Radiator Fan Motor Replacement
How are radiator fan motor issues diagnosed?
To check for a malfunctioning cooling fan motor, a technician will run the engine while the vehicle is in park and allow the temperature to build up to operating temperature before turning on the air conditioning. This should cause the cooling fan (or fans) to turn on. If the fan does not turn on, the technician will check for a blown fuse and a faulty fan motor relay (the most common cause of a failed fan motor).
How is a radiator fan motor replaced?
If the cooling fan motor is found to be defective, a technician will allow the vehicle to cool before attempting replacement. Depending on the vehicle, a number of components - shields, covers, grille, upper radiator support member - may need to be removed in or around the engine compartment to gain access to the cooling fan assembly. On some models, the radiator may need to be drained and removed in order to change the fan motor. The technician will unplug the fan(s) from the wiring harness, remove the relevant accessories, disconnect any brackets holding the fan assembly in place, and remove the assembly. The unit will require disassembly so that the old fan motor can be removed and the new motor be inserted into the assembly before it is installed in the vehicle. If the radiator had to be removed, the coolant will need to be replaced and air bled from the cooling system.
RepairPal Recommendations for radiator fan motor issues
RepairPal recommends that a thorough diagnosis be performed prior to replacing the engine cooling fan motor. The most common cause of an inoperative fan motor is a faulty fan motor relay; a fan motor is often misdiagnosed and replaced when the relay was the problem.
What to look out for when dealing with radiator fan motor issues
A vehicle may incorporate two cooling fans - one for the radiator and one for the air conditioning system. It is important to be know which motor is faulty. It is also important to check the fan motor relay. Most importantly, the engine must be allowed to cool prior to any work being performed on the cooling system to prevent serious injury.
Can I replace the radiator fan motor myself?
On many vehicles, replacement of a cooling fan motor is an intermediate DIY repair requiring some experience with removal of components in the engine compartment, including (if necessary) the radiator and coolant hoses. It is also helpful to have some knowledge of diagnosing electrical issues since many fan motor problems are related to the relay rather than the motor itself. Also, keep in mind that the engine needs to cool before work is performed.