6 replies to this topic

[Pipthemini]

Hi there
I am new to the forum and I could really do with some help. I have recently brought my mini. I have no idea about cars but I just love the mini. I am doing the london to Brighton run next weekend but I have noticed something odd with my car. The mini is called pip and I have noticed that the fan is constantly on. Well I say fan, that is what it sounds like. I'm worried there might be something wrong and that I will have problems next week. If any one can help I would appreciate it. Thank you Elle

[Fast Ivan]

hi and welcome

 

what year is the mini?

[Bungle]

most minis have a fan driven off the engine

 

so when the engine is running the fan is turning

[mk1leg]

Hi..and welcome to TMF and ejoy..................if the electric fan is on all the time then the sensor at the bottom may be faulty......

[AVV IT]

Just to expand on the above, it depends on the year of your particular model. As Bungle says most minis (Pre 1996) had a mechanical belt driven fan that spins and remains on whilst the engine is running. If this is running permenantly, then that is normal. It needs to run permenantly or the engine will quickly over heat.

I believe that Post 95 (mpi) models had a thermostatically controlled electric fan that should only run when the engine reaches a certain temperature (i.e. such as when in stationary traffic etc). Some models (92-95) had a combination of both systems, with both a belt driven mechanical fan on one side of the radiator, and a thermostatic auxiliary electric fan mounted on the other side in the inner wing, which aids cooling when the engine reaches a certain temperature. As mkleg mentioned, if these sort of electric fans are running permanently, then it may be due to a faulty sensor, or alternatively a previous owner may even have bypassed the sensor in order to make the fan run constantly due to an ongoing overheating problem.

So what your problem is (if you do actually have one that is), depends on what model you have and which sort of fan you're referring to. Whilst a permenatly running electric fan shouldn't be a problem in itself (apart from shortening the life expectancy of the fan itself perhaps), before going on a long trip such as L2B then you really should investigate and find out what's causing it, in case it's the symptom of an underlying cooling problem.

[Bungle]

Some models (92-95) had a combination of both systems

 

 

that started in 1990 with the new coopers

[Carlos W]

BMW minis will have the fan on when the Air Con is running.

 

As mentioned above, what year is the car, also, where in Kent are you?