Five Signs Your Radiator Fan Is Malfunctioning
When travelling at slower speeds or at a standstill, the radiator fan keeps the car from overheating. Here’s how to identify a malfunctioning radiator fan.
To remove heat from the coolant flowing through the engine, all current cars come with radiator fans. Many problems can arise when you have a defective radiator fan.
To prevent a potential MOT test failure, these faults must be resolved before scheduling your next MOT testing service.
We go over the primary signs of a malfunctioning radiator fan and examine its function. Let’s quickly review the warning indicators to watch for.
If your car is overheating, book an appointment with a qualified mechanic immediately by searching online for car garages in Reading. The most common indication of a failing radiator fan is a heated vehicle engine. You may also notice that the A/C isn’t functioning as well as it usually does and occasionally hear spinning noises coming from the engine area.
The following is a more thorough list of the most typical signs of a failing radiator fan:
1. Fan Isn’t Turning On — The radiator fan’s most typical sign of trouble is when it stops functioning. The motor can fail or burn up occasionally. Sometimes the relay stops functioning. In either case, if the fan system won’t operate, something is wrong. If this situation is allowed to worsen, more serious problems will develop. As soon as you realise the radiator fans are not functioning properly, look online for garages in Reading and make an appointment for a mechanic to examine and fix the problem. This will help you avoid having to budget for a significant repair bill.
2. Blown Radiator Fan Fuse — Radiator fan fuse blowing is another cause of the fan ceasing to function. Because it is failing and using too much amperage, radiator fans can blow a fuse. To protect the system from this excess power when the electric motor surges, the fuses break. Although you can replace the fuse, a broken fan will probably also blow another one.
3. Overheating of the Vehicle — The fan is in charge of maintaining the proper temperature of the coolant. Temperatures in the engine will start to rise if the fan is failing. The fan shouldn’t operate until the temperature reaches a particular level, but it doesn’t. When the temperature indicator appears on the dashboard, many times the driver is not aware that the engine is overheating. You must now turn off the engine and wait for it to cool down or you risk doing irreparable harm. The MOT history checker indicates that an overheating engine is frequently the blame for a MOT test failing.
4. Poor A/C Performance — If the radiator fan stops operating, the air conditioning system may not perform well. The condenser fan’s primary function is to remove heat from the refrigerant by drawing air through it. In fact, compared to the condenser fan, it generates twice as much air. Not only does the engine get hotter when the radiator fan is broken, but also the interior of the car. What appears to be an issue with the air conditioner may actually be a radiator fan problem.
5. Whirling Sounds: Unusual sounds should raise a red flag. A whirring noise or a loud clicking sound may be produced when the radiator cooling fan motor starts to fail. These noises may also be heard if a damaged fan blade starts contacting other parts of the system. At least you know the fan is still operating, even if it is only partially. But before it causes other issues, it’s best to have this fixed.
The Role of Radiator Fans
To cool the engine, the radiator fan draws air through the radiator. When air isn’t being forced through the system naturally, such when a car is stopped or moving slowly, it is intensively utilised. The temperature of the coolant rises when the engine is running. The engine begins to overheat if there is no airflow through the radiator to cool it down. Electric motors built into the fans power this process.
The motor for the electric fan operates similarly to the majority of industrial motors. It is a part of the assembly that can be replaced or repaired. But because it has moving parts, it might wear out over time and malfunction. A faulty radiator fan may occasionally be brought on by the engine driving it rather than the fan itself. It will be necessary to conduct a thorough inspection to identify the malfunction’s root cause.
Where is the Radiator Fan?
Direct mounting is used for the radiator cooling fan on the radiator. A radiator cooling fan is standard on all recent models of vehicles.
A radiator cooling fan may be accompanied by additional fans in some vehicles. One could stop working, but the other could still function.
