Coolant Fan

[JT]

I have a 2003 Mini S. When we first got the car every time we parked in the garage the electric cooling fan would stay on for several minutes. The engine never overheated. Currently (2 months before the warranty expires) the fan does not come on and has not for several years. My Mini service manager basically ignores my complaints and concerns, and assures me that if the car needed the fan to come on, it would. Granted the car never gets over normal, but I find this disturbing.

Anybody else experience this phenomenon?

[Jeron]

I'm not familiar with Mini's but here goes.

A fan should come on when the AC is on.

Test to see if the fan is getting power but not coming on.
There may be a bad relay that is getting activated but not turning on the fan.
The fan switch could be bad. It detects high temperature and activated the fan.

The will necessarily overheat or show any sign of it if the fan is not coming on.

[geochavez]

I recently spoke to someone at dealer and said that thermostat may be sticking, first replace thermostat and problem should be resolved.

[Jeron]

If his thermo was stuck closed then he would be overheating. If it was stuck open it would not reach operating temp or it would take abnormally long to reach op temp. Stuck open might keep the electric fan from running because the operating temp would be constantly low, but if that was the case the gauge would read low.

I don't think the thermostat is the solution for his issue which is the electric fan is not running.

[geochavez]

please help, my car is overheating, I tested fan directly from relay and works I can't figure out why, I have checked all fuses and switched relays and still not working???

[Jeron]

Do you overheat at 40+mph or only while stopped? I take it you fan isnt comming on, is that correct? Have you ever let the coolant run low?

[geochavez]

It over heats while driving and while idling, does the water pump have anything to do with these cars, since it is manual?? If I drive around the block it overheats, and if I leave it running for about 15 min I can hear water boiling and antifreeze starts spilling??

[Jeron]

It could be:
air in the system
thermostat stuck closed
waterpump

If it's the thermostat then your heater will work great, but the other two usually result in your heater not blowing hot.

If its the pump or thermostat your radiator and radiator hoses will not get hot.

I would fill and bleed the system and then check the heater and radiator as described above.

[JT]

Hey, I'm back because I've never resolved the problem; however, I suspect it's one the relays - either the Stage I which is numbered 101152 or the Stage II which is 101135. Any idea where to get these, other than the dealer?

Also, the 'cigar' (that's what they call it) is not working and I cannot identify the fuse that controls it. Any ideas?