VW Taigo Fan Noise Points to Failing Cooling System

I experienced similar symptoms with my 2020 VW T-Cross last month. The car radiator was running hot and the fan noise became increasingly concerning, especially during idle. The diagnosis revealed two issues: a faulty thermal switch and a worn-out radiator fan motor. The thermal switch wasnt properly triggering the cooling fan at the correct temperature thresholds, causing the engine to overheat. When the fan did engage, it made an unusual grinding sound due to the deteriorating motor bearings. This is a serious issue that needs immediate attention. Continued overheating can lead to severe engine damage. The repair involved replacing both the thermal switch and the radiator fan assembly. Labor time was around 4 hours since accessing the components required removing several parts. Based on your description, the symptoms match almost exactly. These issues often appear together since the thermal switch and fan work as a system. The check engine light typically activates when the engine temperature exceeds normal operating range. For VW models like ours, its important to use OEM parts for the engine cooling system to ensure proper fit and function. This isnt a repair to postpone or seek budget alternatives for, given the risk of engine damage.

Thanks for the detailed info about the thermal switch and radiator fan motor problem. Your experience sounds exactly like what I am dealing with. I went ahead and had both components replaced at my local shop and the cooling system is working perfectly now. No more overheating issues or strange fan noises. Would you mind sharing what you paid for the repair? Just curious to compare costs. Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other cooling-related problems?

Had the work done about 3 weeks ago and the engine cooling system has been working flawlessly since then. The car radiator temperature stays perfectly normal now, and the fan blade operates silently, such a relief after those worrying grinding noises. The total repair came to 250€ for replacing the speed sensor that was causing the fan noise. The shop found that the thermal switch was actually fine, so that saved some money. The diagnostic work helped pinpoint the exact issue rather than replacing multiple parts unnecessarily. The engine cooling performance is back to normal and the check engine light hasnt returned. Regular temperature readings and proper fan operation at idle confirm everything is working as intended. Really glad I got it fixed before any serious engine damage occurred. Nice to hear you got yours sorted too. These cooling system issues can be scary but proper diagnosis and repair usually resolves them completely.

Thanks for the helpful advice. After taking my car to the shop yesterday, they diagnosed and fixed the issue quickly. The mechanic found a failing fan motor that was causing the strange fan noise and overheating problems. They also checked the thermal switch but it tested fine. Total repair cost was 290€ including parts and labor, not as bad as I feared. The engine cooling system is working perfectly now. No more concerning noises from the car radiator and the temperature gauge stays firmly in the normal range. Such a relief to have this fixed before any serious engine damage occurred. The whole experience was much better than expected thanks to knowing what to look for from the advice here. The shop was honest about only replacing what was actually broken instead of trying to upsell unnecessary parts. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and helping me avoid getting overcharged.