Cooling confusion (C180 CGI Blue Efficiency)

[SimonOL]

OK - I normally deal with older cars so bear with me!

I recently had to scan and clear a load of fault codes related to ABS/ESP and the car's been fine since then, but

during the diagnostics there was a fault related to the cooling fan which couldn't be cleared. Apparently, it's not working.

Like I said, I'm used to older cars and their cooling system is normally pretty simple. This car is weird to me. Can anyone help me understand?

1. I replaced the therrmostat a few years ago. It has 3 wiring connectors and what looks like a heating element??!! It's rated at 103 degrees C - does that make sense?
2. I can't find a fuse or a relay for the cooling fan
3. On the right hand side of the fan shroud (or the left if you're viewing from the front of the car) is a small canister with a wiring connector and a small tube which disappears into the offside wheel arch area. What does that do?
4. Once warmed up, the car sits at around 95 degrees C operating temperature at all times - in traffic it never indicates that it's overheating.
5. I can leave the car idling on the driveway for 30 minutes and the fan doesn't come on - again, the coolant temperature gauge stays at a rock-steady 95 degrees.

I'm confused!!

Can I test the fan somehow? I don't want to buy another one only to find there's a fault somewhere else.

The coolant temperature gauge seems to work normally but never budges from 95 degrees (once warmed up). If the fan wasn't working, wouldn't it steadily rise into the red zone if in heavy traffic.

Does this make any sense?

Sorry for so many questions. Just attempting to understand how this cooling system is supposed to function.

 

[mioba]

whats the fault code and description. what scanner are you using

 

[SimonOL]

Just rescanned. Using an Autel AP200

Fault code is P048300 - "The electric fan is faulty"

I've had the car for nearly 4 years and I don't think I've ever heard the fan come on. Maybe it's very quiet!

 

[alexanderfoti]

The fan is a variable duty cycle and will start spinning slowly around 90c coolant temp. You will never hear it unless it spins up to full speed.

Normally they come up on the dash when the fan module fails.

 

[mioba]

A dr google search of the code throws lots of hits to chomp on. Check wiring to fan would be a first

 

[SimonOL]

Just to follow up, I watched the live data and the coolant temperature went up to 105.8 degrees and the fan came on...

So that's working AOK. Temp gauge on the dash doesn't go above 95 degrees though.

I understand the fan is supposed to come on with the AC turned on. It doesn't, but I'm pretty sure the AC isn't working properly (maybe need a re-gas) so maybe that's the source of the problem. No big deal - I'm just glad the car's not overheating.