Hi everyone. 

I have had to change my thermostat which required draining the coolant.

All the hose clips have been replaced with high quality jubilee clips.

I am wondering how long it should take at idle for the radiator fan to start.

 

Running engine after refilling the system its taking forever for fan to kick in,

Top radiator hose is hot, there are no leaks and the heater is working well and no signs of the engine overheating. 

 

The blue warning light went off, am now idling with heater on cold and red warning light isn't showing but comes on with the ignition. 

 

Anyone know how long it should take for fan to come on?

 

Thank you in advance 

17 minutes ago, DarrenG said:

I am wondering how long it should take at idle for the radiator fan to start

Could be a very long time, especially if your car has a diesel engine; much better to go out for a drive, preferably a lively one, then leave the car idling afterwards to observe such fan action.

Take a litre or so of top-up coolant with you in case the level drops enough to trigger the low level alarm whilst on the road.

 

 

 

Don't worry, changede the same on my old mk2 tdi, had to make sure bonnet was closed and put lights on and heated screen to try and load engine to help it get to temp quicker, don't use air con as fan comes on straight away with this, sit inside and rev engine to around 2500rpm it will then take around 25 mins from cold to get the fan to come on, you will hear it and probably feel it working from inside the car, if you have the  bonnet open it will take around 45-50 mins for the fan to cut in and perhaps longer as the engine is not under any strain and heat will rise up and allow engine to keep cool

Thank you for your replies, 

 

I've  taken it for a short drive, on the way back the high temperature light started flashing and chime sounded,  as I was only 300 yards from home I continued. 

Coolant level has dropped and bottom hose is warm,

No sign of leaks so I believe thermostat is ok.

Letting it cool before topping up.

Hopefully all is well.

 

Thank you again for your help and advice. 

1 hour ago, DarrenG said:

I am wondering how long it should take at idle for the radiator fan to start.

A long time, particularly at this time of year. My 1.9TDi could literally idle for hours without the fan running.

Just now, KenONeill said:

A long time, particularly at this time of year. My 1.9TDi could literally idle for hours without the fan running.

 

I've only ever managed to bring my radiator fan once in the nearly a year I've had my Fabia, and that was on the warmest day of the year with a fairly spirited drive.

I would agree with Wino there. I often think my fan may not be coming on and just to save worry, put a little bit of masking tape from the fan to the shroud or make a felt tip line on part of the fan and shroud, (Thats the better option) to see if it matches up again after a run. It never has. I think if you have the a/c on, it will come on quicker, though but thats the only thing on my car that is not working properly!

7 minutes ago, mrgf said:

ke a felt tip line on part of the fan and shroud, (Thats the better option) to see if it matches up again after a run. It never has.

Well, the low speed fan will run if you put the A/C on, and I think the high speed fan idles in the slipstream when not running...

17 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

 

I've only ever managed to bring my radiator fan once in the nearly a year I've had my Fabia, and that was on the warmest day of the year with a fairly spirited drive.

You might find it's got a failed low-speed function, so worth checking that out. Very common failure, I believe.

 

My temperature gauge is now connected up, which should be helpful. 

Running engine again after topping up

 

Which engine type?

 

1.2 3 cylinder petrol engine.

 

The heater is certainly better, running at an indicates 90 degrees no issues so far.

 

 

Edited 30 December, 20214 yr by DarrenG
Additional information.

From memory, the low speed fan function triggers at about 95°C at the radiator thermoswitch. 

Are you wanting to check the fan function, or just get it up to full temp to be sure everything is flowing as it should following the stat swap?

To check low speed fan function, unplug the radiator thermoswitch connector and short the pins on the loom connector that the blue/brown and brown wires go to.

 

 

Edited 30 December, 20214 yr by Wino

Hi everyone, 

Fan came on at indicated 100 degrees,

Bottom hose is hot so I assume all is well.

 

Thank you for all your help and advice.

 

Have a good and prosperous new year.

I was wanting to check both the fan function and the flow, fortunately everything seems to be working correctly. 

As long as the fan didn't sound really really loud and furious when it did come on; which might indicate that it went straight to full speed?

 

Edited 30 December, 20214 yr by Wino

The fan ran at same speed as when the air conditioning is activated. 

So not really, really loud and frantic-sounding then either?

 

Sounded normal to me, not going like the clappers, it cut out smoothly too.

Perfect. 

Job sorted

 

Thank you everyone