Texas is having a god awful heat wave. The last couple of times I've started the engine after it's sat in 100+ heat, there's a sound like a fan that lasts about 15 seconds. Doesn't seem to be the ac, and it doesn't sound rough or scraping-just sounds like a blower motor. I've had the car for a year, and this noise is new. Any thoughts?

 

I am also in North Texas...and, my XFire (2 years old) sits outside all day, also. I have never heard any noise from the car. You might open the hood, and have someone stand by while you start the car. It could be you engine cooling fan kicking in for a few seconds when first started. Have you had the cooling fan recall completed? Good luck...

 

"Have you had the cooling fan recall completed?"

Yes.

One thing...I pressed the "rest" button today just to check if it really blows cold after cutting the engine. It did blow cold; I shut it off after a few seconds and never messed with it again.

 

What you are hearing is the air injection system. So sayeth the Big Book of Crossfire page 25-31:

This vehicle is equipped with an air pump that injects air into the exhaust to reduce the emissions during engine warmup. The air injected into the exhaust will cause the catalytic converters to heat up more quickly. This will improve the emission levels during a cold start. The air pump switchover system incorporates an air pump (4) with two air pump switchover valves (1 and 6), an air pump switchover solenoid (3), an air pump relay, a vacuum check valve (5) and the PCM.

The air pump relay is located in the relay control module and can be easily identified by referring to the relay control module label. The air pump is mounted to the top center of the engine timing cover. The air pump switchover valves (1 and 6) are located at the front, top of the engine, mounted just in front of the left and right cylinder covers. The air pump switchover solenoid (3) is mounted on the right front of the engine, just below the air pump switchover valve RH (6).

OPERATION
Air is allowed to enter the exhaust when the PCM simultaneously actuates the air pump relay, air pump (1), and air pump switchover solenoid (4) after engine startup for up to 2 1/2 minutes. The following conditions must also be met in order for the system to become active:

Coolant temperature >10°C (50°F) but <60°C (140°F)
Engine speed <3000 rpm
Throttle valve not wide open

After an actuation, the air injection system will remain deactivated until the coolant temperature drops from >60°C (140°F) to <40°C (104°F). The air pump (1) draws in air through a maintenance-free filter
and pumps it to the air pump switchover valves (3 and 6). The air pump switchover valves (3 and 6) prevent exhaust gases from flowing back into the air pump (1). The air pump switchover solenoid (4) is supplied with vacuum from the intake manifold through a check valve (5). When the air pump switchover solenoid (4) is activated, it passes engine vacuum to the air pump switchover valves (3 and 6). The air which is delivered via the air pump switchover tube (2) is forced through the valves into the cylinder head openings to the exhaust. The injected air reacts with the hot exhaust gases in the outlet port. An oxidation of carbon monoxides (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) takes place and results in an additional increase in the exhaust temperature.

 

Could you be more specific?

Thanks 1,000,000.

 

i think mine comes on randomly while i drive.... as in i'll drive for a half hour and pull up at a red light, i'll hear the fan (pump noise) come on and my headlight dim... i'm guessing its not normal????

 

it's normal. It's the emissions air pump.

 

dave, that thread is 4 yrs old.....

 

Could be still relevant. I always wondered what that sound was. Always thought it was the cooling fan, but I checked one day and saw it wasn't moving and still heard the sound. Confused the hell out of me.

 

I have wondered about this same thing. I am really sensitive to odd noises and hear every little distinct thing around me- that can be both good and bad I guess but can drive me crazy.

 

the power steering is real sensitive to fluid level...so if you are low, it will take a minute to pump up....and it makes a sound like that...

 

Thanks for the information. Another example of questions/curiosities being answered here on this forum. I was wondering what that sound was on my XF, and I found the answer here. Thanks again.

 

If your car sits out and there are any trees around, and when you turn on the AC it starts the whirring noise, it may be leaf litter in the HVAC fan housing. Sounds strange, but it happens. Take out the cabin filter and see if it's full of leaf junk. If it is, you may want to clean the fan housing. You can get some of this stuff from the filter opening. To get it all you have to remove the cowling and vacuum out the fan cavity. My XF sits out 24/7 365 and I have to do this every 6 months or so. Of course it is exacerbated by the fact that it sits under a huge live oak next to my driveway. It's not a very good design but it's not too hard to fix, just a pita.

 

Ever considered a car cover, or even one of those $269 car sheds ?

http://www.amazon.com/ShelterLogic-20-Feet-Canopy-4-Rib-Frame/dp/B001G7Q1XQ/ref=pd_sim_sg_1

 

Where I live that thing wouldn't last a week. It would either be plastered up against a neighbors house (hopefully the a$$hole next door) or collapsed over my car. Always windy here.

 

I actually had that happen to my 'car port'.... a big storm came up about 4 years ago and with one corner still anchored, flipped it right over my truck and in a heap between my travel trailer and the truck (they were end to end with about 6 feet between them).... luckily there was no car under the 'car port' and it missed the trailer completely and only touched the truck in a couple of places leaving very small marks.... VERY lucky... the Aero stays in the garage now....