Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
'07 Saturn Aura radiator fan continues to run
551 views
Skip to first unread message
Shawn
Oct 18, 2012, 11:22:03 AM10/18/12
to
I own a '07 Saturn Aura XR that has 155K miles on it. A week ago it started doing something strange. The issue I'm experiencing only happens about 60% of the time. What I've noticed is this - after I turn off the engine and remove the key, the radiator fan continues to run for about 3 to 4 minutes. Sometimes, just before shutting off the car, I'll notice that the temperature gauge is pointed higher then usual. I'm worried that one of these times the fan will not shut off and I'll come out to a dead battery. Luckily, this hasn't happened yet. So far I've noticed that the fan will shut off a few minutes after turning off the engine. And, like I said, it doesn't do this every time I shut off the car. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why the radiator fan continues to run even after turning the car off and the key removed? Thanks so much for the input!!
SteveT
Oct 18, 2012, 3:02:32 PM10/18/12
to
...Normal operation -- I'm surprised it only JUST started happening a week
ago! I suspect you just didn't notice it before.
...The fact that you noticed the temperature gauge being higher than normal
is telling. I'd suggest you check the cooling system (or have it checked). I
would guess that it's very likely the two conditions (hot temp and fan
running) are related.
...Good luck!
ago! I suspect you just didn't notice it before.
...The fact that you noticed the temperature gauge being higher than normal
is telling. I'd suggest you check the cooling system (or have it checked). I
would guess that it's very likely the two conditions (hot temp and fan
running) are related.
...Good luck!
Oppie
Oct 18, 2012, 3:05:39 PM10/18/12
to
Many cars have a cooling system that runs even when the ignition switch is
off. This is because on some designs, there is not enough (or any)
convection in the cooling water to ensure a flow. This by itself can be
normal (don't know that much about the Aura so can't say with authority). I
do think that the key thing you said is the the temperature gauge is
pointing higher than normal. First thing I would do is flush the cooling
system thoroughly - especially if you haven't done it in two years. Have it
done professionally if you don't know how to backflush it. You may have
some sediment or corrosion that is blocking some of the cooling passages,
making the engine run hotter.
If you have a friend with an OBDii scanner, you can read the coolant
temperature and see how it compares to actual temperature.
Running down a battery with a few minutes of radiator fan is only a concern
if the battery has either been abused, charging system problems or the
battery is over 5 years old - in which case it's due for replacement anyway.
Hope that helped - Oppie
"Shawn" <shba...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1f5459b2-48e8-460b...@googlegroups.com...
off. This is because on some designs, there is not enough (or any)
convection in the cooling water to ensure a flow. This by itself can be
normal (don't know that much about the Aura so can't say with authority). I
do think that the key thing you said is the the temperature gauge is
pointing higher than normal. First thing I would do is flush the cooling
system thoroughly - especially if you haven't done it in two years. Have it
done professionally if you don't know how to backflush it. You may have
some sediment or corrosion that is blocking some of the cooling passages,
making the engine run hotter.
If you have a friend with an OBDii scanner, you can read the coolant
temperature and see how it compares to actual temperature.
Running down a battery with a few minutes of radiator fan is only a concern
if the battery has either been abused, charging system problems or the
battery is over 5 years old - in which case it's due for replacement anyway.
Hope that helped - Oppie
"Shawn" <shba...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1f5459b2-48e8-460b...@googlegroups.com...
hub...@ccanoemail.com
Oct 18, 2012, 5:37:41 PM10/18/12
to
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't overlook that possibility ... time for a tranny service ?
John T.
--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---
Shawn
Oct 18, 2012, 8:13:17 PM10/18/12
to
Shawn
Oct 18, 2012, 8:14:29 PM10/18/12
to
On Thursday, October 18, 2012 3:05:40 PM UTC-4, Oppie wrote:
> Many cars have a cooling system that runs even when the ignition switch is
>
> off. This is because on some designs, there is not enough (or any)
>
> convection in the cooling water to ensure a flow. This by itself can be
>
> normal (don't know that much about the Aura so can't say with authority). I
>
> do think that the key thing you said is the the temperature gauge is
>
> pointing higher than normal. First thing I would do is flush the cooling
>
> system thoroughly - especially if you haven't done it in two years. Have it
>
> done professionally if you don't know how to backflush it. You may have
>
> some sediment or corrosion that is blocking some of the cooling passages,
>
> making the engine run hotter.
