Fan cutting in

[UncleZen]

After a short journey, less than 10 miles, the fan cuts in on tickover.
It cuts in for 5-10 seconds, then cuts out, then repeats itself about 20 seconds later.
The ambient is about 10deg C at the moment.
I doubt if the engine is hot enough to warrant the fan cutting in on a journey that short. I don't recall it doing it in the past. I don't know if it does it whilst driving. I also doubt if cutting in for such a short period will make much difference to water temperature.
It sounds like a fault to me.
It's a 2009 1.2 done about 30k miles.
Any thoughts?

[Downsizer]

Are you sure you're not hearing the A/C cycling?

[guest334]

I would check the coolant level - should be between the marks on the clear tank - check when cool.
Also is the engine warmimng up Ok after intial start  - ie blue light goes out on dash after 4/5 miles,
then verify the heater blowing hot when temp up to normal running.

[peteo48]

Are you sure you're not hearing the A/C cycling?

Wondered that myself as my current Jazz does this and the previous one also did it once it got to operating temperature.

[Ozzie]

Mine does too, don't worry about it, once you get the car moving again its fine.

[applicationcen]

My fan cuts in  - the power drain of the fan causes the side / low beam lights to dim at night!

I've asked the Honda Main dealer about it but they have no observations. Never been a problem but it is a very minor niggle as this never happened on any other car I have owned.

[guest5715]

I also notice the lights dim slightly when the fan kicks in at night, but it recovers instantly. Always just presumed it was because the battery is so tiny.

Anyway, back to original post, if you have aircon just switch it off for a few days and see if that stops the fan cutting in. If it does then as mentioned above it is normal. If you were to run your aircon on full blast ice cold the fan would run most or all of the time, just depends on demand you place on the aircon system.

[culzean]

I would check the coolant level - should be between the marks on the clear tank - check when cool.
Also is the engine warmimng up Ok after intial start  - ie blue light goes out on dash after 4/5 miles,
then verify the heater blowing hot when temp up to normal running.

you will need to remove radiator cap to check coolant level,  the clear bottle is only the expansion bottle - if coolant isn't level with bottom of radiator cap hole then top up with 50% water / coolant mix until it is,  then replace cap and take car for a run  then let it cool down and check level again (don't remove radiator cap while engine is hot as the system is under pressure,  which effectively raise the boiling point of the coolant,  when you remove cap and release the pressure the coolant can boil - releasing steam and liquid ) - when radiator is OK then check expansion bottle and top up as required ( level almost impossible to see in daylight without crawling under car - I wait until its dark and shine a torch down the neck which lights up the fluid and makes it easier to see).

[Dayjo]

Mine does that, too! 

But, only when the climate control is set to AUTO........ 

[UncleZen]

I will check all these points and come back to you.
Thanks

[UncleZen]

It only appears to do it when the a/c is on, you can just hear the click of the compressor then the fan cuts in, you can see it spinning. If you turn the a/c off it doesn't do it.
I'll check the levels when it's cold.
Just noticed that there are 2 fans, it's the one on the nearside that comes on.

[VicW]

This is quite normal and nothing to worry about.
The fan comes on when the compressor cuts in to cool the condenser which is the second radiator at the front of the car and is part of the aircon system.
Normally the compressor cycles approximately every ten seconds or so, on and off.

Vic.