What Causes a Car's Cooling Fan Not to Spin?
2 Answers
Here are the reasons why a car's cooling fan may not be spinning: Whether the coolant temperature meets the requirement: Most modern car radiator fans operate using electronic temperature control, meaning the fan typically only starts spinning when the engine coolant reaches the specified temperature. If the temperature is too low, the radiator fan will not activate. Therefore, if the car's radiator fan fails to spin, the first thing to check is whether the coolant temperature has reached the required level. Relay malfunction: If the coolant temperature is appropriate but the car's radiator fan still does not work, the issue might lie with the fan relay. A faulty relay can prevent the radiator fan from operating. Temperature control switch problem: If the above two aspects are not the issue, then the temperature control switch should be inspected. This component can sometimes develop faults, which may affect the operation of the car's radiator fan, so it should also be checked carefully.
I've been driving for decades and have encountered the issue of the fan not spinning many times. Usually, it's a blown fuse—that little thing in the fuse box—just replace it and it's good to go. The motor can also fail, especially in older cars. Loose or corroded wiring connections can cause it to stop working too. Once on the highway, my fan suddenly stopped, and the engine started smoking—what a scare! I immediately pulled over to check and found it was a relay failure. The mechanic said if not fixed in time, the engine could overheat and be ruined. Now, I regularly pop the hood to inspect and wiggle the wiring to prevent issues. Simple precautions can save big bucks, and daily car use requires some vigilance—after all, safety is more important than anything.
