Air Con and engine cooling van

[Ntaylor650]

I have an Boxer BlueHDi 130, when the van is started from cold and the Air con is turned on, the engine cooling fan starts and runs for 3or 4 seconds or so, then stops for 15/20 seconds and repeats.

Is this normal???

Thanks in advance

[ozvtr]

The fan is controlled by the engine ECU. The engine ECU only runs the fan in response to the "high side" A/C pressure. Not whether the A/C is on or not.
It could be that the demand on the A/C system is low and here is no requirement for the fan to run. The lower the demand the lower the high side pressures. OR...yes...there could be a problem.
So, you tell me, is the A/C in the cabin getting cold or not?
If it's getting cold then there isn't a problem. If not, then there is probably a problem.

[thorter]

Seem to remember Xantia fan doing this when about to fail. It is monitored somehow, and stops, tries again and repeats this unless it runs properly.