The engine fans

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Hi everyone, my Alhambra has 2 fans on the radiator. I noticed they were running full blast all the time but then I turned off my AC and it seems they actually just run when the AC is on even if it is very cold outside. Is this normal please? I imagine they also run when the engine overheats but unless I take it to the Sahara desert doubt Iââ,¬â,,¢m ever likely to see it do that lol. Thank you

[brianh]

Yes thats normal, the A/C system will cause them to be on by design when its switched on.

[Oddballsicknote]

The A/C condenser (the part which sits in front of the coolant radiator) is a heat exchanger. If air isn't flowing over it, it won't exchange the heat it needs get rid of so the A/C core inside the vehicle can become cold and make you comfortable. If the fan didn't come on, you'd still be warm inside. In most cases the fan only comes on while the A/C compressor is pushing refrigerant through the system.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Thank you very much, you guys know everything!!! So much knowledge and experience here! Thank you

[johnnyroper]

As said without fans running when air con is on the condenser could not convert a very hot gas back to a hot liquid to release the heat that was absorbed by the evaporator. Air con system would shut down on high pressure as a result

[Oddballsicknote]

On my Sharan it has a Econ mode which switches the air con off and the fans aren't running constantly which will save a little bit of fuel too 👍

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Yes, that little econ mode button looks very handy. Do you know if it turns the AC off altogether or if it just turns it off when the car is idling or in slow traffic  (I once had a Saab and the econ mode basically meant it would turn the AC on only when the car was going quite fast, like 30mph or above, and all other times it would be off so as to save petrol)

[Oddballsicknote]

I'm not sure to be honest I just assume it turns it off but I didn't get the owners manual when I bought the car so couldn't tell you? Do you have an owner's manual? Maybe it will tell you in there?

[johnnyroper]

Econ button switches air con off,the climate control is designed to run air con all the time unless econ is pressed. Personally in my cars the air con is always on only time it turns off is when ambient temps are low enough to inhibite the compressor.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Thank you, I think I will put it on econ mode on mild days but auto for the others... might help the radiator fans last longer and save a little fuel