Why does the Geely Panda's water temperature rise when the air conditioning is on?

[DeJesse]

The reason why the Geely Panda's water temperature rises when the air conditioning is on is likely due to issues with the cooling fan and the condenser in front of the radiator. Cooling fan malfunction: When the vehicle is running at high speeds, the heat generated cannot be effectively transferred to the coolant, which affects heat dissipation. This leads to an increase in coolant temperature, potentially causing overheating and other issues. Dirty condenser: The primary purpose of cleaning the radiator and condenser is to ensure proper heat dissipation. If the condenser is clogged with debris such as poplar or willow catkins, it can cause the engine temperature to rise excessively or result in poor air conditioning performance. When cleaning, it's crucial to first use an air gun to blow away the debris before rinsing with water. Otherwise, it may have the opposite effect, not only worsening the air conditioning performance but also increasing fuel consumption. Solution: First, check whether the cooling fan fails to operate at high speed when the air conditioning is turned on. If not, the issue is likely caused by dirt between the condenser and the radiator affecting heat dissipation. Clean the exterior of the radiator and condenser to ensure proper ventilation.

[JaceDella]

I've been driving a Geely Panda for three years and have encountered the issue of the temperature gauge rising rapidly when the AC is on in summer. The most likely cause is an underperforming cooling fan. When the AC is on, the compressor generates about 20% more heat, and if the fan speed can't keep up, cooling becomes inefficient. Another possibility is that the radiator or cooling grille is clogged with willow catkins or insects—last time I cleaned mine, the issue resolved. If the coolant hasn't been changed for too long, it can thicken and flow poorly, or the water pump impeller might be corroded, affecting circulation. A less obvious issue is a thermostat stuck in the closed position—if you feel a significant temperature difference between the upper and lower radiator hoses, that's likely the culprit. If the temperature warning light comes on, you must pull over immediately, or the engine could be severely damaged.

[SpencerMarie]

After 12 years as a mechanic, I've found there are four main areas to check when a Panda's temperature rises with AC on. First, the condenser and radiator interlayer may be clogged, blocking airflow and reducing cooling efficiency—just disassemble and clean out the dust. Second, the coolant might be degraded, with lowered boiling point and foam formation. Third, inspect the electric fan; if it can't rotate at low gear under AC pressure, use a diagnostic tool to accurately read fan speed. Fourth, check if the AC high-pressure pipe is too close to the engine, causing long-term coolant overheating. A quick test: if the temperature also rises when climbing without AC, then the cooling system itself is faulty. Never randomly replace antifreeze yourself—proper air bleeding is crucial to avoid worsening the issue.

[LeJudah]

Last time I drove the Panda on the highway with the AC on, the water temperature alarm went off, which really scared me. The mechanic said that these microcars have limited cooling design margins, with the AC condenser and radiator stacked together, making them prone to overheating if they get even slightly dirty. He advised me to pay special attention to the radiator cap's seal, as insufficient pressure can cause the coolant to boil. It's also common for the electric fan plug to get corroded, causing the fan to stop working intermittently. If the coolant was recently topped up, there might be an airlock in the system. The worst-case scenario would be a blown head gasket, but that usually comes with white smoke from the exhaust pipe. Now, I always ask for the radiator grille to be flushed during every maintenance service.