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Did you have the air conditioning on? Some model years run the
interior fan for a short period of time after you shut off the
engine to help prevent moisture (and mildew) buildup in the vents
(basically, that damp smell). It also helps to extend air conditioning
component life. I'm pretty sure 00's have this feature (maybe someone
else with a 2000 model year can comment).
The main fan, up front, will also run after the engine is turned off
if the car is hot. Leaving the car ideling in park on a hot summer day
will also cause it to come on and stay on for some time. Sounds like
this was not the main fan and the problem is not the thermostat (although
it is a good idea to have the thermostat replaced around 70K miles since
they often fail at that milage -- $15 part and 30 minutes labor to replace
the thermostat).
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