Erratic engine fan

[eltax91]

Hi guys

After a bit of advice. I have a 2.4 accord on an 08 plate as a daily hack. It's an auto.

I've noticed that the engine fan is a bit erratic, it'll regularly cut in when stood in traffic, but weirdly it stays in for about 3 seconds and then stops. Then it'll cut back in again, sometimes almost immediately and sometimes 30 seconds later

The engine coolant temp indicator rises to the same point and sits solid, and I've no other indications of engine trouble at all

So, am I being paranoid? Is this normal for this car and I just don't know it or perhaps it's even a common problem with a super easy fix?

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Well first of all, if your engine / temperature gauge are not going into the red and overheating in traffic, then you probably have little to worry about.

Second, and more technically - the only parts which are involved in the engine radiator fan's function are the fan motor itself (which obviously works), the wiring in-between, the relay (all of which must work ok for the motor to spin) and finally the thermostatic switch which turns it on and off.

The switch is usually bolted into the radiator, although on some cars it is bolted into the radiator pipework somewhere.

So, I would suggest that the only component which is faulty and giving some strange signals to the fan to turn on and off erratically is the fan switch itself.

Usually a fairly cheap and easy to replace part.

HTH

[nagsheadwarrior]

Just to say Im a big fan of eratic engines too so youre not alone.

[RedBull]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

So, I would suggest that the only component which is faulty and giving some strange signals to the fan to turn on and off erratically is the fan switch itself.

First thing I would look at too.

[eltax91]

Cheers chaps. New switch purchased for the princely sun of £17

[Roo]

Engine fans will frequently kick in at what looks like random intervals if you've got the air conditioning on.

And by air con I also mean if you've got the car ventilation on demist as this uses part of the air con system.

[eltax91]

Roo said:

Engine fans will frequently kick in at what looks like random intervals if you've got the air conditioning on.

And by air con I also mean if you've got the car ventilation on demist as this uses part of the air con system.

Hmmm. Interesting. What's the reasoning behind this?

I run with the climate permanently set to 22 degrees and on "auto"

[BrownBottle]

As Roo said, it's probably the air con, the air con radiator overlaps the coolant radiator normally so they share the same fan. If you have it set at auto (which is the best setting imo) then the air con will kick in whenever it feels the need.