Five Signs That Your Car's AC Fan Is Not Working (& How to Replace It)

The car’s AC system can make or break a summer ride. If the AC system is not working properly, it can make the car's cabin unbearable. Although the AC system has many important components, it is easy for the fan to go bad.

This article will discuss the signs and importance of an AC condenser fan failure in your car. It can make it more enjoyable to drive during the summer. Let’s take a quick overview of the most common signs to look for:

Hot cabins with an inoperative air conditioner are the most obvious signs of an AC fan failure. A burning smell coming from your engine bay or warning light on the dashboard could also be signs of a bad AC condenser fan.

Below is a list that explains the signs and symptoms associated with a poor AC condenser fan.

Bad Car AC Condenser Fan symptoms

1. Lukewarm Air

This is the first sign that your AC fan has stopped working. When you turn on your AC, all that is left to blow in your face is lukewarm water. 

You could have a problem with the AC condenser fans, or other issues. If the refrigerant levels fall, then the system can produce warm air.

Reported: 9 Reasons Your Car's AC Is Not Blowing Cold air 

2. Burning Smell

Your vehicle needs to release the hot air that’s building up in the system. When it can’t, the internal temperature of the AC parts becomes so hot that they start to burn and emit a putrid smell. The AC will emit a burning odor if it is on. 

Turn off your air conditioner immediately if you feel anything is burning. You might need to replace more than one part. 

3. Refrigerant Leak

AC condensers are responsible for keeping refrigerant pressurized. The condenser can become vulnerable to breakage if the fan does not cool it. 

When lines or seals break, leaks can occur. A simple fan replacement may not be enough. It could lead to a total overhaul of the entire AC system. 

4. Overheating During Idle

Heat can buildup when there is no refrigerant circulated through the AC system. This problem can sometimes be seen as steam rising from radiators in some cases. However, most times there aren't any signs. 

When you start moving again the heat should stop as the airflow is visible. However, overheating may cause severe damage. 

You may notice an AC fan not functioning in the radiator.

5. Warning Light

Most older vehicles don’t have sensors to alert you when there is an air conditioning problem, but newer cars have sensors for just about everything.

You might see a warning lamp on the dashboard if there's a problem in your air conditioner. Check the owner’s manual to determine what indicator lights your vehicle contains. 

Locate the Car AC Condenser Fan

Under the vehicle's hood is the AC condenser fan. It can be found in front. Most cases will have two fan assemblies. The radiator has one fan assembly, and the condenser the other. To tell them apart, you might need to reference your car’s service manual. However, many cars have the same condenser fan.

When the AC system is switched on, you should see your fan running. When you turn on the AC, the fan should be spinning. If it’s not, you need to replace it. 

An AC Condenser Fan's Function

It works by exchanging heat with a system that relies on pressure gradients. The refrigerant used by cars is a liquid which turns to a gas via the closed system. For this system to work properly, there can’t be any leaks and all components must operate as intended. 

The AC compressor is driven by the car’s crankshaft. This compressor is responsible for regulating the refrigerant gases. This is where the AC changes from low pressure to very high pressure. 

Here, high-pressure refrigerant flows into an AC condenser which functions as a small radiator. With the aid of the fan, the heat is expelled. The gas becomes liquid when it is heated. When it comes to heat removal from AC systems, condenser fans and fan play a critical role. 

When the condenser fan cannot do its job, the pressure isn’t removed and the gas continues on through the system when it should be liquefied. At higher pressures, this refrigerant can infiltrate the condenser fan/accumulator or expansion valve. 

Replacement cost for AC Condenser Fan

Replacement costs for AC condenser fans range between $300- $425. Parts are available for purchase from $245-$330 and labor costs $55-$200 depending on the make/model. 

Condenser cooling fans come as complete units, with the housing, motor and blades. It doesn’t’ make sense to only replace one aspect of the unit. 

A bad AC condenser fan is easy to misdiagnose. Many technicians mistakenly add refrigerant to the AC condenser fan because it is producing warm air. This only makes the problem worse. Additionally, the motor relay or fan control module will be replaced because the fan isn’t running, but this could also be a mistake.