So I was driving my 2009 xf NA in sport mode pretty hard today, but nothing to crazy the tempature out side was 30 degrees celcious, and out of know where I get the engine temp to high warning, so I immediately pull over throw my scanner on and it's sitting at 237 degree f. Shut the car down, and re scan and get the code p0483 cooling fan rationality check code along with p0193 fuel rail pressure high, the fuel rail is a strange one as I changed that sensor out several months ago with a brand new so hoping it's a consequence of the fan error. I let the car cool down for a good hour cranked the heat on max and got it home, running temp was averaging 205 to 209 max but when I parked turned the ac on it started rocketing up. Rad was drained and flushed and new coolant put in about a month ago but I'm wondering if I have a failing thermostat will it throw the fan code? Any suggestions would be awsome.

 

Sounds like the fan is not coming on or not running the speed its supposed to be running. I'm not a mechanic and haven't researched how the XF systems in particular work, but with the AC on, many cars either kick in a second fan or increase the fan speed to compensate for the extra heat load from the condenser.

 

do you know if there is a fuse that goes to the fan, I honestly didn't hear it running now that I think about it.

 

This happened to me in January after sitting in traffic. Did the same as you - pulled over to let it cool, and after starting it up i noticed the cooling fan wasn't turning!

Check yours. It should come on when the engine gets hot, and immediately if you switch the AC on. If it doesn't, I woukd suggest there's a good chance that's the problem - it is a known issue on the XF. Replacing the fan fixes it.

The fuse by the way is a blue 100A beast in the fuse box under the bonnet (5.0L). It has a plastic window on it so you can see if it's blown without removing it (which is an absolute bitch to do)

 

fan turns but it's not ramping up, mine is 80amp fuse as it's the 4.2l NA I also noticed today with running my ac that it will go full tilt then ramp down and blow warm. By chance do you know the normal operating temp? I'm stuck using my reader to give me live temp data as my pre face-lift doesn't have an actual gauge.

 

Next question is does it blow cold when the car is moving and then warm up when the car comes to a stop?. That would be a classic fan not operating kind of symptom.

 

Ah it's so annoying isn't it, why did these cars not come with a simple temperature gauge...? I don't know what to make of the ac behaviour unfortunately....

For what it's worth, I drove around with my reader plugged in to keep an eye on temps after fitting a second-hand fan on my 5.0. When stationary it fluctuated between 93 and 97°C (199 and 206°F) with the fan kicking in at 97 and shutting off at 93, then the temperature rising back up and the cycle repeating itself. Though someone with a 4.2 would have to confirm if theirs behaves similarly.

 

Forgot to add that in the weeks before my fan packed up, it did show some very strange behaviour, such as running full blast when the engine was still stone cold and below freezing air temperature. I reckon your fan coming on strong initially and then slowing could be the fan displaying a similar sort of malfunction before it dies completely...

 

The Service manual says the thermostat should begin opening between 190-198 F and be fully open at 216F. Fully open is a minimum of 0.2ins. My 2004 Vanden Plas typically ran from 205-210F.
My 2012 XF 5.0NA runs at 186-188F normally and up to 206 in stop go traffic

 

when my light came on and I plugged my reader in I was sitting at 237f it was nerve racking because in my head I figured I blew head or at least was spilling and boiling out all my coolant. But I guess fortunately nothing like that happened, I'm leaning toward the fan relay itself being compromised as with no ac or temp controll on in traffic its hovering around 196-198 if im sitting it will start crawling up but minute I turn heat on it dissipates and stays around 194. I'm not a mechanic by any means but I try and fix what I can.

 

Maybe this will help, Don't know which engine size you have but this short clip tells you where the fan fuse is

 

yes it's very intermittent, when I start car let it idle up to temp it will begin blowing ice cold air then ill hear the blower motor ramp down and it begins to blow warm air, i just realized my scanner is capable of function testing fan so thats first step today.

 

80am fuse. Fuse is fine.

 

What code reader do you have?

Even quite inexpensive ones are able to read live data, this will tell you coolant temperature... my China tablet has a fan test mode which lets me run the main cooling fan at 0-100%.

 

I use autel 808mx for heavy trouble shooting and my innova 3300 for driving, I manually cranked my fan up but there is heavy delay so definitely thinking fan is going.

 

With the fan on 100% they are pretty loud!

If it puts your mind at rest, one of my cars doesn't turn the fan on until coolant temp reached 110deg C (230F)! So I doubt you have hurt anything. Can you reach down and spin the fan by hand to see if the bearing has failed?

 

fan spins freely by hand. I'm thinking the module on it is going or a problem with the connector