Cooling Fan Motor

This procedure covers removal and replacement of the engine cooling fan motor on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Cooling fan motor assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Radiator coolant (for top-off) × 1 — Motorcraft Orange Coolant

Fluids

• Motorcraft Orange Coolant — 1 qt

Preparation

1. Ensure engine is completely cool to the touch
2. Park vehicle on level ground and engage parking brake
3. Disconnect negative battery terminal and wait 2 minutes for system discharge
4. Place drain pan under radiator drain valve
5. Remove engine cover by pulling upward on front edge and lifting off locating grommets

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain coolant from radiator
   Open the radiator drain valve located at the bottom driver's side of the radiator. Drain approximately 2-3 quarts of coolant into the drain pan to lower the coolant level below the upper radiator hose connection. Close the drain valve when level is sufficiently low.
2. 2

   Remove upper radiator hose
   Locate the upper radiator hose at the radiator connection on the passenger side. Use a flat blade screwdriver to loosen the hose clamp and slide it back along the hose. Twist the hose gently to break the seal, then pull it off the radiator neck. Be prepared for residual coolant spillage.
   Torque spec

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

   Disconnect cooling fan electrical connector
   Locate the fan motor electrical connector on the passenger side of the fan shroud. Press the release tab and pull the connector straight off. On some models, there may be a secondary lock that must be lifted before the main connector can be released.
   Torque spec

   Electrical Connector5 Nm (4 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Remove air deflector and upper shroud clips
   Remove the plastic air deflector from the top of the radiator by releasing the push-pin fasteners. There are typically 4-6 clips along the top edge. Use a trim panel tool or flat blade screwdriver to carefully pry up the center pins, then remove the entire clip.
5. 5

   Disconnect auxiliary transmission cooler lines (if equipped)
   If your vehicle has auxiliary transmission cooler lines routed through clips on the fan shroud, release these clips by pressing the tabs and sliding the lines out. Do not disconnect the lines themselves, just release them from the shroud mounting clips.
6. 6

   Remove fan shroud mounting bolts
   Remove the four mounting bolts securing the fan shroud assembly to the radiator support. Two bolts are located at the top corners and two at the bottom corners of the shroud. Use a 10mm socket with extension to access all four locations.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts31 Nm (23 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove fan shroud and motor assembly
   Carefully lift the entire fan shroud assembly straight up and out of the engine bay. The shroud has lower tabs that fit into slots in the radiator support, so lift vertically first before tilting. Be careful not to contact the radiator fins or AC condenser during removal. Set the assembly on a clean work surface.
8. 8

   Separate fan motor from shroud
   With the shroud assembly on the workbench, locate the three fan motor mounting bolts on the back side of the shroud. Use a 10mm socket to remove these bolts. Carefully separate the fan motor from the shroud, noting the orientation and any alignment pins or locating tabs.
   Torque spec

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

   Install new fan motor to shroud
   Position the new cooling fan motor onto the shroud, ensuring any locating pins or tabs are properly aligned. The electrical connector should be oriented toward the passenger side. Install the three fan motor mounting bolts and torque to specification.
   Torque spec

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

    Reinstall fan shroud assembly
    Carefully lower the fan shroud assembly into the engine bay. Align the lower tabs with their slots in the radiator support, then lower the assembly fully into place. Ensure the shroud sits flush against the radiator mounting points. Install the four mounting bolts and torque to specification.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts31 Nm (23 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Reconnect electrical and hose connections
    Reconnect the fan motor electrical connector, ensuring it clicks fully into place and any secondary locks are engaged. Reinstall the upper radiator hose onto the radiator neck, sliding the hose clamp into position and tightening to specification. Reattach any auxiliary transmission cooler line clips to the shroud.
    Torque spec

    Electrical Connector5 Nm (4 lb-ft)

    Hose Clamps5 Nm (3 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Refill coolant and bleed system
    Add Motorcraft Orange Coolant to the radiator and overflow reservoir to bring levels back to specification. Use a coolant funnel if available to prevent air pockets. With the radiator cap off, start the engine and allow it to reach operating temperature while monitoring coolant level. Add coolant as needed until the level stabilizes and the thermostat opens. Install the radiator cap when complete.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the engine cover by aligning the grommets and pressing down firmly until seated
2. Reinstall the air deflector and secure all push-pin fasteners
3. Reconnect the negative battery terminal and torque to manufacturer specification

Verification

• Start the engine and verify the cooling fan operates when the engine reaches normal operating temperature (approximately 200-220°F)
• Check for coolant leaks around the upper radiator hose connection
• Verify coolant level in the overflow reservoir is between MIN and MAX marks when engine is cold
• Test fan operation by turning on the air conditioning - the fan should activate immediately
• Listen for abnormal noises from the fan motor during operation
• Use a scan tool to check for any cooling system fault codes if available

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