Smoke from radiator fan

markmytravel · 17th March 2011, 18:00

There was a sudden issue that cropped up in my car. There was smoke around the area where radiator fan is installed. The Kropex helpline guy showed that part of the radiator fan has melted. Really shocked to hear something like this for a fairly new car (3500 km and 6 months old). For the records, I haven't driven it for three days and not bumped it against anything in the near past. The car was towed at 4:00 pm so don't think service center guys will look at it today.

Any idea what could have happened and how it can be prevented? A little history of the incident is given below. Not sure if this will be covered under manufacturer warranty and what effect it can have on the engine.

Its an Aveo (only 6 months old and I don't have the 3 yr assurance plan) and I noticed today that the AC was working properly. As I haven't used the car for the last 3 days initially thought it may be due to heat outside. After 4-5 KMs AC started giving cool air and so we were more assured but only for a moment as it went down again. AC fan was working but air was not cool. I switched on the outside air mode and could smell something, initially thought it may be something outside but the smell kept on coming. As the car is fairly new, didn't think it could have a problem.

jayded · 17th March 2011, 18:12

Seems like an electrical problem. May be some rats happily chewed on the electricals and caused some kind of short circuiting. Or the fan motor might have burnt off.

Captain Slow · 17th March 2011, 18:13

Looks like the head gasket failed, This could have happened because of a coolant leak which lead to overheating of the engine and radiator. Are you Positive that the fan melted? Did you see the melted fan or did the SA tell you this ?
Keep track of your car if needed go there personally and check with the SA as to what exactly went wrong.

If the car is only 6 months old then you need not worry too much. All repairs and replacement of parts will be covered under warranty. If they try and bill you for anything then raise a complaint.

samarth.bhatia · 17th March 2011, 18:13

Hi markmytravel,

This is indeed surprising. And this should most definitely be covered under warranty. For a car which is 6 months old, this is unacceptable. Not havind driven the car for three days is not the issue.
A quality defect with the radiator fan, IMO.
Please do keep us updated.

Cheers and drive safe.
Sam

Jaggu · 17th March 2011, 18:18

Actually not very surprising, blown/burnt fan units are not new. I had the same issue in my swift withing months of purchase. Got it replaced under warranty, the complete assembly.

Rule out any wire shorting also, rats are menace these days.

markmytravel · 17th March 2011, 18:19

Thanks folks for those reassuring words. Though warranty coverage is a concern, I am more worried if this could cause any further damage. I am fairly confident that I drove not more than 8 km under this condition.
SA did show me the melted part (should have clicked a snap) but planning to visit the service center tomorrow afternoon. The service center guys told me they will start analysing only tomorrow, so hoping I will be in time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaggu

Actually not very surprising, blown/burnt fan units are not new. I had the same issue in my swift withing months of purchase. Got it replaced under warranty, the complete assembly.

Rule out any wire shorting also, rats are menace these days.

So if it's rats, I am guessing it won't be covered. Am I being pessimistic?

If it's a fan problem, should I fight with them to install the complete unit or just the damaged part repair or replacement will be covered?

If it's a wiring issue, is there anything else they should be checking? I am nearing my first service (another 1000 km) so thinking with this issue, should I ask them to do it now along with complete checkup.

I do feel they will try to avoid doing the complete replacement as they tried to enthrust the towing charges (2000 INR) on me but when I raised my voice, they agreed to reimburse the amount on delivery (waiting to see if they stick to their words) but asked me to pay at that moment.

Born 2 Be Wild · 18th March 2011, 00:16

This had happened in my Ikon in 2009 the exact same thing that you have described, The A/c was cooling and all of a sudden it stopped throwing cool air and i could see smoke coming out from under the bonnet with the temp needle rising, Pulled over and popped the hood and could see that the Fan Motor had gone Kaput with a liitle plastic also burning away. Since my car was out of warranty i had to get The Fan motor replaced at my expense

In your case it has to be free of cost as its just 6 months old, its not that big an issue.

SirAlec · 18th March 2011, 00:24

GM is talking hoot about their no frills 3 year cashless maintainance. You should exercise that right

Cheers

markmytravel · 18th March 2011, 02:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirAlec

GM is talking hoot about their no frills 3 year cashless maintainance. You should exercise that right

Cheers

Unfortunately I didn't take that policy. Was too excited about the car while buying and the Sales representative didn't mention it much to make it interesting. Hoping manufacturers warranty will come good here.

humyum · 18th March 2011, 03:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by markmytravel

Unfortunately I didn't take that policy. Was too excited about the car while buying and the Sales representative didn't mention it much to make it interesting. Hoping manufacturers warranty will come good here.

150% manufacturer's warranty will come into place. Don't worry, Everything will be FOC unless of course it is a rat issue then matters could become a bit complicated.

SirAlec · 18th March 2011, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by markmytravel

Unfortunately I didn't take that policy. Was too excited about the car while buying and the Sales representative didn't mention it much to make it interesting. Hoping manufacturers warranty will come good here.

I think it was standard. I specifically remembered when test drove the hell out of one of their spark.

abhinav.s · 18th March 2011, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirAlec

I think it was standard. I specifically remembered when test drove the hell out of one of their spark.

Its standard on the Spark and UV-A.

The issue should be covered under warranty. Just ensure that you are present when they begin the diagnosis.

