Symptoms of a Faulty or Faulty Condenser Fan Relay

If your car's air conditioner is blowing hot air or its engine is overheating, you may need to replace the condenser fan relay.

The condenser fan relay is an electronic relay that controls power to the AC condenser cooling fan. When the relay is activated, the AC condenser fan turns on to cool the AC condenser. The AC condenser is designed to cool and condense the vapor of the incoming refrigerant into the cooled liquid, and a fan is used to cool it. Fan power is controlled by the condenser fan relay. Usually, a failed capacitor relay displays several problems that can alert the driver that a potential problem has occurred and should be fixed.

air conditioner blows hot air

One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a fan relay is an air conditioner blowing warm air. If the AC condenser fan relay fails, the AC condenser fan will not receive power and will not be able to cool the AC condenser. This may cause the condenser to overheat and not be able to cool the refrigerant sufficiently to blow cold air out of the air conditioner.

Engine overheating

Motor overheating is another sign of a potential problem with the condenser fan relay. The AC condenser serves as a heatsink for the AC system and can overheat quickly, especially on hot days. If the condenser fan relay fails and turns off the AC condenser fan, the condenser will not be able to keep cool and may overheat. In severe cases, overheating can spread to other parts of the vehicle and cause the engine to overheat, which can damage the engine and air conditioning components.

The condenser fan relay is a simple relay, however it plays a vital role in the correct operation of the AC system. If you suspect your condenser relay may have a problem, have the vehicle checked by a professional technician such as AvtoTachki to determine if the vehicle needs a condenser fan relay replacement.