[Jaggu]

As tsk said this is not a very good solution but yes better than running as it is. If the roads are clear, drive in top gear with min revs and max speed if there are no other options. Otherwise best to park in a safe spot and call help.

EDIT: Unni.ak: Tsk meant the blower fan cooling the heater coil, instead of radiator fan cooling the radiator.

[sudharma]

Originally Posted by sidindica

(DISCLAIMER:

• TRY THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
• THIS IS WHAT I HAVE EXPERIANCED AND AM SHARING WITH YOU.
• IT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK IN ALL SITUATIONS OR CARS RESPECTIVELY.)

I just experienced this and it worked.

It was my friend's Hyundai accent which had clocked 44,600 kms and was over heating, with the temp needle almost running to red.

A service manager of a Hyundai service center told me to:

• DO NOT TURN ON THE AC.

We drove this crippled car for about 10 kms (called the helpline) following this tip and voila, the car was functioning normally. I hope this is useful for those whose service centers are pretty far off or whose car's fan stops working in the middle of the road.

Only some vehicles have 2 fans , one for the radiator and one for the AC condensor. maruthi-800s have only one fan. Then again the (condensor) fan will be coupled with the AC. So you have to switch on the AC, temperature control to be not in the cooling region so that the (condensor) fan runs.
Vehicles with a single fan, if it fails, then only way to keep the engine cool is to move fast so that the ram air could cool the radiator.

PS.
Maruthi-800s does not have a temperature control. Only a evaporator grill thermostat cutting out the compressor at a fixed temperature ( 11*C-15*C).

[TracerBullet]

I had used this method in 2004 when my car had overheated while climbing segur ghats enroute ooty. It worked like a charm but I am not sure if it was correct or not.

[GTO]

Learn something new everyday on Team-BHP. Thanks for the tip Sid!

I've noticed that, with a malfunctioning radiator fan, the engine works alright on the open road. It's in bumper to bumper traffic that the temp needle climbs up. Thus, in such a situation, and if you have the choice of an alternate road, choose the emptier one?

[tsk1979]

Oops, mistype. What I meant was the Raditor fan gives much more cooling than the Blower fan. So blower fan will help to an extent, esp if you are on an open road.

[aaggoswami]

Originally Posted by GTO

I've noticed that, with a malfunctioning radiator fan, the engine works alright on the open road. It's in bumper to bumper traffic that the temp needle climbs up. Thus, in such a situation, and if you have the choice of an alternate road, choose the emptier one?

We exactly did what Sidindica has said in Santro, only fact is that we did not move blower to full speed. On roads with dense traffic, what Sidindica said did not work. On open roads, it worked and we reached his home.

Now I know why we were saved. This was suggested by a local mechanic who took care of his Santro. But he had also made a few mods to Santro.

[n.devdath]

I remember the Scorp's user manual mentioning the same remedy in case the vehicle overheats. It should make the vehicle drivable for some distance at least.

[prince_pervez]

Last Saturday, my colleague's Wagon R's fan jammed. He called up his mechanic at MASS who advised him not to drive the car too much and park in a shade and get it towed to MASS. He said the engine would seize if it were driven like that. I also noticed that there was no coolant in the bottle and the vehicle had been serviced 2 weeks back at MASS.

[alpha1]

Nice to read that this method works, because it may be useful in certain situations.

To those who feel why we should turn on the heater - we never actually turn on the heater - that knob allows the air through the radiator, which is hot. This hot air comes to us.

Any extra air flowing through radiator = cooling of the coolant inside.


Now what about the case where coolant has leaked or pump stops?

[greenhorn]

I think this works only in vehicles with HVAC systems(Heater + AC) , and not on those with Just AC systems. For example, it will work on an indica *LG or *LX models, but not the *LS or the *LE

[anupam00]

Dear All,

In case the Raditor Fan is not working following needs to be checked,

• Open the Bonnet of the vehicle check whether there is coolant in the bottle or not? In case no kindly pour in water as coolant might not be available. In case of no coolant in the coolant bottle the fan would not work so ensure that the coolant bottle has either coolant best case or water worst case.

Never open the Raditor cap in Hot Condition. I repeat Never, There is no need to open Raditor Cap in Hot Condition, Only Inspect Raditor condition after the engine is in cool condition I mean at least 7 hr engine rest in a safer side.

