P0480: Cooling fan 1 control circuit malfunction
The ECU has found an electrical fault in the control of radiator fan 1. Usually a relay, a fuse, the wiring or the fan motor itself.
| Code | P0480 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P04xx, Emissions control |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | Better not |
What P0480 means
The radiator fan pulls air through when the car is slow or stationary and the engine gets hot. The ECU switches it through a relay or a control module. This code means that control circuit is not responding properly, so the fan may not come on.
Most common causes
- Blown fan fuse
- Faulty fan relay
- Loose or corroded connector at the fan or relay
- Damaged wiring
- Faulty fan motor or fan control module
Symptoms
- Fan not starting or not switching off
- Engine temperature rising in traffic or at idle
- Air conditioning cooling less well when stationary
- Engine warning light on
Can you drive with P0480?
Better not If the fan is not working, the engine can overheat in town or traffic, which is very costly. Watch the temperature gauge and get to a garage as soon as possible, ideally on open roads without long stops.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
With the engine hot at idle or the air conditioning on, check whether the fan spins. Many scanners can switch it on from the test menu: if it does not turn, check the fuse and relay first.
How to read and clear P0480 with Final OBD
Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0480 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P047C The exhaust pressure sensor B gives a lower signal than normal
- P047D The exhaust pressure sensor B gives a higher signal than normal
- P047E The exhaust pressure sensor B fails now and then
- P047F The exhaust pressure control valve A has got stuck
- P0481 Cooling fan 2 control circuit malfunction
- P0482 The cooling fan 3 control has an electrical fault
- P0483 The radiator fan is not responding as it should
- P0484 The coolant fan motor circuit draws too much current
- P0400 Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow malfunction
- P0401 Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow insufficient
- P0402 Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow excessive
- P0403 EGR control circuit malfunction
To understand it properly
We explain how that system works, with drawings and no waffle, in our mechanics guide: Cooling.
To understand it properly
We explain how that system works, with drawings and no waffle, in our mechanics guide: Air conditioning.
What does code P0480 mean?
The radiator fan pulls air through when the car is slow or stationary and the engine gets hot. The ECU switches it through a relay or a control module. This code means that control circuit is not responding properly, so the fan may not come on.
Can you drive with P0480?
If the fan is not working, the engine can overheat in town or traffic, which is very costly. Watch the temperature gauge and get to a garage as soon as possible, ideally on open roads without long stops.
How do you clear P0480?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0480 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
