2007 XC70 - Cooling Fan whine, replacement options?

Post by **mtd240** » 23 Mar 2024, 05:44

Hi all!

The cooling fan on my XC70 has started whining after the car is driven for a few minutes. I can hear it most when I park - it will even whine as it slows down after engine shutoff.

So, time for a new fan I think. 170k miles is a good life. I only see two options: OEM for $800 on FCP or the “generic/unknown” aftermarket on RockAuto for $130.

Is there another option here, for something high quality that isn’t $800? Have folks wired in a standalone fan and fitted it into the stock shroud?

Thanks for any and all advice!

Post by **Blacklab467** » 23 Mar 2024, 07:33

The options for replacement are expensive and probably the OEM one is the only good one. I would suggest removing yours and lubricating it. I did mine last year after listening to it whine for 7 years and its been silent ever since. Someone on this forum did a short writeup on how to do it, its pretty straightforward to figure out when you have the fan out. I used sewing machine oil and just soaked the bearings from both sides. you won't be able to remove the fan from the motor without destroying it so don't try, and its not necessary. The whole job takes about an hour and a half and reports would indicate its a long term fix and also free.

Post by **jonesg** » 23 Mar 2024, 07:43

fan should not come on after a few minutes, it takes quite a while to reach 220F.
you can stop the whine but something still ain't right.

a faulty ect sensor can do this.
read the coolant temp with your code reader, if weather is 40F but the ect shows 100F when cold ?,
that will run and wear out the fan prematurely.

i bought a new fan from fcp last year , $550.
Didn't need it and returned it.

Post by **mtd240** » 23 Mar 2024, 08:26

Thank you both!

Blacklab — I was thinking about pulling it and giving the bearings some fresh lube. I’ll do that. I don’t have any sewing oil but I’ll find something

Jones — ah that $500 FCP aftermarket option is backordered. The fan will come on after a short drive to drop off my daughter at school - 5 mins driving, 5 mins idling, 5 mins driving back. I’m not too worried about a faulty sensor or other control component. But I’ll take a Quick Look with VIDA and make sure it only comes on at the right temp.

Post by **cn90** » 23 Mar 2024, 09:57

I'd take it out and lube it for free...

Post by **Blacklab467** » 23 Mar 2024, 12:07

mtd240 wrote: ↑23 Mar 2024, 08:26 Thank you both!

Blacklab — I was thinking about pulling it and giving the bearings some fresh lube. I’ll do that. I don’t have any sewing oil but I’ll find something

Jones — ah that $500 FCP aftermarket option is backordered. The fan will come on after a short drive to drop off my daughter at school - 5 mins driving, 5 mins idling, 5 mins driving back. I’m not too worried about a faulty sensor or other control component. But I’ll take a Quick Look with VIDA and make sure it only comes on at the right temp.

I'm sorry, I read your post too quick and thought you were talking about the heater/ AC fan inside the car. You may be able to lube the engine cooling fan in a similar manner although I haven't done this. I would strongly consider an OEM one from the auto wreckers, I've never heard of this fan motor getting noisy before.

Post by **jonesg** » 23 Mar 2024, 18:59

mtd240 wrote: ↑23 Mar 2024, 08:26 The fan will come on after a short drive to drop off my daughter at school - 5 mins driving, 5 mins idling, 5 mins driving back. I’m not too worried about a faulty sensor or other control component. But I’ll take a Quick Look with VIDA and make sure it only comes on at the right temp.

thats the problem right there.
Engine is either getting faulty temp reading or its actually over heating.
You just never noticed until the fan bearing wore out.

you should scan the coolant temperature before starting the car.

mine was showing 70F when it was actually 25F.

Post by **mtd240** » 03 Apr 2024, 06:02

Update on this - finally caught it in the act on a cold rainy morning where the car was left out of the garage all night. The fan ran at 80% for a short trip. ECM coolant temp reading from VIDA was 69C when I got home (didn’t have the comp/DICE hooked up till I got back).

After idling for 5 minutes or so, the fan slowly phased down - again, coolant temp at 69C the whole time.

There must be an issue with the fan controller. The ECT is OE and only a couple years old (5-10k miles max). And it lined up with the actual outdoor temp when I scanned the car a few times over the past week or two.

Post by **vtl** » 03 Apr 2024, 09:00

The fan also runs to cool A/C down. If it runs for A/C in temps when you think it should not be running it's often a problem with the A/C refrigerant charge left in the system.

Post by **jonesg** » 03 Apr 2024, 16:53

mtd240 wrote: ↑03 Apr 2024, 06:02 Update on this - finally caught it in the act on a cold rainy morning where the car was left out of the garage all night. The fan ran at 80% for a short trip. ECM coolant temp reading from VIDA was 69C when I got home (didn’t have the comp/DICE hooked up till I got back).

After idling for 5 minutes or so, the fan slowly phased down - again, coolant temp at 69C the whole time.

There must be an issue with the fan controller. The ECT is OE and only a couple years old (5-10k miles max). And it lined up with the actual outdoor temp when I scanned the car a few times over the past week or two.

the fan is designed to run constantly if the relay dies, the fact that its cycling implies the fan control is not dead.
its getting a bum signal from the ecm by way of sensors.

AC freon pressure sensor.
engine coolant sensor are the common ones.

I think the air ambient sensors have to match too, one in in the left side mirror, the other in the climate control.

vida can monitor multiple sensors at the same time.