Thread: Should my radiator fans be on all the time?

I've got a 2001 gtp with about 117000 miles, only mod is a K&N intake, and have been getting an "engine running below operating temperature" SES code on my car intermittently for about the past three weeks. The thermostat is operating fine, my car reliably heats up to about 180, but never above as it was during the summer months when it would run about 190-205. I've got a cracked coolant elbow I'm replacing this weekend, and while exploring that I noticed that my radiator fans come on as soon as i start the car up, with the AC off. It's not gotten above 40 degrees here in about three weeks, and has usually been mid 30's...is the fan supposed to stay on all the time? It doesn't seem like it should, but I haven't noticed it before. If it's not, what sensor/relay controls that?

mine fans haven't come on at all since it got cold. in the summer my temp gauge was reading at the 1/2 way point, now that its cold its only a 1/4 the way up from cold.

if you are low on coolant the sensor may not be reading the temp because its low, or the sensor may be bad.

i have also pulled my a/c relay as any setting it was on including heat the fans were coming on. i pulled the relay from under the hood in the fuse box, it was clearly marked on the underside of the cover, now they only work when the car needs them to.