Honda Accord: Why Does My Fan Keep Running After the Car is Turned Off?
In some cases, the cooling fan under your hood stays on for a prolonged period of time, causing your battery to die. This article will discuss a few reasons why your fan stays on after you turn your car off, and how to repair it.
This article applies to the Honda Accord (1990-2002).
It's perfectly normal to have your cooling system fan stay on after you've shut off the car, but it shouldn't stay on longer than ten minutes. In some cases the fan stays on too long, which causes the battery to drain. If this happens to your Accord, you might have a problem that needs fixing. The common culprits are the temperature sensors (your car has two), which are the fan switch and the fan timer module. This article will discuss the three reasons why your fan might continue to run, even after the car is shut off.
Step 1 – What's the condition of the temperature sensor?
Your car has two temperature sensors: the ECT sensor and the ambient air temperature sensor.
If the engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor—located just below the distributor—begins to fail, it's likely that your fan will stay on for an extended period of time after the car's engine is shut off. The second temperature sensor is located underneath the radiator. It's called the "ambient air temperature sensor" or "outside air temperature sensor."
Both sensors read the temperature of your engine's coolant. If one of them is faulty, your engine might continuously read that the coolant is hot, resulting in a running fan. Inspect both sensors to make sure they are clean and in working condition. Either clean them with a sensor cleaner or replace them with new ones. A new ECT costs around $35, and a new ambient air temperature sensor costs between $35 to $50. The sensors have two-wire plugs, and shouldn't take long for you to replace it yourself.
Figure 2. Location of the temperature sensor (circled in green) and the fan switch (circled in black). 
Figure 3. The outside air temperature sensor is located underneath the radiator.
If both of your temperature sensors are in good condition, move on to the next step.
Step 2 – Does the fan switch work?
The cooling fan switch in your Accord is located on the thermostat housing (see Figure 2 and 4). It controls both fans only when the key is in the "ON" position, but the engine is not running. Check if the cooling fan switch is working properly, and that there is no sign of wear or faultiness.
If the cooling fan switch is not working, it is easy to replace yourself. A new one will cost you around $30.
If your cooling fan switch is in good condition, move on to the next step.
Step 3 – Is the fan timer module working?
The fan timer module is located in the driver's side foot well of your car (just below the steering column). If you look right above the fuse box, you can see the module, which is about the size of a deck of playing cards. It allows the fan to stay on after the car has been turned off for additional cooling. This module location is primarily for the early model Honda Accords (1990-1993). For later models, it is located on the passenger's side by the glove box. If previous steps did not resolve the issue, this is most likely the cause.
The fan timer module will run you around $30, and is a simple DIY task.
Pro Tip
It's common to think you might have a bad relay or fuse. If either of those is the case, your fans wouldn't turn on and it will cause your car to overheat.
Related Discussions
- Accord Timer Module Location - Honda-Tech.com
- Discussion: Fan Stays on after Engine Shuts off - Honda-Tech.com
- Radiator Fan Stays on and Drains Battery - Honda-Tech.com
