Radiator Fan Not Working | Symptoms, Causes & Solutions

A radiator or cooling fan is used to pull the cooling air from the car’s radiator. It helps cool down the engine while driving the car at a slow speed and need to obtain external airflow. The fan is placed between the radiator and engine.

Most old and new motor vehicles have a cooling fan. Over time, the radiator wears out, then lessens the effectiveness or not working. As a result, the engine becomes overheat and it affects the car performance. In the article, you can discover the symptoms and causes of the radiator fan not working. We have also added the solution how to fix the problem.

Symptoms of failed radiator fan 

The radiator fan is an important part of a motor vehicle. But many car owners don’t pay attention to it. In reality, a failed radiator fan can create many problems. So here are the common symptoms that you will see when the radiator fan is not working.

1. No whirring noise

When the radiator fan is running, it creates a whirring noise, and it comes from the engine bay. Actually, it is a notable noise operation, and the noise coming from the cooling fan’s motor. When the fan will have fast movement, you can hear the noise sitting inside before starting the car. If the fan fails for a further reason, there will be no whirring noise. A faulty cooling fan does not turn on. It will fail the blades, and they will be unable to spin. 

2. Overheat the engine 

The main reason for engine overheating can be a faulty radiator fan as it cools down the coolant and engine. When the cooling fan doesn’t work properly, the hot air circulates between the engine and radiator. In turn, it heats up, and you can see the tem rising gause on the car’s dashboard. 

Increasing the engine temperature can cause severe damage and costs you a lot of money. So if you want to skip the high expense, you should spend small money to reignite the radiator fan. 

3. Coolant Evaporates

Coolant is an antifreeze fuel that is used in the car’s cooling system. It ensures the engine from overheating. If the radiator fan is not working, the temperature will rise, and then the coolant will boil and evaporate. The coolant can dissolve into the air like magic, so it is necessary to maintain the temperature condition and conserve the coolant all the time. 

Why is the radiator fan not working?

The radiator fan can be damaged by excessive use or become aged. Nothing stays forever, so it is normal to be worn out. These are the common cause of radiator fan not working

1. A bad fuse

Fuse connects the fan with the car’s electronic system. If there is an excessive electrical surge the fuge cuts the electric power to prevent certain damage, and it is called a blown fuse. If the fuse is blown, replacing it will cost a little money. Check the car manual and find the fuse if there is any damage. 

2. Defect in coolant temperature sensor

The coolant temperature sensor controls the radiator fan when it needs to start. If there is a defect in the sensor, the control unit won’t get the sign of starting the radiator fan. You need to check the temperature sensor and make sure the sensor is functional. 

3. Bad wiring

Bad wiring can be another major reason for the failure of the radiator fan. It causes a bad connection. So check the wiring of the radiator fan from the control unit thoroughly. Also, examine the plugs if there is any corrosion. 

4. Insufficient coolant

The lower coolant level allows air in the system, and further, the coolant temperature sensor can not read the temperature perfectly. So when it is not reading, the radiator fan won’t start. If the coolant level is low, you need to bring it back to the optimum level. Insufficient coolant can cause engine overheating. 

5. Broken Radiator Fan

If the radiation fan is broken, it won’t come on. The blades of the fan can break with contaminants or worn out. Moreover, the fan’s motor can fail after some years. So it can be a reason for not working. 

6. Faulty Fan Relay

The radiator fan needs much power to operate. And there is a relay to power the cooling fan. If the relay gets damaged the fan will not come on. The radiator fan relay is positioned on the engine bay. 

Radiator Fan Not Working | How to fix

To repair the damage, you need to find the main reason why the radiator fan is not working. Then you need to processed for repair. Following the below steps you can fix the issue: 

Step 1: Cool down the car

If you are going to discover the problem, you need to cool down the car. If the car has been running, leave it for an hour or more. It is important to cool down the engine otherwise, it will burn your hand. 

Step 2: Bring out the fan

Reading the car manual, bring out the radiator fan. Usually, the fan is located in front of the radiator. There are four bolts on the fan that are attached with the radiator. There will be wires that connect with the electric system, so disconnect them carefully. 

Step 3: Clean the fan

After bringing out the fan, examine the fan’s blade as any substances are tied with the fan or blades. The fan blades easily get worn out, and a dirty fan can not run adequately. So you need to clean the areas of the blades using degreaser products. Then check the

Step 4: Check the fan’s motor

Check the motor with electricity power whether it works or not. Use 12 volts to test the fan’s motor. If the motor won’t work, that means the fan’s life is over, and you need to buy a new radiator fan. And if the fan is good, then jump to the next step.

Step 5: Check the fuse

Now find the use in the car that connects with the radiator fan. You can utilize a multimeter to check the circuit. If you find any bad fuse, replace it with a new one. You need to check the wiring connection and make sure they are well positioned. 

Step 6: Re-attach the Fan

Replace the fan in the radiator system and plug the connections. Now start the car to check whether it works or not. Thus you can fix the failed radiator fan. 

Conclusion 
It is a serious issue if the radiator fan is not working. Whenever you are observing these above symptoms, you should look at the radiator fan at once. If the symptom is caused by the faulty radiator, then you can fix it following the guide. Still, the problem is not resolved; you should go for the professional.