Radiator Fan Sound - especialy when AC is on - LotusTalk

goelise · 06-19-2007, 07:14 PM

I drove my Elise recently in a fairly hot day. I had the AC on and just got back home. I decided to record how loud the radiator fan can be. I know this is normal but just wanted to post this for others wondering what that sound is. If you take your hand and place it just above the grills you can feel the heat from the radiator which is a good thing.

Car was just driven, engine is pretty warm and still running, AC is still on. Its a 80+ degree humid day:

Ian · 06-19-2007, 07:16 PM

That's normal? Are you parked in an echo chamber? I don't recall either of my cars ever being that loud.

goelise · 06-19-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

That's normal? Are you parked in an echo chamber? I don't recall either of my cars ever being that loud.

My temps are in the normal range. Stock exhaust, idles really well. When I'm facing the front of the car and the fans are running it is the dominant noise. Probably sounds even more loud because I'm in the garage when I took the video.

mp3moose · 06-20-2007, 05:23 AM

I can't watch the vid as I am at work right now, but mine definately sounds like a jet engine. Like yours, its within normal temps and usually with the ac on.

goelise · 06-20-2007, 05:36 AM

Its even more funny when you turn off the car and the radiator fan slows down, sounds like a jet engine winding down.

xtn · 06-20-2007, 06:12 AM

Such a timely thread.

Just last night, at our local Lotus club meet, one attendee asked me to listen to his car because it was making some loud jet engine noise. Said it wasn't the alarm buzz, said it wasn't speed or rpm dependant. Hmmm.... So I walk out in the parking lot to take a listing.

It's his radiator fan, of course. Only thing is: it's on all the time. Even when the displayed temp is not up yet. I don't know much about the controlling circuit, but I assume either some temp sending unit is bad, or there's a stuck relay or something.

xtn

ChrisB · 06-20-2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtn

... it's on all the time. Even when the displayed temp is not up yet. I don't know much about the controlling circuit, but I assume either some temp sending unit is bad, or there's a stuck relay or something.

xtn

I never use my A/C, but I believe if his A/C is on, both fans will be running regardless of the engine temp. Bad temp sending unit would also screw up the temp display. Could be a bad relay or A/C switch.

LARRY · 06-20-2007, 08:40 AM

Sounds like two fans on, which means the car is in the 215-220 range. Very hot.

Or as you suggest, something not right.

The fans don't come on every time you turn on the air.

Hmmmmm....

ChrisB · 06-20-2007, 08:44 AM

Another idea from another thread:

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...07&postcount=6

delise · 06-20-2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LARRY

Sounds like two fans on, which means the car is in the 215-220 range. Very hot.

Or as you suggest, something not right.

The fans don't come on every time you turn on the air.

Hmmmmm....

+1 My fans don't come on just because the AC is being used. I have only had the dual fans kick in once when I was stuck in traffic on a very hot 110 degree day. In the 215 range for temp and when I got home I was a tad bit low on coolant so i topped it off. It is very loud when they kick in...

zcar222 · 06-20-2007, 09:38 AM

My fans come on if it is hot outside... which it is right now. I like having a car that sounds like a jet

-Whit

mcoupe · 06-20-2007, 10:12 AM

Yes it is loud. Used my AC for the first time here in Austin on a real hot day and thought I was followed by a helicopter! Very loud indeed.

codymac · 06-20-2007, 08:28 PM

Mine, in the garage, for comparison's sake:
(warning - crappy cellphone wmv)

charliex · 06-20-2007, 10:30 PM

i took a video of mine too, unfortunately my camera seems to distort reality a tad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOW8M65xau8

goelise · 06-21-2007, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charliex

i took a video of mine too, unfortunately my camera seems to distort reality a tad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOW8M65xau8

is this the right link?!?!?!?!

codymac · 06-21-2007, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goelise

is this the right link?!?!?!?!

Yes, he's posting videos of my ex again...

goelise · 06-21-2007, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codymac

Yes, he's posting videos of my ex again...

Bane · 06-21-2007, 08:15 AM

Sounds normal to me.

My fans come on with the A/C on and the coolant is at 158 degrees or hotter.

The fans work REALLY well though. I was sitting in traffic in 110 degree ambient heat yesterday (120+ on the blacktop) and the coolant temp never got above 191.

