MajorCommonCooling

Mazda Premacy: Cooling fan control module failure causing overheating (CP)

Cooling fan control module failure causing overheating (CP) is a common cooling fault on the Mazda Premacy on the 2000–2005 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $250 to $700 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 21 documented faults on the Mazda Premacy.

Vehicle: Mazda Premacy
Years: 2000–2005
Fuel: petrol
System: Cooling

This page covers the Mazda Premacy as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Mazda Premacy faults21 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Head gasket or Radiator yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The first-generation Premacy's radiator fan control module is well known for failing early. When it dies the fans stop running, so the car overheats in traffic or at idle while staying cool at open-road speeds — a pattern that catches owners out and can cook the head gasket if ignored. The module (or a complete fan assembly) plus fitting is a modest repair, but the consequential head gasket damage from repeated overheating is not. On a 20+ year old car, confirm the fans actually cycle.

What you would notice

Temperature rises in traffic or at idle but is fine on the open road
Radiator fans never heard running
Air-con performance drops at idle
Coolant boiling/overflow after stopping

How to check it

Where to look. Fan control module on/near the radiator fan shroud, front of engine bay

Idle the car for 10-15 minutes (air-con on) and confirm both radiator fans cut in as the engine reaches temperature — you should hear them.
Watch the temp gauge the whole test drive, including a stint of idling.
Check for signs of past overheating: crusty coolant stains, new radiator, head gasket receipts.

Parts involved: Head gasket, Radiator.

What it costs to put right

$250 to $700 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Do both radiator fans work — can you show me them running?”
“Has it ever overheated?”
“Has the fan module or fan assembly been replaced?”

Now check the Mazda Premacy you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

BreakerYard 'Mazda Premacy Common Problems & Solutions' (fan control module early failure)
StartMyCar Mazda Premacy owner-reported problems (overheating/cooling fan)
AutomotiveFaults Mazda Premacy 1.8 1999-2005 issues list

Mazda Premacy buyer questions

Is cooling fan control module failure causing overheating (cp) serious on a Mazda Premacy?

We rate it major and common on the Mazda Premacy. The first-generation Premacy's radiator fan control module is well known for failing early. When it dies the fans stop running, so the car overheats in traffic or at idle while staying cool at open-road speeds — a pattern that catches owners out and can cook the head gasket if ignored. The module (or a complete fan assembly) plus fitting is a modest repair, but the consequential head gasket damage from repeated overheating is not. On a 20+ year old car, confirm the fans actually cycle.

How much does it cost to fix on a Mazda Premacy?

$250 to $700 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Mazda Premacy years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2000–2005 Mazda Premacy. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Idle the car for 10-15 minutes (air-con on) and confirm both radiator fans cut in as the engine reaches temperature — you should hear them. Watch the temp gauge the whole test drive, including a stint of idling. Check for signs of past overheating: crusty coolant stains, new radiator, head gasket receipts. Look here: Fan control module on/near the radiator fan shroud, front of engine bay