Cooling Fan Motor

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the electric cooling fan motor on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with the 5.0L Coyote V8 engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Cooling fan motor assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Fan shroud clips (if damaged) × 4 — Ford part

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. Open hood and secure with prop rod
4. Place drain pan under radiator drain petcock
5. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 2 minutes for capacitor discharge

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain coolant from radiator
   Locate the radiator drain petcock on the lower driver side of the radiator. Open the petcock by turning counterclockwise and drain approximately 2 quarts of coolant into the drain pan. This prevents spillage when removing the fan shroud. Close the petcock hand-tight when complete.
   Torque spec

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

   Disconnect upper radiator hose
   Locate the upper radiator hose connected to the thermostat housing on the driver side of the engine. Use a flathead screwdriver to release the spring clamp and slide it back on the hose. Carefully twist and pull the hose off the thermostat housing. Position the hose out of the way.
   ⚠Coolant will drain from the hose. Keep drain pan positioned to catch spillage.
   Torque spec

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

   Remove fan shroud upper mounting bolts
   Locate the two upper fan shroud mounting bolts on top of the radiator support. Use a 10mm socket to remove both bolts completely. Set bolts aside for reinstallation.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Release lower shroud clips
   The fan shroud is secured at the bottom by four plastic clips that insert into the lower radiator tank. Reach down on both sides of the radiator and squeeze the clip tabs while lifting the shroud slightly to release each clip. You may need to gently rock the shroud forward and back to free the clips.
   ℹ️These clips are fragile. Work carefully to avoid breaking them. Replacement clips are available if needed.
5. 5

   Disconnect fan motor electrical connector
   Locate the fan motor electrical connector on the driver side of the fan shroud. Press the release tab on the connector and pull straight out to disconnect. The connector may have a secondary locking tab that must be lifted first.
   Torque spec

   Electrical Connector5 Nm (4 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove fan shroud assembly
   With all mounting points released and electrical connector disconnected, carefully lift the fan shroud assembly straight up and out of the engine bay. The fan blade will come out with the shroud. Tilt the assembly as needed to clear the radiator and other components. Set the shroud on a clean work surface with the fan facing up.
   ⚠The shroud assembly is bulky and the fan blades can be sharp. Handle carefully to avoid injury and damage to radiator fins.
7. 7

   Remove fan motor mounting bolts
   Place the shroud face-up on your work surface. The fan motor is mounted to the shroud with three or four bolts (depending on model year). Use an 8mm socket to remove all fan motor mounting bolts. Keep track of any spacers or washers.
   Torque spec

   Fan Motor Bolts8 Nm (6 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Separate fan motor from shroud
   Carefully lift the fan motor assembly away from the shroud. The motor has a shaft that extends through the shroud and connects to the fan blade. Support the fan blade from the front while pulling the motor from the back to prevent damage. Once separated, inspect the shroud mounting points for cracks or damage.
   ℹ️The fan blade may be attached to the motor shaft with a retaining clip or nut depending on design. If replacing only the motor, transfer the fan blade to the new motor.
9. 9

   Install new fan motor to shroud
   Position the new fan motor assembly into the shroud from the back side, ensuring the motor shaft extends through the center opening and engages with the fan blade (if separate). Align all mounting bolt holes. Insert all fan motor mounting bolts and tighten in a crisscross pattern to ensure even seating, then torque to specification.
   Torque spec

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

    Reinstall fan shroud assembly
    Carefully lower the fan shroud assembly back into position, guiding it down over the radiator. Ensure the bottom clips align with their respective slots in the lower radiator tank. Press down firmly on each corner of the shroud until all four clips snap into place. You should hear and feel each clip engage.
    ⚠Take care not to damage radiator cooling fins during installation. Work slowly and verify clearance.
11. 11

    Install upper shroud mounting bolts
    Insert the two upper fan shroud mounting bolts through the shroud and into the radiator support. Hand-tighten first to ensure proper thread engagement, then torque to specification.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts34 Nm (25 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reconnect fan motor electrical connector
    Plug the electrical connector back into the fan motor until it clicks into place. Ensure any secondary locking tab is fully engaged. Gently tug on the connector to verify it is securely attached.
    Torque spec

    Electrical Connector5 Nm (4 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reconnect upper radiator hose
    Slide the upper radiator hose back onto the thermostat housing nipple. Push it on until it bottoms out against the housing flange. Slide the spring clamp back into its groove on the hose to secure it. Verify the clamp is positioned properly over the nipple.
    Torque spec

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

    Refill cooling system
    Remove the coolant reservoir cap. Using a funnel, add Motorcraft Orange Coolant to the reservoir until it reaches the MAX COLD line. Do not overfill. Reinstall the reservoir cap. Reconnect the negative battery cable. Start the engine and allow it to reach operating temperature while monitoring coolant level. Add additional coolant as needed once the thermostat opens and air purges from the system.
    ℹ️It may take several heat cycles to fully purge all air from the cooling system. Check coolant level again after the first drive.

Reassembly

1. Double-check all electrical connections are secure and properly locked
2. Verify fan shroud is properly seated on all four lower clips
3. Ensure no tools or hardware were left in the engine bay
4. Check for coolant leaks around the upper radiator hose connection

Verification

• With engine at operating temperature, verify the cooling fan cycles on and off automatically
• Listen for unusual noises from the fan motor during operation
• Check coolant level after the first drive and top off if necessary
• Verify no coolant leaks are present around radiator hose connections
• Confirm the fan shroud is not contacting the fan blade during operation

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