Mitsubishi Outlander 2003 cooling fan issue

Test for stuck relay. With everything off but key on, feel the tops of relays for a warm of hot one.

With hot battery, turn all off, wait 10 minutes and then feel of all relays to see if one is warm or hot. Stuck relay can cause this.

Most likely bad thermostat.bad heat sensor on radiator

There is an open recall out for the 2003 Mitsubishi outlander. It's for te engine cooling fan to be replaced. Just call your local mitsubishi dealership and schedule to bring it in, it's free. It's been an open recall since 2008. I just bought mine and I'm taking it in tomorrow.

Replace heater/ac control assembly

I had the exact same problem with my 03' Outlander. I called the dealer and gave them the last 8 digits of the VIN and found that my Outlander had "no outstanding recalls". Tough luck. Apparently, the recall/repair was done a few years ago by the previous owner and now its acting up again.
Well, have no fear, the problem is caused by a defective cooling fan controller which is located on the inside wall of the radiator. You cant miss it. Disconnect the plug thats attached to the input of the controller (it comes from the ECU in the fuse box on the drivers side engine compartment). Check for 12VDC coming into the unit from the ECU to make sure its got voltage when the engine is running with the AC on. If it does, and the fans are not running, the unit is most likely the problem. You can also check the two outputs to the two fans for 12vdc to make sure the fans arent both bad. (unlikely)

Give the unit a tap with a wrench with the AC on and engine running (be careful) to see if the relays free up and the fans start running. It worked on mine! Now the car runs cool as a cucumber even at long red lights and in traffic jams. Sometimes the relays can get stuck. I hope this helps.

Hi and welcome to FixYa I am Kelly.
You have 2 fans because one is the temperature controlled radiator fan that only runs when the engine water temp is above 160 deg. F. The water termperature controlled fan can run even with the ignition key OFF should the Engine water temp be too hot.
The 2nd fan is for your Air-Conditioner that should run when the cabin temp is set low enough for the Air-Conditioner compressor to run. This fan should run anytime the Air-Conditoner is switched on.
If your experiencing engine over heat problems when driving slow or sitting idle most likely the fan switch that is switched on by water temperature has failed. The fan switch controls a fan relay and if the relay fails the fan will not run. In this particular model there is a cooling fan module that controls the fan.

Read this link but DO NOT click on any links from that webpage: (They do not work)
http://www.fixautopartz.com/2009/03/20/2003-mitsubishi-outlander-engine-cooling-system

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

have you checked the fuse to fan have you tested to see if the fan is bad if your getting power to fan and fan isnt comeing on then the fan is bad

At idle, with engine hot, is the fan blade turning?

Theory is, at idle, need the fan to pull air though the radiator, at highway speeds, the air flows through without need for the fan.

it just started this then it could be the motor burning out on the fans because their electric fans. or a sensor. you need to take it to someone with a code reader and they can tell you exactly whats happening.