setTimeout ignores timeout? (Fires immediately)

I think you should use setTimeout(doFade, 500); or setTimeout("doFade()", 500);

setTimeout(doFade(), 500);

This line says "execute doFade(), then pass whatever value it returns to setTimeout, which will execute this return value after 500 milliseconds." I.e., you're calling doFade() right there on the spot.

Skip the parentheses to pass the function to setTimeout:

setTimeout(doFade, 500);

You need to get rid of the parentheses on doFade().

The parentheses invoke the function instantly.

Just use this in stead: doFade