Engine bay fan spinning on startup.

[mario308]

I wonder if any of you experience this then. Generally the fans are off during general driving. When I get home and put the car in the garage the time it takes me to open the garage door usually makes the front fans turn on to what I can only describe as half (low) speed. By the time I've sat back in the car and driven it in the garage the fans kick in much faster and at full bore. So my question is, is this standard on a Mk1 or a fault? Like I said earlier, the gauge never goes beyond half way even after a day at Brands Hatch.

Cheers for the replies so far..

[jimi]

The fans are meant to be 2 speed, that's normal. But I wouldn't say that the fans kicking in after such a short time idling is normal at all.
I regularly do the same thing when putting my car away after a drive and I've never heard the fans kicking in yet even on slow.
The fact that the temp is OK while driving makes me suspicious of the water pump, I suspect that the impeller is worn causing low flow at low rpm. It's OK while driving because of the combination of higher rpm and increased airflow across the radiator.
Just my opinion, I could of course be totally wrong

[mario308]

Hi Jimi,

Thanks for the info, I wasn't sure about the fan speeds - 2 stages.

I never considered the pump.

The water pump could be the cause? It's done 148000 miles so probably a bit tired, I'll keep an eye on it don't fancy replacing it till it needs it though...

I got the car in 2001 with 116000 on the clock and it's always done this in my ownership although I've had the head gasket replaced back then and thermostat and radiator and of course Toyota "for life" coolant used throughout...

Cheers,
Mario.