• How do you know the symptom that after filling coolant or water in the bottle the fan is working or not? Keep the car idle running & press Accelerator once if the heating reached a little above middle level in most case in some cases fan start before middle level as well check by eyes that whether fan is working or not. Never Touch the fan as it might start because of temperature level & a person can get hurt.You would also hear the fan noise once it starts
• One more important point to be checked there is a fuse box in all the cars – normally the location of the fuse box is below/side of driver seat & the cap of the fuse box has labels of various fuses & the required ampere rating –check in case if the fan fuse is ok or not ?in case not replace the fuse with any other fuse except self fuse & also a higher rating is ok as lower rating would disallow the function to start.Keep some extra fuse in case,They cost really low & are very useful in case of distress.
• Now also if the fan is still not working, check the hose pipe physically of you see any leakage of water etc at least that would tell you the real problem inspector means whether it is mechanical problem or electrical,in case that hose pipe leakage is visible than the problem can be cured by visting a mechanic.
• If the fan is still not working than what required is to ask where the service centre is & drive the car to the service centre : what is required is switch the engine off let it cool for a while & then restart the engine & drive slows & change gears as per the gear driving ratio-till the time heating does not reaches last quarter needle & than again park the car on the road side, wait & then drive the car to the nearest service centre.I repeat the crux is do not overheat the vehicle as that might damage gas kit of the car.
• Try to reach a safe point & a service centre where mechanical as well as electrical work is done.

Thanks & Regards
Anupam

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by sidindica

• IT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK IN ALL SITUATIONS OR CARS RESPECTIVELY.)

Originally Posted by alpha1

Now what about the case where coolant has leaked or pump stops?

Originally Posted by greenhorn

I think this works only in vehicles with HVAC systems(Heater + AC) , and not on those with Just AC systems. For example, it will work on an indica *LG or *LX models, but not the *LS or the *LE

Excellent tip, Sid. It works - I've tried it myself. The premise on which it works is that the coolant is also made to circulate through a small radiator inside the cabin (fitted under the dashboard). The hot coolant provides the heat inside the cabin in an HVAC system, and turning on the cabin heater to "hot", switching off the AC, and putting on the cabin blower fan to "full" removes at least a part of the heat from the engine. Opening all the windows is the only thing to do if a cooked driver is not required.

Of course, this is going to work in the following situations:

• If the radiator cooling fan has failed - won't work if there has been complete coolant leakage/loss (as alpha1 asked).
• If the car has an HVAC system (as greenhorn mentioned), and not just an AC such as in the M-800 or some models of the Indica.
• If the engine is being revved hard or being lugged. Best to keep the revs low and stay in a lower gear in traffic to avoid too much heat generation. On open roads, keep to moderate speeds on top gear.

@ mods: It would be worthwhile to merge this thread with more such "get-me-home" tips on this thread.

[Sprucegoose]

There is one more thing that i have noticed.
one of my 2 fans up front had conked [i think it was the AC fan], but the car used to still overheat when in bumper to bumper traffic.

the best way to cool it down then was to rev the engine.
the water pump is connected directly to the crank, a quick rev would see the temprature drop to within permissible limits.

[sumeethaldankar]

Originally Posted by anupam00

Dear All,

In case the Raditor Fan is not working ..

In my case when my 800's fan stopped to work i was able to start it after just nudging it a bit with a piece of long wood carefuly without touching it by hand.In case of the 800 atleast to check if the fan is starting,one can switch on the ignition (without cranking),switch on the a/c and fan vents and the fan should automaticaly come on even if the temp guage is not at the half position.After doing the above i used the wooden piece to turn the fan and lo behold it started running.

Another tip i would like to share is in case you run out fuel and manage to get a can from the petrol pump to your stranded car, you may find it difficult to pour petrol/diesel from cans which are not meant to be used to fill car tanks.
In such a case all u need to carry is plastic bottle , the Bisleri type would do,make sure its dry and clean, cut it into half or just a little above the bottom.Stick the neck into the fuel tank and pour the fuel through the can from the other end.This will probably help you save from the precious fuel from waste while trying to pour in through a can.

[Gandhi]

Excellent thread. Especially for a newbie driver like me. Keep pouring the ideas people.

Do we have a list of precautionary things to take along for long journeys, which can be life saver in break-down?