A critical component of a vehicle's cooling system, a cooling fan moves air past the radiator to prevent overheating. In the old days of cast-iron blocks and heads, overheating often wasn't too severe. Today, though, aluminum engines can quickly be ruined by a single overheating incident.
Given the choice between replacing your failed radiator fan or rebuilding the engine, it's a no-brainer. If you need replacement parts for your vehicle, you'll find that we carry the parts you're looking for.
Located either in front or behind the radiator, a cooling fan operates by taking in outside air and blowing it through the radiator, reducing the temperature of the coolant. It also expels heat out from under the hood, keeping the engine cool. An overheating engine can be a sure sign that your fan needs replacing. The temperature gauge on your vehicle's instrument panel alerts you to increasing temperature and a potential issue that needs immediate attention. If there's plenty of coolant in the radiator (never check the radiator when engine is hot), the problem is possibly the fan itself.
There are two types to consider: engine-driven and electric cooling fans. The type of fan in your vehicle is largely dependent on whether it is front- or rear-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive vehicles rely on electric models controlled by the vehicle's computer. They automatically switch on when the engine's coolant reaches a set temperature and turn off when it decreases below that set point. Engine-driven fans have a viscous clutch that thermostatically controls its operation. They also consistently spin at the rate of the engine, going slower or faster as the engine does. More and more vehicles have gone to an electric cooling fan, though, as it's one less thing to put parasitic drag on the engine.
Replacing a cooling fan is easy to do if you are handy and know how to work under the hood. When it comes to finding the necessary tools and parts to work on your vehicle, you can count on us to deliver every time.