat. For this reason, it is extremely important to diagnose the problem before the parts are replaced.
4. Bad A/C performance
Many people don’t realize how important cooling fans are to the air conditioning of their cars. Cooler cancer is responsible for pulling air over alternating current capacitors. If your air conditioner system looks warm or not working, the problem can actually be a bad fan. There is little airflow on the capacitor, so this may be the most impressive when moving at low speeds.
However, this is not a symptom that can only be assumed to mean that the cooler fan is bad. Most of the time, there are issues with the air conditioner components. However, it makes sense to check the fans if other symptoms mention it.
5. Monkey noise
No one wants to hear strange sounds from a car, but it usually produces abnormal sounds when there is a mechanical problem. Recognizing the sounds of different cars can help you know what’s going on. For example, if the cooler cooling fan engine dies, you can make noise and click.
Plus, there may be problems with the blades that lead to strange sounds. Cooling fans need to be heard for work, so they need to stay in their own place to be effective. However, these blades are not affected by damage. If the blade is bent or broken, it can lead to a loud noise indicating an error. You may also notice unbalanced fan vibrations.
What are the functions of the radiator? Each vehicle is equipped with a cooler fleece, but there are two uses for maximum power. These cooling fans are designed to remove heat from the coolant circulating through the engine. These fans are also needed to cool the refrigerant in the air conditioning to get cold air conditioning in the middle of summer. Some people refer to fans as capacitor fans or cooling systems fans.
Depending on the type of vehicle you drive, there are many different types of cooling fans. Your car has one of these two options.
1) Mechanical: Most older vehicles use a mechanical radiator fan. It’s also found on some rear-wheel drive cars and many of today’s trucks. The mechanical fans contain a built-in clutch allowing the fan to idle if the engine is cold enough. It activates the fan when the coolant temperatures start to climb.
2) Electric: Modern vehicles rely on this design, with a fan driven by an electric motor. The ECU determines when the fan should turn on and off.
With either system, as you drive, air moves through the grille to flow over the condenser and through the radiator. The cooler air is going to remove some heat from the coolant and the air conditioning system naturally. Yet, when you stop driving or you aren’t going fast enough to keep the flow up, things are going to start heating up without the right airflow. That’s where the cooling fans jump into action.
The fans kick on to create airflow for the condenser and radiator. It creates enough cool air to remove the heat from the refrigerant and coolant. It can also activate while driving at higher speeds if more airflow is needed, especially when the engine is working hard, such as when you are towing a heavy load and have the air conditioner running.
Where Is The Radiator Fan Located?
The mechanical fan is found mounted to the water pump pulley near the front of the engine. With an electric cooling fan, you will look for the plastic fan blades right behind the radiator. All vehicles today have a cooling fan, while the style of the two may be slightly different.
Depending on what kind of vehicle you drive, you may see two cooling fans on the radiator. This design ensures that there’s some cooling occurring if one of the fans fails.
How Do You Test A Radiator Fan?
The way to test your radiator fan depends on whether it is equipped with a mechanical or electric part. You can find detailed directions in your service manual.
To test an electric fan, you want to let the vehicle run until it reaches normal operating temperature. At this point, the fan should start running. With your multimeter, check the voltage going to the wires. If the multimeter reads around 12 volts, it’s getting enough power.
With a mechanical fan, you need to test the clutch. Perform a visual inspection to ensure nothing is broken or damaged. Wiggle all of the blades and spin the fan to see if it operates freely. Next, look for oil leaks on the bearing seal found on the back of the fan clutch. If there’s oil, you may have a faulty seal or crack.
If you are unsure whether the cooling fan has failed or there’s another part to replace, reach out to a professional mechanic.
Can you drive with a bad radiator fan?
No, you should stop driving as soon as you know that the cooling fan is bad. Without the airflow needed to reduce the coolant temperature, the engine is going to overheat. If you drive a car with an overheating engine, you can cause head gasket damage or ruin the engine, both of which are costly to repair.
Does the cooling fan affect the AC?
Yes, the radiator fan is responsible for supplying airflow over the AC condenser. It ensures that the refrigerant is properly cooled off, allowing for cooler air conditioning through the vents. When the fan doesn’t run, the air conditioning is going to seem warmer than normal.
How often do radiator fans need to be replaced?
A properly maintained radiator fan should last at least eight to ten years. You want to keep the cooling fan free of debris and degrease it occasionally. You should also flush the coolant as per the manufacturer’s service recommendations to keep the cooling system working as intended.
How long does it take to replace a radiator fan?
Experienced mechanics may need one to three hours to replace the radiator fan in most vehicles. If you are doing the job at home, you should allow for a little extra time because you probably don’t have the same equipment and expertise.
How long can you drive with a broken radiator fan?
You shouldn’t drive anywhere with a failed radiator fan. The radiator won’t receive the airflow it needs to reduce the coolant temperature. In no time, the engine is sure to overheat. Because you shouldn’t continue running the car when it overheats, you could be left stranded in the middle of nowhere.
When the radiator fan fails, it won’t take long before you figure it out. Between the possibility of having an overheated engine and the lack of air conditioning, this problem is sure to get your attention. It’s also a mechanical failure that needs to be dealt with immediately.
Sure, the cost of replacing a radiator fan is on the costly side. It’s going to dip into your savings a little and probably hurt. Yet, it’s nothing compared to the costs you incur if you continue driving with a bad cooling fan. Save yourself the trouble of needing an engine replacement and fix the defective cooling fan immediately.
