Radiator trouble My car is over heating, and have noticed that the fan doesn't to be spinning. Thought it might have something to do with the thermostat? Any ideas? it is a 1987 suzuki swift

Hi again,

Pls allow me to correct the use of the term "thermostat". The thermostat is a temperature sensitive mechanical switch/valve that prevents water flow below a prescribed temperature. It is normally located inside a catch basin like receptacle where the upper radiator hose enters going into the engine. Soon as the engine reaches heats up and over operating temperature, this valve opens allowing the water inside the engine to flow towards the radiator to be cooled. In tropical regions and to prevent overheating, some mechanics have been known to remove this mechanical thermostat to allow constant coolant flow and therefore not restrict the cooling system in anyway.

Your concern is that the fan is not turning; the radiator fan is controlled/switched by a thermal switch. This switch electrically provides the negative flow of the power from the fan. Often, the switch would be located somewhere plugged/screwed into the radiator. The idea is that the switch will monitor the coolant temperature inside the radiator and upon reaching a prescribed temp switches on the fan. Some mechanics have been known to:
1. wire a manual override wherein the driver could switch on the fan even if the coolant has not reached the prescribed temperature;
2. there are some who have modified the switch system by installing a similar thermal fan switch but with a lower temperature threshold;
3. still others have simply bypassed the switch and wired the fan in such a way as that the fan turns soon as the key is turned in the ignition.

Additional ideas (some have reported positive results with) that could be tried to help minimize if not prevent overheating:
a. removing the pain of the entire radiator;
b. switched to Synthetic Oil for the engine;
c. adding " Water Wetter" or a "A Heat fighter kit" or liquid additive that help radiator work better;
d. replace the stock fan with higher RPM, more blades, bigger after market model.

Cheers.


Hi again,

Pls allow me to correct the use of the term "thermostat". The thermostat is a temperature sensitive mechanical switch/valve that prevents water flow below a prescribed temperature. It is normally located inside a catch basin like receptacle where the upper radiator hose enters going into the engine. Soon as the engine reaches heats up and over operating temperature, this valve opens allowing the water inside the engine to flow towards the radiator to be cooled. In tropical regions and to prevent overheating, some mechanics have been known to remove this mechanical thermostat to allow constant coolant flow and therefore not restrict the cooling system in anyway.

Your concern is that the fan is not turning; the radiator fan is controlled/switched by a thermal switch. This switch electrically provides the negative flow of the power from the fan. Often, the switch would be located somewhere plugged/screwed into the radiator. The idea is that the switch will monitor the coolant temperature inside the radiator and upon reaching a prescribed temp switches on the fan. Some mechanics have been known to:
1. wire a manual override wherein the driver could switch on the fan even if the coolant has not reached the prescribed temperature;
2. there are some who have modified the switch system by installing a similar thermal fan switch but with a lower temperature threshold;
3. still others have simply bypassed the switch and wired the fan in such a way as that the fan turns soon as the key is turned in the ignition.

Additional ideas (some have reported positive results with) that could be tried to help minimize if not prevent overheating:
a. removing the pain of the entire radiator;
b. switched to Synthetic Oil for the engine;
c. adding " Water Wetter" or a "A Heat fighter kit" or liquid additive that help radiator work better;
d. replace the stock fan with higher RPM, more blades, bigger after market model.

Cheers.