The radiator cooling fan is an essential part of your vehicle's cooling system. The fan is used to keep the engine cool when the vehicle is not traveling at high enough speeds to do it with natural air flow. Overheating can cause a number of serious engine problems, so your vehicle's cooling system always needs to be in the best working condition possible to help avoid expensive repairs.
The fan clutch is a device that adjusts the fan's speed in relation to the engine's speed and cooling needs. The fan clutch works by engaging and disengaging the vehicle's fan as determined by engine temperature readings through use of a thermostat. A malfunctioning fan clutch can cause the fan not to turn on when it is needed and lead to engine overheating.
According to AA1Car, a missing fan shroud can reduce your radiator fan's effectiveness by up to 50 percent, which can lead to overheating on hot days or when the engine is under more strain than usual. The fan shroud serves double duty by protecting the fan and directs the airflow. When the amount of airflow the cooling system receives from the fan is reduced, the effectiveness of the cooling system is often significantly reduced as well.
Every part of your vehicle operates using power generated from the battery and alternator. If your fan is not receiving enough power because of a problem in the wiring, a loose connection somewhere or a bad fuse, your fan may not operate or may only operate intermittently. A problem in your vehicle's electrical system can be relatively minor and simple to repair, but if left undetected or not attended to properly, it can cause serious problems with your vehicle because of the possibility of overheating.
If the fan is not cooling properly, for whatever reason, the vehicle will overheat. This will occur if there are physical problems with the fan or the fan shroud, as well as if there are other problems within the cooling system. Overheating can be caused by improper temperature readings from the thermostat, faulty wiring in the cooling system, a clogged radiator not allowing coolant to flow freely through the cooling system and a variety of other issues. Proper monitoring of your vehicle's engine temperature and coolant levels can help reduce or eliminate overheating problems and help you determine what problems exist. Get your vehicle repaired before the problem escalates.