>
> If you have a friend with an OBDii scanner, you can read the coolant
>
> temperature and see how it compares to actual temperature.
>
>
>
> Running down a battery with a few minutes of radiator fan is only a concern
>
> if the battery has either been abused, charging system problems or the
>
> battery is over 5 years old - in which case it's due for replacement anyway.
>
>
>
> Hope that helped - Oppie
>
>
>
> "Shawn wrote in message
> Many cars have a cooling system that runs even when the ignition switch is
>
> off. This is because on some designs, there is not enough (or any)
>
> convection in the cooling water to ensure a flow. This by itself can be
>
> normal (don't know that much about the Aura so can't say with authority). I
>
> do think that the key thing you said is the the temperature gauge is
>
> pointing higher than normal. First thing I would do is flush the cooling
>
> system thoroughly - especially if you haven't done it in two years. Have it
>
> done professionally if you don't know how to backflush it. You may have
>
> some sediment or corrosion that is blocking some of the cooling passages,
>
> making the engine run hotter.
>
> If you have a friend with an OBDii scanner, you can read the coolant
>
> temperature and see how it compares to actual temperature.
>
>
>
> Running down a battery with a few minutes of radiator fan is only a concern
>
> if the battery has either been abused, charging system problems or the
>
> battery is over 5 years old - in which case it's due for replacement anyway.
>
>
>
> Hope that helped - Oppie
>
>
>
>
> news:1f5459b2-48e8-460b...@googlegroups.com...
>
> > I own a '07 Saturn Aura XR that has 155K miles on it. A week ago it
>
> > started doing something strange. The issue I'm experiencing only happens
>
> > about 60% of the time. What I've noticed is this - after I turn off the
>
> > engine and remove the key, the radiator fan continues to run for about 3
>
> > to 4 minutes. Sometimes, just before shutting off the car, I'll notice
>
> > that the temperature gauge is pointed higher then usual. I'm worried that
>
> > one of these times the fan will not shut off and I'll come out to a dead
>
> > battery. Luckily, this hasn't happened yet. So far I've noticed that the
>
> > fan will shut off a few minutes after turning off the engine. And, like I
>
> > said, it doesn't do this every time I shut off the car. Does anyone have
>
> > any suggestions as to why the radiator fan continues to run even after
>
> > turning the car off and the key removed? Thanks so much for the input!!
>
> >
I appreciate it.
> news:1f5459b2-48e8-460b...@googlegroups.com...
>
> > I own a '07 Saturn Aura XR that has 155K miles on it. A week ago it
>
> > started doing something strange. The issue I'm experiencing only happens
>
> > about 60% of the time. What I've noticed is this - after I turn off the
>
> > engine and remove the key, the radiator fan continues to run for about 3
>
> > to 4 minutes. Sometimes, just before shutting off the car, I'll notice
>
> > that the temperature gauge is pointed higher then usual. I'm worried that
>
> > one of these times the fan will not shut off and I'll come out to a dead
>
> > battery. Luckily, this hasn't happened yet. So far I've noticed that the
>
> > fan will shut off a few minutes after turning off the engine. And, like I
>
> > said, it doesn't do this every time I shut off the car. Does anyone have
>
> > any suggestions as to why the radiator fan continues to run even after
>
> > turning the car off and the key removed? Thanks so much for the input!!
>
> >
Shawn
Oct 19, 2012, 10:51:06 AM10/19/12
to
Shawn
Oct 19, 2012, 10:53:11 AM10/19/12
to
On Thursday, October 18, 2012 3:04:43 PM UTC-4, SteveT wrote:
SMS
Oct 22, 2012, 8:46:17 PM10/22/12
to
On 10/18/2012 8:22 AM, Shawn wrote:
> I own a '07 Saturn Aura XR that has 155K miles on it. A week ago it started doing something strange. The issue I'm experiencing only happens about 60% of the time. What I've noticed is this - after I turn off the engine and remove the key, the radiator fan continues to run for about 3 to 4 minutes. Sometimes, just before shutting off the car, I'll notice that the temperature gauge is pointed higher then usual. I'm worried that one of these times the fan will not shut off and I'll come out to a dead battery. Luckily, this hasn't happened yet. So far I've noticed that the fan will shut off a few minutes after turning off the engine. And, like I said, it doesn't do this every time I shut off the car. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why the radiator fan continues to run even after turning the car off and the key removed? Thanks so much for the input!!
