2000 Hyundai SantaFe Overheating and AC Issues: Potential Electric Fan Malfunction

Hey! I definitely feel your pain there! I drive a 2003 Hyundai Tucson, and had the same issue last year. It felt like I was driving a moving sauna with an extra side of BBQ engine. Your best guess is spot on. My mechanic soon identified that the issue was indeed with the electric fan. The culprit was a dysfunctional "control unit/resistor". Evidently, this little part was failing to control the speed of the fan, making it run way too slow — didn't cool the engine properly or pump cold air into the car. Thus, the sauna. Getting the fan control unit/resistor replaced resolved the issue for me. This might sound like a big deal, but rest assured it's quite common across many car models and brands. It wasn't an overwhelmingly serious issue, just bothersome and obviously something that needs attention. Especially considering overheating can cause long-term engine damage. So no stress! Just get your ride to a mechanic you trust sooner rather than later. Have them check the electric fan, specifically the control unit and resistor. Hopefully you'll be back to frosty AC and a normal engine temp in no time! Cheers,

Hey there! that sounds all too familiar - a moving sauna in the middle of summer, just what everyone dreams of, right? Seriously though, it's a huge relief to hear your issue was with the fan control unit/resistor, I was starting to dread it might be something far more serious. This makes me pretty confident that we're dealing with the same issue. Just a quick question if you don't mind - do you remember approximately how much you had to fork out to get that fixed? Also, since you got it repaired, has any other related issue popped up? Thanks for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it. Cheers!

Hey there! Ah, the cost of keeping cool, huh? Fixing the issue with the electric fan control unit/resistor did take a bit out of my wallet - about 480.00 €, to be precise. Not the most fun way to spend hard-earned cash, but certainly better than dealing with an overheated engine or a sweltering car cabin. And no, I haven't seen any related issues since the repair was done. The good news is, ever since my trusted mechanic worked on it, my Hyundai has been running smoothly. No sudden jumps in engine temperature and no unexpected sauna sessions. Cooling is back up to Arctic levels. In other words, no more problems! Hope it works out just as well for you. All the best in getting your SantaFe back to its frosty self! Take care,

Hey! Thanks for the detailed answer and sharing your experience it's definitely helped dispel some of my worries. 480.00 € does sound a fair amount but as you rightly said, it's a small price to pay for a comfortable ride and engine health. I'm glad to hear no other issues have emerged for you following the fix, that's really reassuring. Looks like I've got some work lined up for my SantaFe but here's hoping for a frosty future! Happy driving to you and stay cool! Cheers!