logo elektroda
logo elektroda
X
logo elektroda

Car engine radiator fan not turning on: causes, diagnosis, VW Polo, brushless fan issues

User question

what are causes of car engine fun not turning on

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

‐ The engine (radiator) fan stays off when the electrical supply, the control signal or the motor itself is interrupted.
‐ Typical culprits: blown fuse, faulty relay, open-circuit or shorted wiring/ground, defective coolant-temperature sensor / thermo-switch, failed fan-control module or ECU driver, seized or burnt-out fan motor, mechanical obstruction, or—in belt-driven systems—a bad fan clutch.

Detailed problem analysis

  1. System architecture
    • Modern cars use an electric, brush- or brushless-DC fan commanded by the ECU/FCM through a relay or a smart MOSFET/PWM driver. Older cars may rely on a two- or three-pin thermo-switch in the radiator.
    • Activation paths
    – Stage 1: Low-speed (≈20–25 A) triggered at ~95 °C or when A/C is ON.
    – Stage 2: High-speed (≈30–40 A) triggered at ~105 °C or by high A/C-condenser pressure.

  2. Root-cause groups
    a. Power delivery
    ‑ High-current fuse (30–50 A) open; low-current (5–10 A) control-side fuse open.
    ‑ Corroded or loose battery +B feed, chassis ground, or fan-ground eyelet; >0.5 V drop stalls the motor.
    b. Switching element
    ‑ Relay contacts carbonised/pitted or coil open-circuit (Ω→∞).
    ‑ Solid-state driver MOSFET shorted (fan runs continuously) or open (fan never starts).
    c. Sensing & logic
    ‑ Coolant-temperature sensor (CTS) out of range; e.g. stuck at –40 °C (open) or 140 °C (short).
    ‑ Radiator thermo-switch stuck open.
    ‑ ECU/FCM firmware corruption, internal transistor failure or CAN bus fault (newer vehicles).
    d. Actuator
    ‑ Motor brushes worn, commutator burnt, winding open/short, bearings seized.
    ‑ Mechanical blockage: leaves, plastic bags, broken shroud, mis-shaped blade.
    e. Auxiliary factors
    ‑ Low coolant => sensor not submerged => no “hot” reading.
    ‑ Stuck-open thermostat keeps coolant ≤85 °C; fan never receives “ON” command.

  3. Electrical theory
    Fan current \(I ≈ P/V\). With a 120 W fan on a 13.5 V bus, \(I≈9 A\) at low speed (PWM 40 %), \(I≈18 A\) at full duty. Supply wiring, relay contacts and fuses must be sized accordingly; 10 mΩ of extra resistance causes a 0.18 V drop and ~1.6 W dissipation at 18 A—enough to melt a marginal crimp in minutes.

  4. Practical manifestations
    • Fan runs with A/C but not on temperature → suspect CTS / thermo-switch / ECU logic.
    • No fan in any mode, fuse good → suspect relay, wiring, ground.
    • 12 V present at fan connector but no motion → seized motor.
    • Intermittent fan, especially after puddles → water-intrusion in relay box or FCM.

Current information and trends

‐ Since ≈2015 many OEMs moved to brushless fans with integrated PWM drivers controlled by LIN or CAN (e.g. VW 5Q0959455). Failure modes shift from relay to driver electronics; diagnostics requires a scan tool capable of sending a 25 kHz/11–90 % duty request.
‐ Some hybrids/EVs employ variable-speed cooling modules that ramp from 10 % to 100 %, so fuse blowing is rarer but LIN checksum errors become common DTCs (e.g. P0C73).
‐ Right-to-Repair regulations (EU 2023/607) oblige manufacturers to provide pin-outs and duty cycle tables, easing independent diagnostics.

Supporting explanations and details

Example: VW Polo 6N2 (1999-2002)
• Fuse S5 = 30 A motor feed (engine-bay box).
• Relay J293 (position 2/relief panel) for low speed; high-speed path via Fan-Control-Unit under battery.
• Radiator thermo-switch F18 pins: 1=Red/White (low), 2=Red (12 V), 3=Red/Black (high). Bridging 2→1 or 2→3 forces respective speeds—quick isolation test.

Voltage-drop test procedure

  1. Engine idling, A/C ON (commands fan).
  2. DMM black probe on battery –, red on fan motor ground pin => should read ≤0.2 V.
  3. Red probe on motor + pin, black on battery + => ≤0.2 V.
    Readings >0.5 V indicate harness or ground defect.

Ethical and legal aspects

‐ Overheating due to an inoperative fan can cause engine failure and endanger occupants; ignoring the fault may violate road-worthiness regulations (e.g. UK MOT Section 7.1).
‐ Bypassing fuses with oversized ratings or hard-wiring the fan can lead to wire fires—potential criminal negligence.
‐ Always disconnect the battery negative before high-current tests; spinning fan blades constitute a laceration hazard.

Practical guidelines

  1. Verify coolant level and thermostat function.
  2. Quick tests
    • A/C ON test; • fuse continuity; • swap relay with identical one.
  3. Direct 12 V feed to fan through fused jumper (30 A blade fuse in line).
  4. If fan runs → chase relay/wiring/sensor.
  5. If not → replace motor assembly.
  6. Scan ECU for DTCs (e.g. P0480 fan 1 control; P0483 fan rationality).
  7. For brushless fans: use oscilloscope/LIN sniffer; check for 12 V on pin 1, PWM on pin 2, ground on pin 3.

Potential challenges & mitigation
‐ Intermittent faults: use thermal camera to spot hot fuses/relays.
‐ Limited access: on transverse engines, remove upper radiator cover for fan connector reach.
‐ Water ingress: apply dielectric grease to connectors after repair.

Possible disclaimers or additional notes

‐ Exact pin-outs, fuse numbers and activation temperatures vary by make/model; always consult the service manual.
‐ Some ECUs delay fan run-on after key-off; absence of post-shut fan noise is not conclusive.

Suggestions for further research

‐ Impact of brushless fan PWM frequency on EMC compliance.
‐ Predictive cooling using CAN-bus thermal models in EV platforms.
‐ Condition-based maintenance via motor current signature analysis.

Brief summary

A non-operational engine fan is almost always the result of a break in the power-supply chain, a failed control element, or a defective motor. Start with simple visual and fuse checks, progress through relay and wiring tests, and finish with sensor/ECU diagnostics. Modern vehicles increasingly use smart brushless systems, so scan-tool and PWM/LIN analysis skills are becoming essential. Address the issue promptly to avoid overheating, costly engine damage and potential safety liabilities.

Disclaimer: The responses provided by artificial intelligence (language model) may be inaccurate and misleading. Elektroda is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the presented information. All responses should be verified by the user.