Why is it that in the Fit, the cooling fan kicks on and starts cycling just a few seconds after starting as opposed to after reaching a certain temperature (unless the set temperature is ZERO)?

 

I'm pretty sure mine doesn't turn on until it's up to temp -- I'm just about 100% sure it shouldn't be on while you've got the cold light on, at least. Do you have the AC on?

 

I honestly don't remember if it was on or not but I am anal and always shut everything off when I pull into the garage but I know this isn't the first time it does this. The car runs fine though.

 

The only time my fan starts working as soon as I turn on my car is if I had forgot to turn on my A/C when I turned it off.

 

hogwylde - is it the radiator fan [drv side] or condenser fan [pass side] that comes on or both. It could be a relay issue. Under the hood is a relay box, sort of behind the driver side headlight. The stacked relays are for the two fan units. Pull lower [radiator fan relay] and clean contacts might help.

You're correct in that the radiator fan should only come on w/ engine temp hitting 194F. If both fans are coming on the problem lies deeper...

 

Mine has done that since the day I bought it. Asked the Honda tech guy, he says its normal. I still didn't believe him, that is until my parents bought an Accord, and it does exactly the same thing. I find it annoying, but not so much so I want to mend it.

 

Yup, what KC said. Mine does that when AC or defrost is ON. Only the AC fan should come on if you left the switch on AC or Def.

 

Both fans should be on when AC is on or when the control switch is in the defrost positions.

Otherwise the single radiator fan comes on only after the engine coolant exceeds the coolant switch cut-on temperature.

That is exactly what happens on most all AC equipped cars with two fans.

Clifton

 

Not sure of "...most all AC equipped cars..." but on the FIT:
w/ A/C off: rad fan will come on @ 199F+
w/ A/C on: rad and A/C fans come on @ 199F+

When either/both fan[s] are on [199F+] and the coolant temp drops below 194F fan[s] should switch off.

Troubleshooting points to a relay, but we'll need to wait for hog to come on back...

 

"w/ A/C on: rad and A/C fans come on @ 199F+"

That is not correct, both fans come on when AC is on regardless of engine temperature. I verified that on my car (2011 Fit Sport) before my first post.

The reason both fans come on with AC on is because AC condensor needs all the
help it can get to condense the high pressure refrigerant into a cool liquid.

As I said, with AC off, the engine fan comes on when the coolant temperature exceeds the thermostatic switch cut-on point (as you said +199*).

Edit. I found this on page 21-24 of the Fit shop manual in the troubleshooting section.

"10. Check that the A/C condenser fan (B) and the radiator fan (C) operate when the the A/C compressor
clutch is engaged". It goes on to say if either fan fails to operate to refer to the troubleshooting index
for repair.

Clifton

 

On my '07 the fan cycles on at 210*F and off at 200*F, with AC off (Scanguage temperature). With the AC on the engine never gets this hot due to the fans running with the compressor.

 

flash75 Take a look at pg. 10-22 'Fan Controls'. Not sure the problem is so deep, but then again it might very well be. That's what makes 'remote' trouble shooting difficult and an interesting exercise ;-)

spreadhead I'm looking at the operating specs on the 09-10 Fit. Not sure on the 07, but I think I've heard others state similar as you see. I'll try and check mine using the Ultra Gauge and see what it really does. It should kick on at 199F then kick off when things come down to 194F. Thing is, I usually don't see coolant temp above 187F, but I've never looked at a sitting idle to see how the fans work. Should be interesting.

 

What problem? Both fans come on when the A/C compressor is engaged regardless of engine temperature. As noted above this is to increase the flow of air over the condenser to provide efficient A/C functioning.

While you're watching for the fans to come on at the specified engine temperature, turn on the A/C. You'll note the activation of both fans when the compressor is engaged accompanied by a slight increase in RPM, even when the engine is not warmed-up. When you hear the magnetic clutch click and the compressor disengage, both fans will turn off (unless the engine coolant is above the specified temperature).

I believe the section of the shop manual you quoted applies when the A/C is "on" but the compressor is not running.

Also note there may be two temperature sensors, one for the engine and one for the radiator, but this is just a swag.

edit: see part #10 on this illustration. There's a temp sensor in the bottom of the radiator. The temp at this point would be lower than engine coolant temperature (probably measured at the top of the engine).

 

I'm pretty confident that the radiator fan is controlled by the "OBD" temperature, due to my fan cycling on at exactly 210*F and off at exactly 200*F on my Scangauge (every time).

 

Just ran my FIT through the fan sequence.
Cold start A/C off no fans on. Click on A/C and both fans come on, even at cold start temp.

A/C off temp reaches 206 both fans come on, reaches 196 both fans off.
A/C on both fans come on and will pull coolant temp down as long as compressor cycles on.

Observed temps vary from yours spear, close enough - it's how we're measuring them.

I see no situation where only rad fan cycles.
This is different from other dual fan set-ups I'm familiar with... but then again it's a Honda, never owned one before.

Here's my beef w/ the Honda factory manual. It goes through trouble shooting and has two section; one on 'Engine Cooling' and one on 'HVAC', but doesn't explain the operating sequence in a straight forward manner.

clicq asked the right question in post #2: "Do you have the AC on?" And I've learned something...

K_C_

 

K C, I stand corrected on the fans with AC off. Other vehicles I have owned had only one fan come on with ac off.

Checked my car with AC off and both fans came on when the engine was heated up. I have no way to determine the temperature they came on and turned off.

I learned something else when I decided to check the transmission fluid level for the
first time since purchase (automatic). Owner manual instructions>
1. Start engine and run until fans come on.
2. Turn engine off, wait 60 seconds, no longer than 90 seconds.
3. Remove dip-stick, fluid level should be between the cross-hatch high and low
limits.

Procedure is totally different than any other automatic tranny I have checked.

Clifton

 

flash It ain't a one-size-fits-all world and it ain't always what it seems. That's the challenge. I would have thought you'd check the AT w/ engine running @running temp.

So often you see folks on the forum relating issues that they have 'seen' in totally different cars. It might be a basis for experience but often not a basis of comparison and often leads to points of contention.

I'm here to learn as much about my FIT as I can. What I've learned about auto forums is that helping others helps me understand. Investing in a factory service manual helps keep me on track and out of the clouds ;-)
------------------------------------------
You might want to look into the UltraGauge

It's a handy affordable unit. Here's a user thread I started: https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/gene...ght=ultragauge

It will display 18 out of a total of 50 parameters drawn through a direct connect to the OBII port. Pretty slick and it will mount nicely in the left quarter window.

K_C_

 

op are you hearing the fan or are you hearing the a/c compressor?