The internal combustion engine used in modern day vehicles is based around the idea of a gas being ignited and then the force from that explosion being harnessed to create movement. This process creates a large amount of heat which needs to be dispersed to prevent engine components from being affected by it. The cooling fan and the radiator are the key components of the engine cooling system. This how-to section focuses on the various aspects of engine cooling fans in an automobile.
 How To Fix a Cooling Fan |
The cooling fan in a car helps in maintaining the temperature of the engine. The cooling system conducts the coolant through the engine system. The coolant serves to remove the heat generated in the various components of the engine. The heated coolant then flows to the radiator which consists of tubes through which the coolant flows. The cooling fan, which is attached to the radiator itself, either pulls or pushes air through the radiator to enhance the cooling ability of the unit. The coolant, which is now cooled, again flows back to the engine to absorb the heat from it. This is how the engine is maintained at its optimal temperature. Front-wheel drive vehicles employ an electric fan that is powered by a battery, whereas rear-wheel drive automobiles use a mechanical fan powered by the engine. Be it a mechanical or electric fan, the fan assembly consists of a mounting shroud and blades. The electric fan also includes a motor that drives the fan and a relay to activate it.
Due to continuous exposure to heat and stress, the cooling fan can fail over time. In mechanical cooling fans, the clutch can get damaged, failing to engage the fan at the right time. In case of electric fans, the motor's bearings can melt due to the heat, causing the blades to be dislocated. The fan blades can also break, emitting a rattling noise when the fan is running. The electric fan relay or the temperature sensor can also go bad, preventing the cooling fan from functioning properly.
When the cooling fan becomes defective, it will not blow the required amount of air into the radiator, and thereby, fail to reduce the temperature of the coolant. The improperly-cooled coolant will fail to absorb the heat from the engine, resulting in engine overheating. An overheated engine can be detrimental to the entire car mechanism. A worn-out cooling fan will also degrade the performance of the air conditioning system. A damaged cooling fan should be replaced as soon as possible.
While engine overheating is a symptom of a bad cooling fan, failure of other parts of the cooling system such as a bad radiator or a low level of coolant can also induce the same problem. Make sure to diagnose the actual source of the problem. To ensure whether the fault is with the cooling fan, please refer to the article listed above.
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