How to Replace the Fan in a Nissan Altima

Your Nissan Altima may have an electrically operated engine cooling fan or a mechanical (belt-driven) engine cooling fan. These steps apply to replacing an electrically operated engine cooling fan in a Nissan Altima and, while more challenging than the same procedure on some other vehicles, a novice can accomplish them with little more than a wrench and screwdriver in an hour or two.

Instructions

1

Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable on your Nissan Altima, then drain the engine coolant through the drain spigot in the bottom of the radiator. Make certain to have a clean container large enough to hold the engine coolant on hand. Choose a container with a cover to protect it from debris and then set it aside.

2

Unscrew the hose clamp from the upper radiator hose, taking care to mark its exact orientation and location on the hose, then remove the upper radiator hose and set it aside. Then label each of the cooling fan electrical harnesses to prevent confusion and unplug them.

3

Loosen and remove the bolts that secure the fan assembly and housing to the radiator, then remove the fan assembly (with housing) from the engine compartment.

4

Place the new fan assembly in the engine compartment and tighten the mounting bolts to 29 to 37 inch pounds (3 to 4 Nm) of torque. Replace the upper radiator hose and tighten the clamp securely in place; make certain to align it with the marks you made in Step 2.

5

Refill the engine cooling system and bleed air from it, reconnect the cooling fan electrical harnesses, then reconnect the negative battery cable.

6

Run your vehicle's engine up to normal operating temperature. Check for coolant leaks and to make sure that the engine fan is working properly.