Dead Radiator Fan Makes VW Golf Overheat Repeatedly

Had the same car overheating problem on my 2009 VW Jetta TDI last summer. The radiator fan failure turned out to be a common issue. The cooling system inspection revealed both a faulty fan control module and a damaged fan blade assembly. The engine cooling problems started exactly like yours, temperature gauge climbing fast, no fan activation even when the engine was clearly hot. The check engine light came on during highway driving when the car couldnt maintain proper cooling. The car radiator itself was fine, but the entire fan assembly needed replacement along with the control module. This was quite a serious repair since continued driving risks engine damage from overheating. The mechanic also flushed the cooling system and replaced the coolant while everything was apart. Worth getting it checked soon, my fan completely failed about a week after first noticing these symptoms. Driving with a compromised cooling system can lead to much bigger engine problems. A certified VW mechanic should be able to diagnose this quickly since its a known issue with these models.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds exactly like what happened to me, the thermal switch and fan control unit were causing my overheating problems. Got it fixed about 3 months ago after the temperature control system completely failed. Curious, how much did the full repair end up costing you? Have you had any other cooling system issues since then? Mine has been running perfectly since the fix, though the mechanic mentioned I should watch for any unusual fan noise in the future.

Thanks for asking about the follow-up. My cooling system has been working flawlessly since getting it fixed. The defective radiator fan speed sensor replacement cost me 250€ total, which included labor and parts. The mechanic did a thorough check of the entire temperature control system while fixing it. The car overheating issues completely disappeared after the repair. The fan motor now kicks in exactly when it should, and the temperature gauge stays firmly in the normal range. I regularly monitor the cooling system performance just to be safe, but havent noticed any unusual fan noises or temperature fluctuations in the past year. Good move getting yours fixed promptly, running with a faulty cooling system can lead to serious engine damage. Regular maintenance checks help catch these issues before they become major problems.

Thanks for the help and information everyone. Wanted to share how my repair went: Took it to a local VW specialist last week who diagnosed the problem in about an hour. The thermal switch had completely failed, and the radiator fan motor was damaged from running too hot. Total repair came to 480€ including parts and labor. They replaced both components and did a full engine cooling system check while they were at it. Definitely worth every cent, the car runs perfectly now, no more temperature issues or warning lights. The mechanic was really straightforward, showed me the old parts and explained exactly what went wrong. Much better experience than my previous repair shop. Going to stick with them for future maintenance. Just glad I caught it before any serious engine damage occurred.