Cooling fan or the radiator keeps your car’s engine cool to ensure a long-lasting and seamless performance. If the fan is out of business, it is very likely that your car’s other components associated with the engine are at stake.
Chevy Cruze Cooling Fan problems include wiring or coolant issues. The engine temperature sensor or even a broken clutch could also force your cooling fan to come to a stall. Electrical problems, insufficient coolant, or leakage may also lead to fan issues. But among them all, you may encounter perhaps the biggest problem – an ‘out of order’ fan motor – that could result in changing the entire unit!
However, just because your Chevy Cruze’s cooling fan is not on does not necessarily mean the fan is expired and the entire unit needs to be replaced. Some minor issues might also prevent a cooling fan from performing accurately. So, let’s read along and sort out the problems associated with the cooling fan to keep your car running smoothly.
5 common Chevy Cruze Cooling Fan failure Symptoms
Check out some of the common problems cooling fan symptoms of a Chevy Cruze diesel.
Your Chevy Cruze cooling fan might come to several states like –
- Fan not working at all
- Fan working frequently
- Fan is working but the engine is getting too hot
- Fan working continuously
- Fan making extreme noise
Well, before you jump into the problem identification section, let us learn why it’s important to solve cooling fan issues in the following section.
9 most common Chevy Cruze Cooling Fan Problems
- Low or No Coolant Issue
There could be one common scenario with your coolant. That is, if the radiator is not performing but still the car engine is getting hot (seemingly), chances are high your coolant reservoir is empty or too low.
The temperature sensor of the Chevy Cruze actually does not read the level of the coolant liquid. Rather, it assumes the overall temperature on the basis of hotness of the liquid coolant.
So, if the coolant liquid is too low or empty, the reservoir will suck the air in, resulting in a false temperature signal from the sensor. This is a very important thing to consider when your fan is not working.
- Loud Fan
Fans will make noise. That’s pretty normal, right? But if you hear the sound of your Chevy Cruze fan from several parking stalls away, it’s a problem. Chances are high your fan has jumped to the highest level and is making sounds like a jet engine.
- Fan Fuse is Blown
Boom! A faulty Fan Fuse that’s blown could result in radiator fan failure. Usually, the fan fuse gets burned off or simply falls off at a certain time. You may need to get the owner’s manual of the vehicle to easily find out the exact location of the fuse.
- Worn Out Fan Wiring
Worn-out wiring can cause fan failure. The chances of facing worn-out wiring are high when you are using the vehicle for a long time. Sometimes, coolant leakage and irregular servicing may also cause wires to wear out faster than expected. If your Chevy Cruze fan is not working, don’t forget to check the wiring before making any significant changes.
- Fan Relay Issue
A relay is a device that connects or interrupts the circuit. You will find several relays on board. It’s highly recommended to check the fan relay to fix your fan problem. Note here, if your vehicle’s fan is totally shut, chances are high that the relay is not working.
- Faulty ECU Can Cause Fan
The ECU, or Engine Control Unit, is a major part of your Chevy Cruze’s onboard computer. It’s used to control many systems and subsystems in your car’s engine including the fan. ECU computers can be checked from the nearest dealership, service center, or repair shops.
- Defunct Temperature Sensor
Temperature sensor is a key factor that decides when the radiator fan should start. It basically reads the temperature of the engine to make any action. If the temperature sensor does not perform then your cooling fan will not start working.
- Fan Motor Is Seized
Everything comes to an end at a certain time. It’s normal for a fan motor to meet its final destination. Typically, a car engine motor gets seized when the components inside the motor, such as coil or bearing wires out. When your fan’s coil is out of order, you need to replace it.
- Broken Cooling Fan Blade
Although it is very unlikely to happen with a Chevy Cruze, your radiator fan’s blade might get broken. Check the blades properly if they are broken and stuck or not.
How to Fix Chevy Cruze Cooling Fan Not Working?
- Replacing The Broken Fan Is the Most Reasonable Option
If you are determined that the fan problem is with the blade or the electric motor, replacing the unit is the most reasonable option at hand. The average cost of replacing a Chevy Cruze cooling fan is between $600 and $700. You also need to add the workshop cost of around $150 with it. The tax and other formal costs are also waiting to make your wallet lighter!
Well, that’s the worst-case scenario. Let us see if you could fix the problem through some more affordable options.
- Slightly Shake and Spin the Fan by Hand to see if it Wiggles
The fan should be very firm and unmovable if the bearing inside the motor is damaged. If the fan still rotates while you try with your hand, chances are high the problem lies somewhere else other than the motor itself. Give a few slaps and shaking to the fan. Make it move. Ignite the engine, turn on the AC or try using the computer module to make your fan spin.
- Replace the Relay and Fuse
You should find a 50 amp fuse that protects the cooling fan. Locate the fuse and relay and replace it with a good fuse from the same amperage. This is a common problem and it’s perhaps the cheapest fix for a cooling fan not working in a Chevy Cruze.
The replacement cost of the radiator fan relay is between $70 and $80. Labor costs are estimated between $40 and $50. However, you may find it way cheaper at $10 to $ 15 since the part is widely available and easy to replace with.
- Fill With Fresh Coolant
Undoubtedly, a coolant problem has the cheapest solution in the list of Chevy Cruze cooling fan issues. Your car uses Dex-Cool compatible antifreeze/coolant to provide the best performance. Fill the coolant tank with fresh coolant and also check the temperature sensor to solve the fan problem of the car. The price of the coolant is between $30-$40 depending on their qualities.
- Replace The Temperature Sensor
Well, this one is an expensive fix for your vehicle. It takes around $150 to $300 to replace the temperature sensor of a Chevy Cruze Diesel. On top of that, you cannot even fix a broken temperature sensor. Once it’s out of order, you are doomed and bound to replace it.
The price of the sensor itself, however, is about $40 online. Nonetheless, replacing a temperature sensor will help get rid of the ‘not working at all’ or ‘continuously running’ problem of your Chevy Cruze cooling fan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Climate Control Switch of the Chevy Cruze?
The climate control switch is associated with the AC of your Chevy Cruze. This makes your cooling fan on even when the engine is cold or not in use. The fan control unit takes the signal from the Climate Control Switch to operate the fan as needed.
Should my cooling fan be still on while I turn on the car AC?
Yes. The cooling fan will be at work when you keep the AC on. It’s absolutely okay and both the radiator and condenser cooling fan are expected to be at operation the moment you turn on the Chevy Cruze’s AC.
What Sensor Controls The Cooling Fan in a Chevy Cruze?
On a modern Chevy Cruze, the cooling fan is controlled by the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which gets a signal from the coolant temperature sensor to perform accordingly.
2012 Chevy Cruze Cooling Fan Fuses & Relays >> Check out the video below:
Final Words
Fixing cooling fan problems in your Chevy Cruze can be both easy and difficult depending on the problem you are to deal with. Replacing the relay or filling up with fresh coolant might be easy and safe for anyone to try fixing the fan.
In case you need to deal with the critical problems like replacing the temperature sensor or electrical wiring, you will require good techniques and courage to come out victorious. If you are certain, go for it! If not, you always have the workshops at your service. Cheers!
