MS3: Fan stays on after cooling down the car

[peter.sellers]

Of late, I've noticed that even after letting the car cool for 5 mins after a long drive, the fan stays on. This weekend I drove for 35 miles at 75mph and let it cool down for 6 mins but the fan still stayed on for a few minutes after I shut down.

I don't think I've seen this before. Does anyone else have the same problem (if it is a problem ?)?

Do I need to change any fluids? I recently got an oil change. I have an 07 MS3

 

[kvndoom]

Where do you live? I know the RX8 I had would do that on fairly warm days.

 

[peter.sellers]

Where do you live?

NE GA. I was driving it yesterday at 75 degF. During shorter drives, the fan doesn't stay on. Could it be a 'time to change some fluids' thing?

 

[lyonsroar]

Mine would do this on especially hot days after stop and go traffic. It did it expecially when I was learning to drive stick and stalled a lot. Hasn't happened in a long time though. I wouldn't worry about it. My dad's Mini does it too after long drives.

 

[Kain]

Pretty normal after extended driving or hot days. If your temp gauge is reading higher than normal, you may have a T-stat issue. Some MS3 thermostats have been known to stick closed.

 

[MicaSp33d]

the fan is on because your car is sitting there for 6 mins and no moving air to bring down the coolant temps. Shorting your cool down idle to like 1 min and you may see the fan turn on less frequent. Your just wasting gas for letting it idle that long anyways.

 

[SallySpeed3]

Mine does the same thing as well, usually only stays on for 10 seconds or so. Not that big of a deal

 

[ms3brendan]

Mine does that all the time.. Perfectly normal.

 

[MikeHTally]

Not uncommon for a FWD car's fan to run after it's shut down. I've heard 'em turn on when the car's off.

 

[taf0422]

mine definitely does the same thing...Only after long drives or letting it staying at idle too long. Only stays on for a few seconds and goes off. Completely normal.

 

[12secondhatch]

mine did this last month... at first i thought nothing of it, but then 2 weeks later i threw a rod...coincidence? maybe

 

[freeflyfreak]

Woooah no way. Mine does that too.
Do you think I am about to throw a rod???
I really dont want too, this is my second engine already.

 

[MicaSp33d]

mine did this last month... at first i thought nothing of it, but then 2 weeks later i threw a rod...coincidence? maybe

what does a radiator fan turning on after you turn it off have to do with throwing a rod? If the coolant reaches a certain temperature the radiator fan will turn on. It usually turns on say if your idling at a light for a long period of time or if your a/c is on. This is because your car is not moving and air is not cooling the radiator so the fan kicks on to cool it.

 

[Hapa88]

the fan is on because your car is sitting there for 6 mins and no moving air to bring down the coolant temps. Shorting your cool down idle to like 1 min and you may see the fan turn on less frequent. Your just wasting gas for letting it idle that long anyways.

^Yeah, it's the sitting part that's causing the fan to come on in the first place.

The fan is used to suck air though the radiator when there isn't enough air coming through from driving. Since the car is stopped, there's no airflow though it and the only way to disapate the heat is by turning on the fan. So this is normal.

You'll also notice it coming on more frequently if you have your A/C running (A/C On, the Defrost, or "Lower vent only" selections).

 

[CnoTataymo]

I had this problem too. I would drive like 5 miles in like 65-70 degree weather and when I parked and turned the car off, the fan would kick on. I took it to the dealership since I was under the 5 year/60k mile powertrain warranty and it was covered.

As for coolant, in the manual, it says the first change is at like 120k miles. I was like WOW.

 

[BlackCherry06]

That's definitely not right....I haven't heard my cooling fan since the temps dropped below 90. Either your car was running very warm, or your temp switch was too sensitive. Did they fix it?

 

[aidtwo]

Pretty normal after extended driving or hot days. If your temp gauge is reading higher than normal, you may have a T-stat issue. Some MS3 thermostats have been known to stick closed.

I agree and it may be that the thermostat may be an issue. My MS3's thermostat was replaced under warranty this past summer. The fan would often run for a few minutes (regardless of the driving conditions - short trips, highway, etc.). It wasn't until I noticed the temperature gauge moving around (climbing and falling) during normal driving that it became obviously an issue:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123780187-AC-Question&p=5437229&viewfull=1#post5437229