Please Help! Radiator Fan Issues

[Volcarano]

Hey guys, I have a bit of a dilemma here

So earlier this evening I was driving home from work when all of a sudden my engine started overheating out of nowhere. I popped the hood and noticed coolant boiling in the reservoir as well as a terrible whining noise coming from the radiator cap.

After some investigation I discovered the radiator fans weren't spinning at all when they definitely should've been. I tried a few things I thought might address the problem including: topping up and bleeding the coolant, resetting the ecu and checking the fuses. The one fuse I could check appeared to be ok but the other is a solid black plastic so I couldn't see through.

After letting it cool down I started her back up and she slowly began to overheat again . I decided I would try limp my way home taking many breaks and going as fast as I reasonably could to keep the engine cool.

I was thinking it might've been a dodgy wire since I noticed some corrosion on one of the fan connectors but of course, when I got home and checked again, the fans were both running????

I'm now thinking it might a dodgy fan controller or some other gizmo on its way out. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas on where to start please let me know. I was thinking of buying some universal fans off eBay but I think I'll start by taking a few things apart and testing the wires and connections.

Thanks

 

[mezje]

If the fans aren't spinning, then that's the first place to start. The heads are alloy though and reading this post I think you would have now blown the head gasket and/or warped the head.

Remove the fans and give them 12V, do they spin? If they do, check the trigger is OK.

 

[Volcarano]

Damn I hope the heads are ok, I did a coolant pressure test and it doesn't seem to be leaking. I'll have to check the oil next cos there was a bit of blue smoke coming out of the exhaust.

I got the fans running again, it looks like the pins inside the fan controller connector came loose. There was also a bit of crust and the plastic was basically crumbling in my hands. I've ordered a new connector and controller so I can fix things up.

 

[mezje]

Damn I hope the heads are ok, I did a coolant pressure test and it doesn't seem to be leaking. I'll have to check the oil next cos there was a bit of blue smoke coming out of the exhaust.

I got the fans running again, it looks like the pins inside the fan controller connector came loose. There was also a bit of crust and the plastic was basically crumbling in my hands. I've ordered a new connector and controller so I can fix things up.

View attachment 66951

Is that burned out or just got shit in it?

Monitor your coolant levels, holding a pressure test via the rad cap is good but won't tell if you the HG is gone (ask me how I know). If you develop any other HG symptoms, get an exhaust gas tester, will tell you instantly..

 

[Volcarano]

Maybe slightly burnt or at least a little hot? It looks like some of the different coloured plastics have fused together. I'm hoping a new connector will sort it out.

I'll definitely get the exhaust gas tester when I have a chance. I do think I'm losing coolant somehow, sometimes it's fine when I check and other times it seems like the whole tank has disappeared. I get a bit of exhaust smoke on startup but it usually goes away quite quickly.

 

[mezje]

Maybe slightly burnt or at least a little hot? It looks like some of the different coloured plastics have fused together. I'm hoping a new connector will sort it out.

I'll definitely get the exhaust gas tester when I have a chance. I do think I'm losing coolant somehow, sometimes it's fine when I check and other times it seems like the whole tank has disappeared. I get a bit of exhaust smoke on startup but it usually goes away quite quickly.

That doesn't sound good, coolant magically disappearing is typical of a HG.