Cooling Fan Motor

This procedure covers removal and replacement of the engine cooling fan motor on a 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 5.3L V8 EcoTec3 L83 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Engine cooling fan motor assembly × 1 — ACDelco 15-81688 or equivalent
• Fan shroud mounting clips (if damaged) × 4 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• ACDelco DEX-COOL (Orange) — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level ground and allow engine to cool completely (minimum 2 hours)
2. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 2 minutes to allow airbag system to discharge
3. Remove engine cover by pulling upward on front edge to release clips
4. Place drain pan beneath radiator drain petcock on passenger side lower radiator tank

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain coolant from radiator
   Open the radiator drain petcock located at the lower passenger side of the radiator by turning counterclockwise. Drain approximately 2 quarts of coolant into drain pan. Close petcock hand-tight when coolant level drops below upper radiator hose connection.
   Torque spec

   Drain Petcock8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove upper radiator hose
   Locate the upper radiator hose connection at the driver side of the radiator. Use hose clamp pliers or flat blade screwdriver to release the spring clamp and slide it back 3-4 inches on the hose. Twist the hose to break the seal, then pull firmly to remove from radiator neck. Allow any remaining coolant to drain into pan.
   ⚠Some coolant will drain from the upper hose. Ensure drain pan is positioned to catch spillage.
   Torque spec

   Hose Clamps5 Nm (4 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Disconnect cooling fan electrical connector
   Locate the cooling fan motor electrical connector on the fan shroud, positioned near the top passenger side. Press the release tab and pull the connector straight out to disconnect. Do not pull on wiring harness.
4. 4

   Remove fan shroud upper mounting bolts
   Remove the two 10mm bolts securing the top of the fan shroud to the radiator support. These bolts are located at the left and right upper corners of the shroud. Retain bolts for reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Release fan shroud lower clips
   Reach down along both lower sides of the fan shroud and locate the plastic retaining clips that secure the shroud to the radiator. Press the release tabs and carefully lift the shroud upward approximately 2 inches to disengage the clips from the radiator mounting brackets.
   ⚠Do not force the shroud. Clips can break if pulled at wrong angle. Lift straight up after releasing tabs.
6. 6

   Tilt and remove fan shroud assembly
   With upper bolts removed and lower clips released, carefully tilt the top of the fan shroud toward the engine while lifting upward. Maneuver the entire fan shroud and fan assembly up and out of the engine compartment. The assembly will clear the radiator and engine accessories with careful angling.
7. 7

   Remove fan blade assembly from motor
   Place the fan shroud assembly on a clean work surface with fan motor facing up. Remove the three or four 10mm bolts securing the fan blade assembly to the motor shaft. Note the orientation of the fan blade for proper reinstallation. Remove fan blade assembly and set aside.
   Torque spec

   Fan Bolts14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Remove fan motor from shroud
   With fan blade removed, locate the three 10mm bolts securing the fan motor to the plastic fan shroud housing. Remove these bolts and carefully separate the motor from the shroud. The motor wiring harness passes through a grommet in the shroud.
   Torque spec

   Fan Motor Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Install new fan motor into shroud
   Position the new fan motor against the fan shroud housing, ensuring the wiring harness passes through the grommet correctly and the mounting holes align. Install the three fan motor mounting bolts and torque to specification in a crisscross pattern.
   Torque spec

   Fan Motor Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reinstall fan blade assembly
    Place the fan blade assembly onto the new motor shaft in the same orientation as removed (curved side typically faces radiator). Install the fan blade mounting bolts and torque to specification in a star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Fan Bolts14 Nm (10 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reinstall fan shroud assembly
    Carefully lower the fan shroud assembly back into the engine compartment, angling it over the radiator and between engine accessories. Guide the lower tabs into their mounting brackets on the radiator until the clips snap into place. Ensure shroud sits flush against radiator mounting points.
12. 12

    Install upper shroud mounting bolts
    Install the two upper 10mm fan shroud mounting bolts at the left and right corners. Torque bolts to specification.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reconnect electrical connector and upper radiator hose
    Reconnect the cooling fan motor electrical connector by pushing firmly until the locking tab clicks into place. Reinstall the upper radiator hose onto the radiator neck, ensuring it seats fully. Position the hose clamp over the connection area and secure.
    Torque spec

    Electrical Connector5 Nm (4 lb-ft)

    Hose Clamps5 Nm (4 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Refill coolant and bleed air
    Close the radiator drain petcock. Fill the radiator with ACDelco DEX-COOL orange coolant until it reaches the base of the filler neck. Install radiator cap. Fill the coolant recovery reservoir to the COLD fill line. Reconnect negative battery cable. Start engine and allow to reach operating temperature with heater on high. Monitor coolant level and add as needed. Check for leaks around radiator hose connection.
    ⚠Monitor engine temperature closely during first test run. If temperature rises above normal, shut down immediately and check for air pockets or leaks.
    Torque spec

    Drain Petcock8 Nm (6 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure all coolant hose clamps are properly positioned and tightened
2. Verify fan shroud mounting clips are fully seated and upper bolts are torqued to specification
3. Reinstall engine cover by aligning clips and pressing down firmly until seated
4. Double-check that fan motor electrical connector is fully locked in place

Verification

• Start engine and verify cooling fan operates when A/C is turned on or when engine reaches operating temperature
• Listen for unusual noises from fan motor during operation - should run smoothly without grinding or squealing
• Check that fan blade does not contact shroud at any point during rotation
• Verify no coolant leaks are present at upper radiator hose connection
• Confirm engine reaches and maintains normal operating temperature without overheating
• Test both low and high speed fan operation if vehicle is equipped with variable speed fan

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle