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.
