P0480Powertrain
Cooling fan 1 control circuit malfunction
Where to start
The cooling fan relay circuit. While this code is present the fan may not come on in traffic — and that means overheating. The relay and the fuse are checked first, before any diagnosis: they are cheaper than a cylinder head.
A code is not a diagnosis. It says which check failed, not which part to replace. Clearing it without repair only means the car will report it again in a few trips.
How to put together a report a mechanic will actually read
We have a detailed piece on thisFan, A/C and fuel pump relays: P0480, P0645, P0691
How the code is built
Letter — the systemPowertrain: engine and transmission
Common or the maker's ownGeneric code: the same on every car
Which part of the engineEmission controls: catalyst, EGR, fuel vapour
Number of the faultThe serial number inside that group — it does not say how serious the fault is
All codes in «Idle and auxiliary systems»
How it feels behind the wheel
The same fault shows itself in different ways. Each sign below says what to look at in the live data.
The temperature gauge is climbingThe needle goes above its usual place, there is a hot smell from under the bonnet, and the heater may blow cold on a hot engine.The cooling fan runs all the timeThe fan roars right after starting and does not stop even on a cold engine or in frost.
How the app helps
CarScan reads this code from your car through an OBD-II adapter, shows whether it is active now or only stored, names the module that reported it, and puts it into a plain-text report for your mechanic.