And if its rats then, i doubt it being covered under warranty.

mjothi · 18th March 2011, 21:49

Sad to hear that. So, keep us updated about the progress. Waiting to know the culprit.

Hope its covered in warranty. Keep following with the SA closely.

markmytravel · 18th March 2011, 22:11

Went to Service center today. They need to replace the fan but were out of stock and hoping to get one by tomorrow.

markmytravel · 19th March 2011, 19:50

Took delivery of the vehicle. They replaced the fan as it was broken and the car and AC are running smooth now. There was no apparant reason why it could have happened. No mice or electrical problem could be detected. SA said, it could be some pebble hitting the fan rim because of which it was touching part of the blades. Will monitor the vehicle for some days now to see if everything is done properly.

The good part is it was all covered and total bill amounted to Rs. 0 and the better part, they refunded the towing charge of Rs. 2000 as well as promised without me asking them. Well done Kropex India.

17th March 2011, 18:00	#1
markmytravel BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 103 Thanked: 13 Times	Smoke from radiator fan There was a sudden issue that cropped up in my car. There was smoke around the area where radiator fan is installed. The Kropex helpline guy showed that part of the radiator fan has melted. Really shocked to hear something like this for a fairly new car (3500 km and 6 months old). For the records, I haven't driven it for three days and not bumped it against anything in the near past. The car was towed at 4:00 pm so don't think service center guys will look at it today. Any idea what could have happened and how it can be prevented? A little history of the incident is given below. Not sure if this will be covered under manufacturer warranty and what effect it can have on the engine. Its an Aveo (only 6 months old and I don't have the 3 yr assurance plan) and I noticed today that the AC was working properly. As I haven't used the car for the last 3 days initially thought it may be due to heat outside. After 4-5 KMs AC started giving cool air and so we were more assured but only for a moment as it went down again. AC fan was working but air was not cool. I switched on the outside air mode and could smell something, initially thought it may be something outside but the smell kept on coming. As the car is fairly new, didn't think it could have a problem.
	() Thanks

17th March 2011, 18:12	#2
jayded BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TVM, HYD Posts: 564 Thanked: 548 Times	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca Seems like an electrical problem. May be some rats happily chewed on the electricals and caused some kind of short circuiting. Or the fan motor might have burnt off.
	() Thanks

17th March 2011, 18:13	#3
Captain Slow Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,549 Thanked: 1,957 Times	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca Looks like the head gasket failed, This could have happened because of a coolant leak which lead to overheating of the engine and radiator. Are you Positive that the fan melted? Did you see the melted fan or did the SA tell you this ? Keep track of your car if needed go there personally and check with the SA as to what exactly went wrong. If the car is only 6 months old then you need not worry too much. All repairs and replacement of parts will be covered under warranty. If they try and bill you for anything then raise a complaint.
	() Thanks

17th March 2011, 18:13	#4
samarth.bhatia BHPian Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 450 Thanked: 450 Times View My Garage	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca Hi markmytravel, This is indeed surprising. And this should most definitely be covered under warranty. For a car which is 6 months old, this is unacceptable. Not havind driven the car for three days is not the issue. A quality defect with the radiator fan, IMO. Please do keep us updated. Cheers and drive safe. Sam
	() Thanks

17th March 2011, 18:18	#5
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,215 Thanked: 15,907 Times	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca Actually not very surprising, blown/burnt fan units are not new. I had the same issue in my swift withing months of purchase. Got it replaced under warranty, the complete assembly. Rule out any wire shorting also, rats are menace these days.
	() Thanks

18th March 2011, 00:16	#7
Born 2 Be Wild BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Roaming Posts: 813 Thanked: 1,367 Times	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca This had happened in my Ikon in 2009 the exact same thing that you have described, The A/c was cooling and all of a sudden it stopped throwing cool air and i could see smoke coming out from under the bonnet with the temp needle rising, Pulled over and popped the hood and could see that the Fan Motor had gone Kaput with a liitle plastic also burning away. Since my car was out of warranty i had to get The Fan motor replaced at my expense In your case it has to be free of cost as its just 6 months old, its not that big an issue.
	() Thanks

18th March 2011, 00:24	#8
SirAlec Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: zxc Posts: 3,393 Thanked: 726 Times	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca GM is talking hoot about their no frills 3 year cashless maintainance. You should exercise that right Cheers
	() Thanks

18th March 2011, 21:49	#13
mjothi Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,287 Thanked: 231 Times View My Garage	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca Sad to hear that. So, keep us updated about the progress. Waiting to know the culprit. Hope its covered in warranty. Keep following with the SA closely.
	() Thanks

18th March 2011, 22:11	#14
markmytravel BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 103 Thanked: 13 Times	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca Went to Service center today. They need to replace the fan but were out of stock and hoping to get one by tomorrow.
	() Thanks

19th March 2011, 19:50	#15
markmytravel BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 103 Thanked: 13 Times	Re: Shocked to see smoke and part of radiator fan melted for an Aveo (6 months old ca Took delivery of the vehicle. They replaced the fan as it was broken and the car and AC are running smooth now. There was no apparant reason why it could have happened. No mice or electrical problem could be detected. SA said, it could be some pebble hitting the fan rim because of which it was touching part of the blades. Will monitor the vehicle for some days now to see if everything is done properly. The good part is it was all covered and total bill amounted to Rs. 0 and the better part, they refunded the towing charge of Rs. 2000 as well as promised without me asking them. Well done Kropex India.
	() Thanks