Volvo is known as one of the leading car manufacturers all over the world. It is not only popular for the high quality cars but also known for its innovative ideas. It has introduced many new concepts in the automotive industry like car interiors, safety systems, and more.
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There are many versions of Volvo cars in different markets. Among these, the XC70 is one of the most common models. In fact, it is one of the most preferred models in this market. It is easy to identify this model because it has got a characteristic “crossover” look and size. In addition to that, this model is known for its excellent performance and sturdy body structure as well as technology.
However, despite all its high points, the XC70 does have some issues which are also very common. One of them is the problem of a defective fan. As it is mentioned above, this car has a high-tech structure and some of its parts are very complex. In particular, the fan can sometimes get damaged by dust and debris which make it dysfunctional in no time.
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Some Volvo XC70 owners have found out that their fan stops working suddenly. They have searched for the reason why their fan stopped working but did not find any satisfactory answer yet. If you’re one of these people, worry not—this article is made to try and answer that very question!
Signs That You Have a Faulty Fan
Before we get to talking about what to do with a faulty fan, let’s talk about how we know if our vehicle fan is faulty. Here are some of the common symptoms:
- The air in the cabin is warm. One symptom that you should expect when you have a faulty cooling fan is the increased amount of warm or hot air in your cabin. Oftentimes, the cabin will feel hot and stuffy even if you feel like you’ve already had the fan turned on for a while. This is because a broken cooling fan system will affect the motors that run the blower, so that they may not be able to supply as much fresh air to the cabin of the car.
- Your cooling fan does not stop automatically. The cooling fan module is supposed to cool the part of the car when it gets too hot. They keep doing this until the temperature drops down to normal levels. If your car’s cooling fans do not stop, even after the car has been switched off, they are probably faulty and need to be repaired.
- Your engine overheats often. If your cooling fan module fails to control the temperature inside the hood of your car, that will cause the engine to overheat. When the cooling fan module is weak, it means that the fans work slower and do not have the ability to regulate the heat.
What to do With a XC70 Fan That is Not Working
As mentioned above, this fan is known for its high-tech structure. Therefore, if it gets damaged by some dust or debris, it might not work anymore. Here’s how you can troubleshoot for a faulty fan:
1) Check for a damaged coolant temperature sensor
One thing you can check is if the coolant temperature sensor is damaged. The sensor will usually get covered with dust and debris from the outside of the vehicle. If this happens, your cooling fan will not work anymore.
If this temperature sensor is damaged, the controller unit will not know when to turn on the radiator fan. It is necessary to check the owner’s manual to see if the sensor controls the radiator fan. Then you must measure the sensor with a multimeter to make sure that it is functional.
2) Check for insufficient coolant
If the sensor detects that the coolant is too low, then the radiator fan will not work anymore. The only way to fix this problem is to add more coolant in your cooling system.
When the coolant level is low, there is a possibility that the system will get air in it, and the sensor that measures the coolant temperature does not read it correctly. If you have a low level of coolant, you should refill the coolant to bring it to optimum levels.
So if you fail to do this, you could risk your engine becoming overheated. It would do you well to try to avoid this, unless you are willing to spend a lot of money to buy the replacement.
3) Check for a broken radiator fan
Another possible cause of a broken cooling fan is the radiator fan. When the fan stops working, it will become a big problem because your engine will get overheated.
The radiator fan will not work as well if it gets broken, and it can only be fixed by replacing it with a new one. The radiator fans have electric motors inside them, and they inevitably decrease in effectiveness due to wear and tear from years of use.
It is possible to test the electrical radiator fans by taking a wire from the battery and unplugging the radiator fan connector. Then put 12v+ and ground into the connector. This is the easiest and fastest way to test the performance of your radiator fans.
4) Faulty wirings and connection
It is possible that the wires and connectors are faulty. If you notice that the fan does not work even when the car is overheating, there might be a wiring issue or a bad connection. If this is the case, you must fix them.
You should check the wires from the control unit or relay to the radiator fan. Check the plugs to see if there are any indications of corrosion, then check the plugs on the relay and the control unit.
Also, as a quick test, use a multimeter to see if the power is coming from the radiator fan. If the problem lies in the wiring or connection of any of these components, it may be a better idea to take your vehicle to a trusted professional. Fixing up wires may need a more delicate touch and more expertise.
Max Anthony
Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.
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