Overactive electric fan?

[sansMYSTi]

My '02 Leg GT has this problem that my wife's '00 Outback doesn't seem to have. The driverside electric fan seems to run ALOT - it even runs with the turn of the key (without starting the engine) when the car is dead cold on a cool day. The Outback doesn't do this. The fan constantly cycling on and off makes for somewhat of a noisy car. Now forgive my ignorance, but I am right to believe that the passenger side fan is the main and the driverside is the secondary? It seems like the coolant system thinks the car constanly needs extra cooling, despite the car is at normal operating temperature (or like I said not running and cold).

Anyone else have this problem, or do I have a fan poltergeist?

[badbasser98]

are you runing the AC/Defroster often or all the time? Running either of these items turns on the compressor, which also activates the secondary cooling fan.

[Wiscon_Mark]

As long as you're running at a normal temp once the car warms up, I wouldn't worry about it.

I also agree with Matt, it's probably something like the compressor activating the fan.

[sansMYSTi]

The A/C hasn't been running in weeks and the blower is set to the dash vents (not windshield defrost), so no unwanted A/C-age. It just seems weird that the secondary cooling fan runs without the engine on when the engine is cold.

[galek_98gt]

if its coming on when you first start to turn the key then maybe theres a crossed wire somewhere keeping it always running. might wanna check its wiring.

[shazapple]

I remember this being a problem with a broken temperature sensor or fan relay or something like that.

[sansMYSTi]

I was thinking a faulty temp sensor or relay for the fan, or a short somewhere in the system. The fan doesn't stay on all the time, but it constantly cycles on and off - at rest either cold or hot (not sure about when drving - can't hear it). Thanks guys - she's due for service soon anyway so I will get it checked out then.

[Wiscon_Mark]

And how is starting it when the engine is warm?