Battery cooling fan comes on 1st time in 56,000 miles?

Mine runs just about all the time but mostly it's only low speed and you cant hear it. When it really gets warm then it increases the speed and you can hear it.

 

I would say it's normal. I have 60 000 miles on my own and I've heard the battery fan running only once, about two years ago, on a hot summer day, during a rather long voyage in the mountains. I haven't heard it ever since. Depends on the climate you live in.

As you say that it was not as hot as on other occasions, it also depends on how much was the battery used. Were you driving in the hills for instance? That could explain it.

Anyway, I wouldn't think so hard about it if nothing else seems to be wrong.

 

never heard mine. maybe it's starting to fail or needs cleaning?

 

Could someone please test this for me some time. Next time you go for a drive on a warm day, after the trip leave the car in ready mode and then go around to the rear door and place your ear right next to the vent. Do you hear it running slowly, pretty much just a whisper but definitely running?

 

Yes, I have observed this. It is very quiet when the fan is running at a low speed.

 

My kids told me they could hear it the other day (I couldn't) when we got in the car after it had sat in the sun and my SGII said the battery temp was > 100 degrees. I asked them to listen for it as I couldn't get into EV mode with a warm engine and full battery so I assume the battery was too hot for EV mode.

 

Thanks for the info Roverguy and DetPrius. That sounds pretty similar to what I often experience.

 

Is it variable speed? I'm sure the other day when it was hot (well hot for here 31c) I could feel more of a draught from the HV vent on the back seat. I could definitely feel the air moving more than usual but no where near as much as last summer when it once came on and sounded like an old hairdryer.