Can you run a car without the electric radiator fan?
Yes, u can, a electric fan is set when the engine reaches a certain temperature it will turn on pulling air through the radiator to cool the coolant, thus, cool the engine.. when driving normal highway speeds, there is enough air passing through the radiator where the fan is not needed. In stop and go driving, it will turn on and off as needed except when the A/C is turned on, then it runs all the time to keep not only the coolant cool but to cool the freon in the condenser. The electric fan is something that auto makers started putting on cars years ago to help reduce drag from a engine to increase gas mileage.
Does needing a radiator cause my car to not start?
No..but it will cause your car to overheat and blow your transmission to sh**. the Radiator carries a special mix of water and radiator fluid. It is designed to flow through the engine and keep it cool. Without it, your engine will die within 5 - 15 minutes of regular driving. Your car will still start without a radiator. But driving with out a radiator will cause your entire engine to be F-ED. So technically I guess YES..IT WILL CAUSE YOUR CAR NOT TO START IN THE LONG RUN! Suggestion..Go to the local Auto-Wrecking yard and pick up a used Radiator for your make and model. Watch a youtube video on how to install it your self. All you need is Radiator fluid and a couple tools. Probably a 10 - 13 mm wrench or socket, pliers and screw driver. You're looking at spending under 100$, and with all the running around for part, fluid, tools and watching youtube video and actually doing it yourself. You can have it done in less than 3 hours. Don't let a little manual labour scare you. Its a very easy fix. A novice handy man can do this if they watch youtube tutorial. Very simple.
Is my radiator fanclutch bad when i can reach into the fan and stop it with my hand?
A fan clutch runs when the air around it gets the clutch hot enough to cause it to engage, so stopping it when the clutch is not actually engaged (as the drag on it can make it spin a little even when the clutch is dis-engaged) can be very simple, yet deceptive, as it does not tell you if the fan clutch works properly. The car needs to be hot, the air passing over the fan clutch hot enough to activate it, then you can tell if it is working properly but NOT with your hand as it can take off your fingers or your hand, as when engaged it will not stop turning because of human flesh. Pour very hot water over it, when the engine is completely shut down, heating it to over 180 degrees the clutch should engage and you should have great difficulty turning the fan then..but again be careful not to burn your hands or cause the engine to start - make certain the key is out of the ignition.
How do you figure out if a radiator is bad or not? I also had a major oil leak and that might be a case for smoke coming from this radiator. Also, when I turn the wheel back and forth it likes to make a really loud noise and the wheel shakes/vibrates
Wow, your car is a mess.A radiator can be plugged or it can be leaking. Related problems are oil-coolant mixing due to head gasket failures or cracked blocks.Leaking radiator is characterized by dripping green or red coolants, and obvious streaks of white and green crud on the radiator itself, plus a coolant smell and steam.Plugged radiator (and bad thermostat) is harder to tell but you get engine overheating.Cracked block, gasket head seal failure is milky coolant and coolant and coolant smell in your oil dipstick. A very bad thing.smoke from the radiator - probably steam from a hot coolant leak.Power steering issues - not usually radiator oil related - you have another issue, Maybe a slipping power steering belt due to coolant leak spraying on the pulley.
Is is safe to drive with your radiator cap loose?
My radiator is leaking pretty badly and needs replaced. It usually doesn't seem to leak until it builds up pressure and then after you shut it off it keeps leaking for a few minutes then stops. The cost of the new radiator is $150 in stores, or I can order one online (from a reputable dealer) for $75. So, I ordered it and when it comes in I am going to drive 3 hours up to my father-in-laws and he is going to swap it out for us for free (he is a mechanic). Anyway, my wifes radiator went bad about a year ago and they told her to put the radiator cap on loose to keep the pressure down. Like with mine, if you turn once it is attached but loose and if you turn it a second time it is tight. 1) If I keep the cap on loose until I can get it fixed (at least on the 3 hour trip) will that help reduce the leak? 2) Is it safe to do that? I don't need a ride to pick up the radiator, I need to drive the car up to my father-in-laws garage (he is a mechanic) which is about 3 hours away. He is the one that told me to leave the cap loose. Just to see what it would do I left it loose to drive to work (about a 20 minute drive) and it didn't leak a drop. When I leave the cap on tight it starts leaking before I even leave the house and is still leaking until about 5 minutes after I shut the car off. Several people said it wasn't safe but I didn't lose any coolant and thats why most people say it is dangerous. So, is it safe to leave the cap loose and stop every hour or so when I make the 3 hour trip?
Can a clogged radiator cause a car to run hot and the heater to blow out cold air?
The previous owner or maybe the dealership I got my 2000 Chevy malibu from must have used stop leak. Flushing the radiator always makes gritty black substance come out. It ran hot and the heater blew out cold air when I got it and a new engine fixed the problem. It's now doing it again. One new thermostat and heater core later it still won't blow out heat and it runs very hot. If we take the thermostat out it will run fine around town but the heat still won't work. There are no leaks and the only part left in the cooling system is the radiator which is undoubtedly clogged with stop leak. Do you guys think this could be the problem? Suggestions?
How can a broken radiator fan on a car cause the air conditioning to stop working properly?
Yes, a broken radiator fan can cause the air conditiong to stop working. The AC system depends upon being able to dissipate heat into the engine coolant. A broken radiator fan will cause the operating temperature of the coolant to rise, there are temperature sensors in the engine that measure the temperature of the coolant, and if the temperature is too high the AC unit will turn off so as to prevent any more damage. You really need to have the fan replaced, or at least, have a diagnostic check to see what is causing the fan to stop working. I have had an experience where the fan fuse blew and the fan stopped. In my case replacement of the fuse was the only repair needed, it had blown when I had hit a pothole in the road, the vibration of the impact made the fuse open. I hope that your repair will be so simple and cheap.
Could a bad 02 sensor cause overheating?
Is it the original radiator? have you ever had water in it? very hard to tell when radiator cores are plugged. I would have gone through same steps you have. I would say it is time for the radiator to be replaced also.
What happens when the water in the radiator runs out?
If you want to know what happens, not what to do about it here it is: the cooling ability is gone and the engine will start to heat up as if you had no cooling system. the engine running hot will cause the oil to break down and internal friction will go up causing the engine to get even hotter. This can cause damage, first gaskets and seals will break and oil may leak out, eventually the engine block itself can crack open due to the extreme difference in heat from the inside and outside. Or, the engine will seize up basically fusing one or more of the pistons to the engine block. Translation, new engine. If it doesn't get that far just put more coolant in. If it leaks out or seems really low only a day or two after you refill it then use a leak stop product from an auto parts store. I have had good luck with Bar's Leaks Radiator Stop Leak.