It comes back down to 186 when moving with the fans on

06-19-2007, 07:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
goelise AR #1275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Midwest, USA Posts: 2,631 Images: 1	Radiator Fan Sound - especialy when AC is on I drove my Elise recently in a fairly hot day. I had the AC on and just got back home. I decided to record how loud the radiator fan can be. I know this is normal but just wanted to post this for others wondering what that sound is. If you take your hand and place it just above the grills you can feel the heat from the radiator which is a good thing. Car was just driven, engine is pretty warm and still running, AC is still on. Its a 80+ degree humid day: __________________ '06 Ardent Red Elise - black interior with LSS, Touring, HT, Starshield, Lotus Sport Clutch, Moroso Oil Pan, 2ZZ(#2), Ekological HIDs, Lotus Driving Lights, Stebel Horn, Bootie, Razo '06 Pedal mod,Snorkel Delete,Odyssey 680 with s111 bracket. Thank you FVMC! WOO-HOO!

06-19-2007, 07:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ian Certified Fun Stopper Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 4,060	That's normal? Are you parked in an echo chamber? I don't recall either of my cars ever being that loud. __________________ '06 Exige; Polar Blue; Track/Touring/Stage II/LSD-TC '05 Elise; Arctic Silver/Ruby Red (R.I.P)

06-20-2007, 05:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
goelise AR #1275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Midwest, USA Posts: 2,631 Images: 1	Its even more funny when you turn off the car and the radiator fan slows down, sounds like a jet engine winding down. __________________ '06 Ardent Red Elise - black interior with LSS, Touring, HT, Starshield, Lotus Sport Clutch, Moroso Oil Pan, 2ZZ(#2), Ekological HIDs, Lotus Driving Lights, Stebel Horn, Bootie, Razo '06 Pedal mod,Snorkel Delete,Odyssey 680 with s111 bracket. Thank you FVMC! WOO-HOO!

06-20-2007, 06:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
xtn McLareghini Bugatterrari Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 6,894	Such a timely thread. Just last night, at our local Lotus club meet, one attendee asked me to listen to his car because it was making some loud jet engine noise. Said it wasn't the alarm buzz, said it wasn't speed or rpm dependant. Hmmm.... So I walk out in the parking lot to take a listing. It's his radiator fan, of course. Only thing is: it's on all the time. Even when the displayed temp is not up yet. I don't know much about the controlling circuit, but I assume either some temp sending unit is bad, or there's a stuck relay or something. xtn __________________ 2006 McLareghini Bugatterrari, Storm Titanium... <mods> installed: air horn, Scroth 4-point ASM harnesses, Sector111 halon extinguisher and mounting bracket, Von Hep exhaust and rear panel delete, Pagid brake pads, red Volks CE28n wheels, Toyo RA-1 tires, Nitron SA coilovers, Sector111 (WorksBell) quick-disconnect steering wheel kit. awaiting installation: Scroth "pull-up" lap belts, Sector111 RTD Brace, Tony's heater bypass mod, and dropped steering rack mounting plates. </mods>

06-20-2007, 08:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
LARRY It's a Lotus Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Beverly Hills, Ca. Posts: 18,392	Sounds like two fans on, which means the car is in the 215-220 range. Very hot. Or as you suggest, something not right. The fans don't come on every time you turn on the air. Hmmmmm.... __________________ In Los Angeles, the best Lotus body work and service is at LotusTalk sponsor Specialty Car Craft. Website: http://www.specialtycarcraft.com/ *Facebook:* http://www.facebook.com/pages/Specia...1663849?ref=ts *More of Larry's Photoblog:* http://www.larrysphotoblog.net/

06-20-2007, 05:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
mp3moose Complete Lotus Junkie Join Date: May 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 691	I can't watch the vid as I am at work right now, but mine definately sounds like a jet engine. Like yours, its within normal temps and usually with the ac on.

06-20-2007, 08:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
ChrisB I'm Lovin' It! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 3,970 Images: 1	Another idea from another thread: http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...07&postcount=6

06-20-2007, 09:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
zcar222 Lotus? Who makes that? Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 694	My fans come on if it is hot outside... which it is right now. I like having a car that sounds like a jet -Whit

06-20-2007, 10:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
mcoupe Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 510	Yes it is loud. Used my AC for the first time here in Austin on a real hot day and thought I was followed by a helicopter! Very loud indeed.

06-20-2007, 10:30 PM	#14 (permalink)
charliex OSX Black hat Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Las Vegas , NV Posts: 10,000	i took a video of mine too, unfortunately my camera seems to distort reality a tad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOW8M65xau8 __________________ Black Exige S / Elan M100. Don't run a smaller pulley without an upgraded fuel pump! http://www.goth.am ecu stuff.. New reflash box coming soon!

06-21-2007, 08:15 AM	#18 (permalink)
Bane . Join Date: May 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,007 Images: 4	Sounds normal to me. My fans come on with the A/C on and the coolant is at 158 degrees or hotter. The fans work REALLY well though. I was sitting in traffic in 110 degree ambient heat yesterday (120+ on the blacktop) and the coolant temp never got above 191. It comes back down to 186 when moving with the fans on

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode