Hi: My engine fan goes on when I have the A/C on. It does not stop. I do not recall this when the car was new. I have 7000 miles and it started to do it around 5000 miles. The fan is quiet loud with vibrations. Sound and vibration is noticeable when stopped. If I turn a/c off then fan goes off shortly after. My engine temp is normal and I'm just driving around town. Anybody with similar problem?

 

Hey there,

Well this is not MINI specific - But, with most FWD cars the cooling fans are controlled by 2 sensors / triggers -- One turns the fan on when the temp. gets to a preset point ( like 180 degrees?? ), the other turns on the fan when the AC is turned on. Every FWD car I have ever owned does this. I have not noticed if my 04 MCS does this.

If your fan is vibrating really bad then I would have it checked out - it may be on its way out -- OR maybe has a cracked blade - causing imbalance??



Anyone else have any insight - MINI specific???


Good luck

 

I am pretty sure my cooling fan has always come on as soon as the AC
is turned on. With the AC off, the fan does seem to be thermostatically
controlled.

 

Get it check while you're still covered by the warranty!

Mine died yesterday, and I got it fixed today... Total cost : 640$us for parts and labor!!

 

I think I have a similar issue, that's been going on for just under a year. There's a really obnoxious whirring noise (sounds like a fan that is not functioning properly) that occurs on a few different occasions:

1- Occasionally when I first turn my Auto A/C on
2- On the freeway, after I've been driving steadily and come to a stop or a big slowdown. (Typically a slowdown caused by stop-n-go traffic) - When A/C is On.
3- A few times while idling - either in a parking lot or at a fast food drive-thru, etc - A/C was not on.

I originally thought this was something related to the A/C, as I was only hearing it when the A/C was on. But now I'm hearing it while the A/C is off as well, so that's a bit disturbing. The temp gauge on the speedo is never above the halfway point when this occurs. I've taken it into my dealership a few times, but they could never recreate the sound (convenient).

I have my 25K service coming up this Friday (at 29k, no less), and it's on my list of things to have them look at. I'll make specific mention of the engine cooling fan.

 

The fan coming on in traffic, with or without a/c, is normal. The MINI temp gauge is not a 'true' linear gauge, rather it parks itself at midpoint at temps from about 180-220 degrees. The fan will also kick into 'high gear' if the engine is hot AND the a/c is on and there is a lot of demand on the a/c. Also, when the fan is on high, the power steering fan (under the car) will run, and this fan is known to be noisy and problematic. With the weather warming up, you'll hear the fan running more often. If you are running a/c and never hear the outside fan run while parked, check fuse F05 under the hood. If it's blown, the power steering fan is seized. You car will overheat and boil over when not moving or moving slow (in traffic) if this is the case.

 

Only true for 2002 and early 2003 models without the revised and retrofitted harness to separate the power feeds to the two fans.

 

Greatbear -

The problem is not the fan coming on - if that's the sound I'm hearing - the problem is the SOUND of the fan. I've heard the fans in other MINIs and the sound I'm hearing sounds nothing like it. If it is a fan, it's a fan that's not cycling properly, by either being damaged, or maybe the motor for the fan is damaged in some way. I'm having it looked at, though, and I'll report back if they find anything.

 

*I THINK* The fan always comes on when the A/C is on. If it is making a funny noise, it might be malfunctioning. Cracked blade, belt, ect. I'd have it checked while it is still under warranty.

 

I've just encountered a different, but related, problem. My cooling fan kicked on as I was pulling into a parking space, and didn't shut off when I turned off the ignition. I came back 5 minutes later and it was still running. I'm not sure at this point if the fan is suppose to shut off with the ignition; some cars' fans don't. But after 5 minute on a cool day it should be OFF! When I got back to work, same thing. So I lifted the bonnet and unplugged the fan at the harness so it would not run down the batt. Relay problem or sensor? Ideas? Its still in warranty (barely...an '02 S). I suspect a trip to Atlanta (closest warranty service) is in order.

 

I brought this topic back because this happened to me for the first time tonight....drove a 30 mile trip, didn't have the A/C on at all, turned off the car, the fan kept going, and it sounded like the A/C compressor was kicked on which was odd. I started the car up again, let it run a minute, then turned it off and the fan went off. Is this something that needs a dealer check?