Fan on my Mini keeps coming on!?

[KAZ]

I have a T reg Mini Cooper, recently the fan keeps coming on for no aparent reason? I have checked oil, water etc, temperture gauge reads normal, I don't know what else to check? if I stop the car and turn off the engine for a minute then start up again this seems to rectify the problem but it still keeps coming on, Any ideas out there???

[azif]

My car has recently been doing the same if that helps. I'm not sure if it is down the recent spell of sunshine?!

[dougielogan]

Could be a fault with the fan switch or temp sender unit, the latter will be on the head somewhere and the former will be on the side of the radiator.

[shero101]

Sounds like expected behaviour to me. If the engine/coolant level reaches a certain temperature the fan will cut in, thats what its designed to do. Obviously it is more noticeable in summer. The problem would be if it didn't cut it as this could result in an engine overheat. The reason why the fan doesn't cut in after the engine has been stopped for a short while is because it has cooled sufficiently.