How often does the engine fan come on?

[schumionbike]

I had my timing belt and waterpump replace yesterday, the mechanic turn the engine on for a good 10 minute at idle and even rev the engine a little bit but the fan never turned on. Is this normal? The temperature gauge was in the middle thw whole time. I remember on some car, you idlde for a few minute and the fan would turn on to keeip the engine cool. Anyone have any insight on this? thanks.

[Chris Crash]

If it doesn't overheat, then it turns on when it's supposed to!

My first camry the fans didnt work, and my second camry they only came on when I had been driving for a while, and then stopped or drove through Wendy's or something similar. Traffic also turns them on, usually.

[zoni]

when asking questions about something mechanical... always list the year, motor and tranny... this will help people to know what kind of setup your car is...

is yours hydraulic powered or electric? 3vz v6 had hydraulic

[#2!]

Mine rarely ever comes on. Only noticed it kicking on right after getting off the freeway and then suddenly hitting a light or heavy traffic. Even then it only cycles on and off 1-2 times so it seems to regulate itself and stay off. Never seen it turn on from just idling.

[schumionbike]

It's a 99 four cylinder automatic with 181K on it

[93celicaconv]

If you have a concern about this, then just start it up in your driveway and let it idle, and watch the temperature gauge. Heater turned off, of course. With the car not moving, there is no air passing through the radiator to take heat away, so eventually the fans will come on to take heat away, but if they don't, your temperature gauge will begin to rise above its normal operating temperature.

Note that your temperature gauge will rise from cold to normal operating temperature before dumping any hot coolant in the radiator. Once at normal operating temperature, your thermostat will bring in some of the cold coolant from the radiator - and it will take a long time to consume that cold coolant before your radiator gets hot to turn on the fans, and before your temperature gauge will move beyond its normal operating temperature if your fans don't come on. How long, I don't know, but maybe 30-45 minutes.

[schumionbike]

thanks guys, yeah, I didn't know how long it would take for the fan to turn on, after 10-15 minutes, I was getting worry. I remember that my Mom's Corolla always have the fan on when it's park, but now I do remember that it was always after a trip, not when it first started up