I use my a/c regularly and never hear a sound from the auxiliary fans. I tried to make sure they are turning but it's hard to see. Are they that quiet? Since we don't have any temperature gauge, my shop foreman said to listen for the auxiliary fans when the car is shut off.(a sign that the car is running hot). My car engine is extremely quiet and I hear no fans. Does this sound normal?

 

If you want to know your engine temperature invest $20 in an ELM327 OBDII scanner (available on ebay). They are available in USB (for a Windows PC), Bluetooth (for an Android device) or WiFI (for an Apple device)versions. They will also provide engine fault codes and lots of engine operating data.

 

Other option is to have your hearing checked.

 

I'm from the Woodstock generation. Hearing is a thing of the past.

 

What did you say? I think our generation will be the first to have to use nuclear hearing aids! love that Janice Joplin.

 

Huh?

Forgive my ignorance but what is an a/c auxiliary fan?

 

The thermostatically controlled fans in front of the engine compartment that assist with the cooling of the car in conjunction with the a/c.

 

Yes, I can hear the fans run. They run for a short time after turning the car off on warmer/hotter days.

 

Thanks. I've certainly heard the cooling fan run after shutdown...didn't realize it was tied in with the a/c.

 

It shouldn't be tied into A/C, it's tied into engine temperature and kicks in above a certain temp. Typically, the fans will operate on warm days or in heavy traffic. The tie to the air condtioning is just that the engine rides at higher temps with the A/C on, so it's more likely then.

 

I have yet to hear the fans running after the engine has been shut down. Of course, I still have a very hot summer ahead to find out.

 

Got it. Thanks.

 

How many cooling fans are there? I can't see because of the shrouding but in some cars there are 2 fans . 1 fan would run if the AC was turned on and the other would turn on when engine water temp. would hit maybe 180* F. If you had the AC turned off and the water temp hit 180* both would turn on. I don't know how the jag is set up so maybe someone who does could jump in.

 

I vastly overcharged my AC by accident and the aux fans were really howling anytime I used A/C. When I shut the car off, it sounded like a jet engine winding down!! The sound was much better after I got the A/C serviced.

So if you are experiencing excessive aux fan noise or activation, perhaps your a/c system is not properly filled.

 

My XK8 used to do that 'jet engine' roar after shutdown on hot days - turned out that the water pump was on its way out, so the car was (mildly) overheating. Not enough to trigger the stupid temp gauge, but enough to make the fans run faster and longer than normal.