How should the the radiator fan & A/C fan operate when the A/C is turned on?

5

Asked by sektorguy Apr 11, 2014 at 10:32 PM about the 2013 Honda Accord LX

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

When I have the A/C turned on the fans behind the radiator ( 2 of them ) both cycle on and off
...repeatedly.  Neither fan stays on for any length of time.  Shouldn't at least one fan stay on
when the A/C is on?  I noticed this when I was in a parking lot waiting for someone because I
kept hearing the fans turning on then off, on then off.  It doesn't matter what temp the A/C is set
at the fans just keep turning on then off.

18 Answers

The thermostat operates the ac in probably 30 second on off cycles. This is why it would be stopping and starting. Some cars have 2 fans . All cars run hotter with the ac on. You will find, a vehicle with 1 fan, will probably run all the time with the ac on, even from a cold start up.

20 people found this helpful.
420

My cooling fans are not coming on I turn the heater on and the AC on and they're not coming on my temperature gauge reads above halfway when I put it in park from a drive they go on sometimes both ends I don't know what to do I put new center tell you truth I don't know where all the sensors are at I've been looking under the hood and under the dash

42 people found this helpful.

No idea. If you have 2 fans (some only have one) the a/c fan should come on as soon as you turn the a/c and the ignition on. The cooling fan may never come on, depending how hot the engine is.

22 people found this helpful.
480

I have same issue I'm driving Honda Accord 2003 model. 2.4ltr 4 cylinder. I had one fan which readaitor fan bad another A fan was working properly..radiator fan was not working anymore. I tested found readitor fan motor is bad. I went junk yard I asked with guy same brand same motor . and he installed that I thought I have Done the issued clear. but when I was driving back home and about 10 min of drive I got overheat sign. AC was on. But temperature was increasing second by second. I open that hood and I notice when I on the AC both fan was running in same time and off for 2 second same time again running in same time. before I never noticed that. I thought it would be lot of pressure in engine therefore the temperature was increased when I drive with AC on but I'm still not sure. I have no idea that both fan runs together and shut together for while and again starts together .. anyone please advise me of you came up with same issue ? thanks

48 people found this helpful.
250

I tested the cooling fan on my 2005 Honda Accord (it has two fans)- And it was bad - changed two fan assembly (got new denso for 40$ dealer wanted 800$)- Still didn't spin so changed cooling fan relay and now works great. FYI when a/c on both run and when temp goes up both run I haven't experienced either shutting off independent of the other. i believe relay was original failure leading to premature fan failure from never shutting off which lead to higher heat which in turn affected a leak at water valve which I also replaced along with new hoses. Glad I caught it in time , heat didn't seem to go high enough or long enough to cause any thing else yet - right yet !

24 people found this helpful.
380

I have a 2009 Honda accord 2.4l I have 2 fans but only one comes on when a/c is on. the other does not come on or I haven't gotten to get it to come on I put direct power to it and it came on. so I have no clue whats going on also car sometimes over heats so any help on what to look for

38 people found this helpful.
190

to nonvtec: One fan is for A/C, and the other for radiator. For the radiator fan, there is a relay and a fuse. You may want to check those. You can visually check the fuse. As for the relay, I would swap the radiator relay with the A/C relay (they are the same on 2007 Accord). If the A/C fan still comes on, then it is not the relay. One last piece would be the thermostat.

19 people found this helpful.
270

My A/c is off and for some reason both fans come on and turn off..I'm noticing less gas mileage too???

27 people found this helpful.
150

On my 2002 Honda Accord 4cyl after chasing down the overheating issue i found a cooling fan temp control switch/sensor located on the thermostat housing replaced it and have had no issues since

15 people found this helpful.
130

I just fixed the radiator. I now have only one fan working. the driver side works, my ac blows cold air but not cold cold. Help!!!

13 people found this helpful.
20

Guru1n66k.... Take a look at the fuses and relay... Check out the ac condenser fan...

2 people found this helpful.
100

Why do so many people comment on a forum that don't know their asshole from a hole in the ground if you don't know what you're talkin about please don't answer all you're doing is getting people. Chasing their tail because now they don't know what they're looking for both fans run with the AC on. I both fans run with the air conditioner on https://youtu.be/yZKb-xXdrdo

10 people found this helpful.
30

Please help i have a 1998 hondaaccord 6 cylinder it keeps over heating so far i have changed thermostat, fan relays, thermostat switch i noticed my fans only turn in when the ac and or heater are on. for this reason i have some people telling me my fans are fine and its my water pump please ,let me know some opinions im desperate since water pump and timing belt work is coming out to 850$

3 people found this helpful.
10

Dont forget to check you Fan control module on a V6 under the passenger side keen bolster.. )under the glove box).. Also for a V6 98-02 3.0 there are two fan switches. One is on the thermostat housing (this one is the lower temp range) and the other is under the timing cover (stupid place, but blame honda not me. This one is for the higher temp range). There is also are fuses and relays. Should i would suggest checking the relays and fuses always first. If the AC (passenger side fan works but the other doesnt, try switching relays. If that doesnt work, then you can check the module, but if one works and other doesnt, more than likely it is fan switches either one. However the pain in the butt B fan switch under the timing cover.

1 people found this helpful.
30

If my cars AC is off , so the fan of AC should be on or off??

3 people found this helpful.
50

2008 Honda Accord 2.4 one fan works the condenser fan works on and off help

5 people found this helpful.
20

its normal?? both fans start blowing when i turn ingnition on and AC is on.. or thermostat broblem? if car running fans work normal..

2 people found this helpful.

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