In this heat wave does the radiator fan start straight away?

[HannsG]

Hi,

Reason I ask is because my X5 is having a mare in this heatwave. The aircon is ice cold when travelling at speed but when idle it seems to be non existent and definitely not as cold.

I started the car on the drive last night to see if the radiator fan would come on and it did not.

I'll take it to an independent to check but was wondering if the fan is borked.

Thanks

[can't remember]

Sounds more like a weak battery and the car's brain is preserving charge. Have you got it set in economy mode? Same thing will happen then on some cars. The radiator fan is for the engine, not the aircon, even on a hot night you would probably have to leave it idling for a while. Has the temperature gauge been going over normal?

Edited by can't remember on Thursday 9th September 07:48

Edited by can't remember on Thursday 9th September 07:49

[normalbloke]

Contrary to the above, some cars use the fans on the ‘cooling pack’ on the aircon side too. My wife’s S2000 will kick one of the fans in immediately after starting if the aircon is on. Second fan only kicks in when sat in traffic to keep the coolant temps in check. Bottom line is, any modern car should be able to keep its aircon icy cold, and it’s engine temps in check,sat still in any heat the U.K. can throw at it.

[HelldogBE]

can't remember said:

Sounds more like a weak battery and the car's brain is preserving charge. Have you got it set in economy mode? Same thing will happen then on some cars. The radiator fan is for the engine, not the aircon, even on a hot night you would probably have to leave it idling for a while. Has the temperature gauge been going over normal?

Edited by can't remember on Thursday 9th September 07:48

Edited by can't remember on Thursday 9th September 07:49

My F11 5-series will definitely start the fan immediately when starting a hot car (with a heat soaked evaporator) with the AC on. It goes full rumble for about 10 seconds and then quiets down.

Can't really hear it on the inside, but it definitely pulls my attention on the outside.

[Triumph Man]

How old is this X5? Early models (E53) had a viscous fan and auxiliary electric fan, which should come on when the Air conditioning is switched on, or if underbonnet temps get really high. It might be that the aux fan is duff, which you wouldn't necessarily notice because in most cases the viscous fan would be able to cope. When moving you'd have enough air flow to cool the A/C gubbins, but when stationary they might get too hot (as the fan isn't working) and then disengage the compressor.

Edited by Triumph Man on Thursday 9th September 09:16

[HannsG]

Triumph Man said:

How old is this X5? Early models (E53) had a viscous fan and auxiliary electric fan, which should come on when the Air conditioning is switched on, or if underbonnet temps get really high. It might be that the aux fan is duff, which you wouldn't necessarily notice because in most cases the viscous fan would be able to cope. When moving you'd have enough air flow to cool the A/C gubbins, but when stationary they might get too hot (as the fan isn't working) and then disengage the compressor.

Edited by Triumph Man on Thursday 9th September 09:16

Hi the car is a late 2011 E70 X5 3.0D.

Thanks for all the replies by the way

[HannsG]

can't remember said:

Sounds more like a weak battery and the car's brain is preserving charge. Have you got it set in economy mode? Same thing will happen then on some cars. The radiator fan is for the engine, not the aircon, even on a hot night you would probably have to leave it idling for a while. Has the temperature gauge been going over normal?

Edited by can't remember on Thursday 9th September 07:48

Edited by can't remember on Thursday 9th September 07:49

Hi,

Aircon is on and low as possible and on with max blower.

Thanks

[E-bmw]

In answer to your post title.

It depends on much, but typically "on the drive" after starting the car, the fan will click in & out to keep the condenser cooling with the A/C on on most cars.

[Triumph Man]

HannsG said:

Triumph Man said:

How old is this X5? Early models (E53) had a viscous fan and auxiliary electric fan, which should come on when the Air conditioning is switched on, or if underbonnet temps get really high. It might be that the aux fan is duff, which you wouldn't necessarily notice because in most cases the viscous fan would be able to cope. When moving you'd have enough air flow to cool the A/C gubbins, but when stationary they might get too hot (as the fan isn't working) and then disengage the compressor.

Edited by Triumph Man on Thursday 9th September 09:16

Hi the car is a late 2011 E70 X5 3.0D.

Thanks for all the replies by the way

Ha then completely ignore everything I just said

[HannsG]

Hi just an update. It was the fan.... It was dead.

Took to an independent and £900 lighter all is good.

Thank god for warranty!!!!