So, what’s a radiator (cooling) fan and why do you need it?
Alright, here’s the story – your radiator is filled with coolant, a liquid that runs through your engine, soaks up all that excess heat, then heads back to the radiator to dump that heat out. Now, getting rid of that heat is where the radiator fan comes in. When you’re stuck on Victoria Street in traffic or crawling slowly through Chartwell or Nawton with a carload of kids, there’s hardly any air scooting through the radiator, so the fan steps in to force air through the system and cool things down. It only kicks in when the engine’s getting a bit hot – think of it like an extra pair of hands fanning your motor after a tough slog up the hills near Dinsdale in the middle of summer.
If you want the full textbook run-down on the science bit, check this out: Learn more about how the cooling fan works >
What sort of things muck up the cooling fan?
Mechanical Damage – We see this more than you’d think. Maybe you’ve clipped a big pothole out near Te Kowhai or copped a rock to the undertray on SH3 from Cambridge way. Sometimes something gets jammed in the blades, or the shroud gets a knock – suddenly the fan either jams up or starts running all wobbly. Either way, if it isn’t moving air, your engine’s going to get hot quick, especially at low speed.
Had a Subaru Outback in the other day – bit of plastic wedged in the fan after a parking scrape in the CBD. It was shaking like mad and making a racket in the engine bay.
Faulty fan motor – The motor that spins the fan can conk out, sometimes just from old age or water getting in after a deep puddle out Tamahere way. If the motor’s smoked, the fan’s not spinning, and that means trouble when you’re stick in stop/start traffic on Rotokauri Road.
Blown fuse – There’s a fuse running power to the fan. Blown fuse = no fan. Real common after an electrical short or, oddly enough, after DIY jump starts in the winter. Suddenly you’ve got no cooling when you need it most.
How do you know your radiator fan’s packed it in?
Overheating – This is the big giveaway. If you notice your temp gauge climbing fast when you’re waiting at Five Cross Roads or crawling up Ulster Street on a stinkin’ hot day, odds are the fan’s not pulling its weight. Bit less obvious if you’re on the open road (like Pirongia bound on SH23), but Hamilton city driving makes the problem show up quick.
Steam from the engine – Had a customer’s Honda Accord start puffing out white steam near Claudelands Park. Classic sign – cooling system can’t keep up, possible fan issue.
Engine damage – Worst case, if you keep driving, you’re risking blown head gaskets, cracked heads, or a seized up engine. That’s a big bill and a world of pain for any owner. So if you see that temp gauge heading north, especially in big traffic or after a long idle at The Base, do not keep driving.
How urgent is a radiator fan replacement?
Look, it’s not something you want to mess around with. Radiator/cooling fan issues don’t get better on their own. Leaving it too long just increases your risk of a big, expensive engine drama. If your car’s heating up or you’re worried the fan’s stuffed, get it checked ASAP. Doesn’t matter if you’re running a Toyota Hilux, Nissan Leaf, Ford Ranger, or even something you picked up used from Morrinsville or Raglan – every car needs the right cooling to survive NZ conditions.
Radiator/cooling fan replacement service in Hamilton
If you reckon your radiator/cooling fan’s on the way out, or you just want peace of mind for the next WOF, swing by Grimmer Motors. We sort cooling fans for everything from Mazdas and BMWs to Isuzus and the odd SsangYong. While we’re there, we can check over the whole cooling system – radiators, water pumps, hoses, whatever – and we fix coolant leaks too. Keeps your car happy so you can handle those Hamilton traffic holds, whether it’s frosty winter mornings or roasting January arvos.
No one wants an overheating surprise on the way to Frankton Markets or a breakdown by The Base. Get it checked and sorted, easy as.