Cooling Fan Relay

This procedure replaces the cooling fan relay in the engine compartment power distribution box on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Cooling fan relay × 1 — Motorcraft DY-1247 or equivalent 40A relay

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Allow engine to cool completely if recently operated
3. Open hood and secure with prop rod
4. Disconnect negative battery terminal and wait 2 minutes for system capacitors to discharge
5. Locate the power distribution box on driver side of engine compartment near battery

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove power distribution box cover
   Release the locking tabs on the sides of the power distribution box cover. Lift the cover straight up to remove. The relay diagram is printed on the underside of the cover for reference.
2. 2

   Identify cooling fan relay location
   Locate the cooling fan relay using the diagram on the box cover. On 2011-2014 F-150 EcoBoost models, the cooling fan relay is typically in position R2.3 or R2.4, marked as 'COOLING FAN' on the diagram. It is a standard black cube-style relay.
3. 3

   Remove failed relay
   Grasp the relay firmly and pull straight up with steady pressure to remove from socket. If relay is difficult to remove, use needle nose pliers to grip the relay body (not the terminals) and pull straight up. Rock gently side-to-side if necessary to break seal, but do not bend terminals.
4. 4

   Inspect relay socket
   Examine the relay socket terminals for corrosion, melting, or damage. Check for pushed-back terminals that may have poor contact. If socket shows heat damage or corrosion, the entire power distribution box may require replacement. Clean terminals with electrical contact cleaner if minor corrosion is present.
5. 5

   Install new relay
   Verify new relay matches original part number and amp rating (40A for cooling fan). Align relay terminals with socket, ensuring correct orientation by matching terminal arrangement. Press relay firmly into socket until fully seated and flush with surrounding relays. Relay should click into place.
6. 6

   Reinstall power distribution box cover
   Position cover over power distribution box, ensuring all wiring is clear of cover edges. Press down firmly on all sides until locking tabs engage with audible clicks. Verify cover is secure and sits flush.
7. 7

   Reconnect battery
   Reconnect negative battery terminal. Ensure connection is clean and tight to prevent electrical issues.

Reassembly

1. Ensure power distribution box cover is properly seated and all tabs are engaged
2. Verify no tools or parts are left in engine compartment before closing hood

Verification

• Start engine and allow to reach operating temperature (approximately 190°F)
• Turn on air conditioning to maximum cool setting to trigger cooling fan operation
• Verify cooling fans engage at normal operating temperature
• Listen for proper fan operation without unusual clicking or buzzing from relay
• Monitor temperature gauge to ensure engine does not overheat during idle operation
• Use scan tool to check for any cooling system fault codes if available

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

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