Why is my radiator fan relay not working?
If the radiator fan isn’t working, a failed relay is one of the possible causes. The relay isn’t the only possible cause, nor is it the most common cause. If your vehicle has two fans and one of the two fans isn’t working, the problem could be the bad fan or a faulty relay.
Why do you need a cooling fan relay?
The cooling fan helps move air through the radiator even if the vehicle is not in motion. Most modern vehicles have electric fans that are controlled by relays, which are vital to keeping the engine cool. The relay controls the engine’s cooling fans as well as the fan for the A/C condenser. It also saves electricity.
How can I tell if my cooling fan is working?
The quickest way to tell whether or not the electric fan (s) are working is to start the engine; let it reach normal operating temperature and then turn the A/C on. The cooling fan in the engine compartment should turn on to pull air through the radiator and A/C condenser. A main cooling fan for the radiator.
Why are my cooling fans running at all times?
Cooling fans stay on at all times. If the cooling fans are staying on at all times, this is another (less common) symptom of a possible problem with the cooling fan relay. If the relay shorts internally, it may cause power to be permanently switched on, which will cause the fans to run at all times.
What causes a cooling fan relay to stop working?
Cooling fan relays can stop working for any number of reasons. Common causes for relays going bad include: There are several ways to tell if a bad cooling fan relay is to blame for an overheated engine. The easiest method is to start the engine and then turn on the air conditioning.
What happens when a radiator relay goes bad?
A faulty or broken relay cannot deliver power to the cooling fans. In turn, the unpowered fans won’t run, leaving the radiator to its own devices. Deprived of the helpful influx of air from the cooling fans, the radiator cannot remove as much heat as it usually does.
Can a radiator fan and condenser fan share a relay?
There are, however, some models that use a dedicated second unit to the condenser. In such a scenario, the condenser fan and radiator fan may or may not share the same relay. If the cooling fan does not engage, you can check whether the relay is to blame by swapping it out for a different relay.
What should I do if my radiator fan stops working?
Turn the air conditioning to the maximum setting – this should spark the cooling fan to immediately come on. In older cars, this typically takes about 15-20 minutes for the engine to reach the right temperature. If there’s a problem with the engine’s temperature, then this can damage the radiator.