Hybrid Golf Cooling Fan Failure Causing Engine Overheat

Had the same issue on my 2018 Golf GTE hybrid. The symptoms matched exactly, rising temperature gauge and silent electric motor for the radiator fan, particularly noticeable in stop-and-go traffic. The diagnostic revealed a faulty fan clutch connection and damaged wiring harness leading to the cooling fan assembly. The electric motor itself was fine, but the component was not receiving proper signals due to corroded plug connections. This caused the engine cooling system to work inefficiently. The repair involved replacing the entire wiring harness for the radiator fan and cleaning the connector terminals. This was actually a common issue on these models due to moisture getting into the connections over time. While not immediately catastrophic, leaving it unfixed risks serious engine overheating damage. The fix restored proper fan operation, you can now hear it kick in properly when engine temperature rises. No overheating issues since then, even during extended idle periods. Would recommend getting it checked soon, as these symptoms rarely resolve on their own and tend to worsen over time. A qualified hybrid specialist should be able to diagnose this quickly with the right diagnostic equipment since the fault codes are usually quite specific for cooling system electrical issues.

Thanks for sharing that experience. Good to know I am not alone with this temperature control issue. My car is showing the exact same symptoms you described. Did you remember roughly how much the repair cost in your case? Also curious if you have had any other cooling-related problems since the wiring harness was replaced? Thinking about taking it to the dealership since they should be familiar with these hybrid cooling system quirks, though worried about the potential repair costs.

Just wanted to update, took my Golf to a certified hybrid specialist last week and the electric fan issue was exactly what I suspected. The temperature control problems were caused by a damaged connector in the radiator fan wiring. Total repair cost was 95€ to fix the faulty connection and clean the terminals. The engine cooling system has been working perfectly since the repair. You can clearly hear the electric fan kick in when needed now, and the temperature gauge stays firmly in the normal range, even in heavy traffic. No other cooling-related issues have surfaced in the months following the fix. Your instinct about the dealership is good for these hybrid cooling systems. While my local mechanic initially missed the diagnosis, a specialist with proper diagnostic tools can quickly pinpoint these fan motor problems. The repair cost is usually reasonable when it's just connection-related rather than needing a full component replacement.

I took my Golf to the dealership yesterday after getting all this helpful advice. They diagnosed the same electric fan wiring issue you mentioned. The service tech showed me the corroded connector that was preventing proper fan operation and causing the vehicle overheating. Total repair came to 180€ which included diagnostic time, cleaning all connections, and replacing one section of damaged wiring harness. A bit more than your repair cost but still reasonable considering it was at the dealership. The temperature control is working perfectly now. Can clearly hear the cooling fan running when needed and the gauge stays steady even in stop-and-go traffic. Really glad I got this fixed quickly before any serious engine damage occurred. Already did a 30-minute drive in heavy traffic today to test it and no signs of overheating at all. The electric motor for the fan kicks in exactly when it should. Definitely worth getting it properly diagnosed and repaired at a place that knows these hybrid systems well.