Has the temperature light on your Kwid come on? The danger of not having a gauge on the dashboard.

Artigo atualizado em 3 de August de 2026 por João Daniel

The Renault Kwid is one of the most popular cars in Brazil, but it has a feature that keeps many people awake at night: the absence of a temperature gauge. You only find out that the engine is overheating when a red or orange light comes on in the dashboard. And, in the Kwid, when this light appears, the problem may lie in a small but vital part.

If you’ve noticed your car’s cooling fan turning on too early, making excessive noise, or if the warning light has come on, this guide will help you understand what’s happening before the damage becomes more serious.

Quick Diagnostic Chart

• Difficulty Level: 3/5 (It takes a bit of patience to get to the location)
• Risk Level: 5/5 (Extremely high risk of blowing the head gasket and seizing the engine)
• Necessary Tools: Torx T20 key, flathead screwdriver, and contact cleaner.

The Chronic Problem: Fan Resistance

The biggest problem with the Kwid is usually the electric fan resistor. This part controls the fan speeds. In the Kwid, it is highly exposed to humidity and extreme heat, which causes oxidation of the contacts or even melting of the plastic connector.

When this part fails, the fan stops working at “speed 1”. The car starts to overheat, and the control unit only engages “speed 2” (the very noisy one) when the engine is already at its limit.

How to identify the problem at home?

There are three clear signs that your Kwid is having problems with its cooling system:

1. The “Airplane Noise”: If you’ve barely started the car and the cooling fan is already making a very loud noise, it’s trying to compensate for the failure of the first speed.
2. Air conditioner stopped cooling: The air conditioning system relies on the fan. If the heating element burns out, the air stops coming out cold when you’re stuck in traffic.
3. Orange Light (Zigzag): In the Kwid, the multifunction light often comes on before the red temperature light to warn that there is an electrical fault in the fan.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Check the connector: The resistor is fitted into the fan housing, behind the radiator. Disconnect the plug and check for signs of burning or green discoloration (corrosion).
2. Fuse Test: Before replacing the part, check the fuse box (inside the motor) to see if the 30A or 40A fan fuse is intact.
3. Replacement: Replacing the resistor is simple. It’s held in place by just one screw. When buying a new one, make sure the car’s connector isn’t melted; if it is, you’ll need to replace the wiring harness as well.

Expert Tip: The water level

Never top up your Kwid’s radiator with tap water. Its system is very sensitive and operates at high pressure. Always use the ready-to-use (organic) coolant recommended in the owner’s manual. Using pure water will rust the heating element and jam the thermostat valve, which is a recipe for engine overheating.