This behavior is quite normal on vehicles with electric fans, but if it
> I own a '07 Saturn Aura XR that has 155K miles on it. A week ago it started doing something strange. The issue I'm experiencing only happens about 60% of the time. What I've noticed is this - after I turn off the engine and remove the key, the radiator fan continues to run for about 3 to 4 minutes. Sometimes, just before shutting off the car, I'll notice that the temperature gauge is pointed higher then usual. I'm worried that one of these times the fan will not shut off and I'll come out to a dead battery. Luckily, this hasn't happened yet. So far I've noticed that the fan will shut off a few minutes after turning off the engine. And, like I said, it doesn't do this every time I shut off the car. Does anyone have any suggestions as to why the radiator fan continues to run even after turning the car off and the key removed? Thanks so much for the input!!
just started doing this recently, and the temperature gauge is
indicating higher than normal, then it might be an indication that
something else is wrong. The thermostat could be failing, i.e. opening
at a higher temperature which would elevate the coolant temperature.
Probably not the temperature sensor switch for the electric fan which
appears to be doing its job. If the temperature sensor switch were
faulty (turning on the fan at a higher temperature), then it would not
be staying on to cool the engine down after the engine is shut off.
When was the last time the thermostat was changed? Was it an OEM
thermostat or after-market? Sometimes the after-market thermostats are
not opening at the proper temperature and the normal operating
temperature of the engine changes. You don't want to run either too hot
or too cool, so putting in a lower temperature thermostat is not a good
idea.
Oppie
Oct 23, 2012, 9:09:32 AM10/23/12
to
"SMS" <scharf...@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:5085e8da$0$71230$742e...@news.sonic.net...
Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS). The ECU reads that and controls the
temperature gauge and cooling fan. If that's the case, don't think you have
two separate systems that agree.
I had an old Subaru where a temperature switch in the radiator directly
controlled the cooling fan. In that case, as the contacts wore with age
(from switching current), the car began running hotter. Changing the switch
was the fix.
Most thermostats by the way they are designed will tend to fail open
rather than closed. That's why I recommended a cooling system flush.
Good call from Hubops about tranny temp. Auto Trans have an oil cooler that
is part of the radiator. This can add to the coolant temperature in extreme
cases. Good idea to check the color and smell of the tranny fluid.
news:5085e8da$0$71230$742e...@news.sonic.net...
> Probably not the temperature sensor switch for the electric fan which
> appears to be doing its job. If the temperature sensor switch were faulty
> (turning on the fan at a higher temperature), then it would not be staying
> on to cool the engine down after the engine is shut off.
>
> When was the last time the thermostat was changed? Was it an OEM
> thermostat or after-market? Sometimes the after-market thermostats are not
> opening at the proper temperature and the normal operating temperature of
> the engine changes. You don't want to run either too hot or too cool, so
> putting in a lower temperature thermostat is not a good idea.
Most of the recent systems I've seen for controlling the cooling fan use the
> appears to be doing its job. If the temperature sensor switch were faulty
> (turning on the fan at a higher temperature), then it would not be staying
> on to cool the engine down after the engine is shut off.
>
> When was the last time the thermostat was changed? Was it an OEM
> thermostat or after-market? Sometimes the after-market thermostats are not
> opening at the proper temperature and the normal operating temperature of
> the engine changes. You don't want to run either too hot or too cool, so
> putting in a lower temperature thermostat is not a good idea.
Coolant Temperature Sensor (CTS). The ECU reads that and controls the
temperature gauge and cooling fan. If that's the case, don't think you have
two separate systems that agree.
I had an old Subaru where a temperature switch in the radiator directly
controlled the cooling fan. In that case, as the contacts wore with age
(from switching current), the car began running hotter. Changing the switch
was the fix.
Most thermostats by the way they are designed will tend to fail open
rather than closed. That's why I recommended a cooling system flush.
Good call from Hubops about tranny temp. Auto Trans have an oil cooler that
is part of the radiator. This can add to the coolant temperature in extreme
cases. Good idea to check the color and smell of the tranny fluid.
0 new messages