My 8's cooling fan kept on running after the engine was turn off completely (key pulled out and alarm set). Normally, it's not a big deal, even though I don't remember it has done this before or not. But the strange thing is that it wasn't a hot day (72F) and commute was a 20 minutes of normal driving with AC on. Anyway, it kept on running for about 10 minutes after the engine is off. I worried it was going to drain the battery, so I put the key back in the ignition position (before start engine, without start the engine) and pull it out again. That shut off the cooling fan. Is this normal?

 

Yes, it is normal. Just because the ambient was low doesn't mean the coolant temps were low. They are more dependant on load and speed.

Here in Phoenix, my fans do that even after a short drive.

 

its normal for the fan to go on after the car is shut off if its still hot.

 

searching is normal too. you should look into that.

 

I've had the same experience. I know that it *is* normal for the fan to run after the car is turned off. However, I have noticed that running the a/c does seem to increase the likelyhood that it will run (more like "roar" - high speed op) when the car is shut off even when the ambient temps are mild. Someone else here said that the fan runs based on underhood temps as well as coolant temp, but, looking at the wiring diagrams, I don't see any "underhood" temp sensor explicitly mentioned.... It could be built into the PCM b/c it lives under the hood, but I dunno...

So, my guess is that there is some logic built into the PCM that runs the fan if the a/c was on before shutdown, regardless of coolant temp.

Don't worry, be happy - it's OK.

 

try taking your engine cover off. last summer, it was particularly hot one day, and when i parked and went into a store, the fan was running. "no big deal" i thought. over an hour later when i came back out, it was still running. that, caused some concern. i drove home and promptly took it off. i haven't experienced a single instance of prolonged fan running after shut off...even on days that were hotter.

 

Has anyone in a northern state had theirs come on? I have never had mine stay on after i turned my car off. Ive driven 5 hours with 3 people in upper 80s/low 90's with ac on the whole time, but it still didnt stay on when I shut my car off. Plus I have to sit in stop and go traffic two times a day everday. Is it something i should be concerned about?

 

No, I live in New Jersey and sometimes the fan comes on, sometimes it doesn't.

 

ive had mine kick on after a run to the gas station and back... ( less than 1/2 mile ) i think it's a crap sensor. if you turn the key off and on again it will go off. If i catch it unnecessarily running i'll double tap the key when i turn it off to make sure it stays off. I've seen it run at work for over 1/2 hour before turning off.

 

Mine did that the other day.. Didn't really concern me because I knew why it did. Then I rememebered that it didn't do it last summer.. I checked my coolent level and it was a little bit low.. i topped 'er off and havent had the fan kick on after turning if off yet... go check yours... just in case

 

Are you f*cking kidding me !?!

That's it. That takes the cake. That is officially the most stupid post EVER!

There are only two posts in this entire thread before yours - one asking your exact question and one answering it.
You didn't even need to search - you were already in the right thread staring at the answer as you were typing the question.

I'm stunned.

 

that's not a question

 

Oh.

Never mind.

 

Well, it was a "me to" post, which is dumb too.

Just not as dumb.

Sorry...

 

using voice intonation that sentence could very easily have been a question.
eg, "its normal for that to happen?"

MM just read it wrong, that's all...and then apologized for it.

nothing to see hear. move along

.:edit:.
awww...the guy deleted his post. i guess that's why when i tried to quote it, it kept openign a blank reply page.

 

Yeah by the time I had finished my flame he had appoligized so I deleted it. I was hoping nobody else saw it.

all this drama over a stupid cooling fan

 

If I drive easily, the fan will act like its dead.

IF I floor it, Go fast, alot of high RPMs(I mostly go over 6K anyway), the fan will come on after I shut it down. The longest time I think it was about 20 minutes.

My fan came on during winter too ! and It was like what, 23 F degrees outside ?

Its quite normal so dont worry about it.

 

Cool, thanks for all the inputs. I guess I still have a bit of VW lemon owner syndrome left in me.