A fan temperature switch can prevent the costly expense of an overheating engine. This becomes even more of a problem during hot weather months. The purpose of a fan temperature switch is to help operate the cooling fan of an engine.
The fan temperature device is a part of the control system that regulates temperature. It may also have an indicator, warning or alarm function. A temperature fan switch can also monitor temperatures for fluids including transmission fluid and brake fluid.
A fan temperature switch is designed to handle rough situations. It has a simple, durable design which helps make sure there is a clean electrical switch across the contact points. A quality fan temperature switch should be able to monitor different liquid temperatures like engine coolant. This device should able to meet the requirements of the application it is designed to perform.
The fan temperature switch is designed to cool the engine and monitor temperature. The fan does not switch on when the engine first turns on since it doesn't need to be cooled. It does not activate until the engine temperature reaches its normal operating temperature - around 195 to 215 degrees. The temperature fan switch will operate on and off when needed to maintain the coolant temperature. If the engine's temperature is normal, the fan will simply idle at a low speed. The fan switch can still be heard after the engine is turned off, but it will eventually turn off once the engine has cooled down.
If your fan temperature switch unexpectedly stops working, it can be trouble for your engine. It no longer has a working mechanism to keep it from overheating. Some things that can contribute to your fan temperature switch not working are:
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - especially when it comes to your car's fan temperature switch. You can start checking the fan circuit by just turning on the ignition and operating the air conditioning at full power. If the fan is operating then the motor, relay and fuse are all okay. The only problem is that it doesn't really tell you a whole lot about the fan temperature switch.
In order to check the temperature that causes the car's temperature switch to activate, turn the air conditioning off while the engine runs until it reaches the normal operating temperature. Typically the fan switches on when the engine temperature reaches anywhere from 200 to 230 degrees. If the fan does not switch on, there could be a defect in the control circuit. You will need to move on to performing resistance checks on the fan temperature switch, and a voltage check on each side of the relay.
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