Hi, 

can anyone tell me how I can test/check if my radiator/engine fan is working?! 
It never ever seems to come on when I’m driving, or after if I’ve parked up, and I’m really concerned about overheating. The temp gauge always builds up to 90 degrees and just stays there. I notice steam coming off the bonnet too when it rains, and a hot smell. I may just be overthinking it, but every other car I’ve had, the fan was noticeable. Is there a fuse I can check? 
Any help appreciated. 

39 minutes ago, mattob said:

Hi, 

can anyone tell me how I can test/check if my radiator/engine fan is working?! 
It never ever seems to come on when I’m driving, or after if I’ve parked up, and I’m really concerned about overheating. The temp gauge always builds up to 90 degrees and just stays there. I notice steam coming off the bonnet too when it rains, and a hot smell. I may just be overthinking it, but every other car I’ve had, the fan was noticeable. Is there a fuse I can check? 
Any help appreciated. 

By design (no judgement on whether this is a Bad Thing or a Very Bad Thing) the temperature gauge reads 88 to 90 whenever the engine temperature is between 70 and 110 degrees. "Steam" coming off the bonnet above the radiator can just mean a hot bonnet and conditions where the evaporated water is promptly recondensing when it rises a few inches.

 

I'd expect to hear the fan on "high" too, but experience says "this rarely happens" on the road. I can't quote numbers, but there are fan fuses yes. Or you can put that air con on, open the bonnet and see if one or both fans are turning over on slow.

Yeah I see steam with a hot engine sometimes on most of my previous cars. Depends on a few things. Insulation on the bonnet underside can limit a bit but it is not really a problem. Similarly if the car is driven on motorway and raining rain will penetrate the radiators and that will steam off as well.

 

You could test the fan by applying a 12v dc voltage to the  correct +/- terminals.

 

Also, you will find with most VaG applications the larger fan of the two usually comes on with Aircon operation.