2012 1.6 Radiator fan not working

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My Name: sskillz

Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:44 pm
Model: C3 2009-2013, New shape (A51)
Year: 2012 (12)
Engine Size: 1.6
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 45000
Trim Level: NA
Gearbox: Automatic PRND
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: LHD

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Hi,
Citroen C3 2012 120HP VTi 1.6 engine.
I'm in the process of replacing the radiator for a leak but I noticed I never seen the radiator fan working since I bought the used car a year ago,
all my drives are short so it might work on high speed.
s-l500.jpg

I removed the 2 pin plug from the resistor/relay unit pictured above, and shorted the 2 pins, the fan started, so it is ok :D
I checked the resistor resistance, it's ~1 Ohm but a bit corroded, the connectors inside this cage to it seem to have good contact if I press the multimeter to them.
So I'm guessing there is a relay inside that connects this resistor in series to the 2 pins above, but which of the 4 pins do I need to energize to check that?
How is the 4 pins wired?

via OBD coolant reading seems ok, which sensor is that reading? the one on the thermostat housing?
Is there another temp sensor besides it that controls the fan (maybe a 1 wire pin)?
Where can I get the diagram for this?

And about the upper cooling hose, how firm is it suppose to be at running temp (~90c) ? as they seem quite easy to press the walls of the hose after I refilled the system (didn't check before).
Thanks ahead,
Paul.
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My Name: Arfur Dent

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Posts: 3547
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 3:47 pm
Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
Year: 2002 (52)
Engine Size: 1.4 (16v)
Fuel Type: Diesel
Mileage: 100000
Trim Level: Exclusive
Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
Engine name: DV4 16-valve diesel (90 PS)
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sskillz wrote: ↑Wed Jan 16, 2019 8:04 pm noticed I never seen the radiator fan working since I bought the used car a year ago,
Hi sskillz

This comes up quite often various years of C3. No one ever notices the fan :lol:

If you want to test the fan, both low and high speed then the best tool is Lexia clone tool (information topic).
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My Name: sskillz

Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:44 pm
Model: C3 2009-2013, New shape (A51)
Year: 2012 (12)
Engine Size: 1.6
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 45000
Trim Level: NA
Gearbox: Automatic PRND
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: LHD

Post

Cool Thanks I'll get that Lexia but it will take a while, and in the meantime how can I test this relay/resistor part? And about the other questions?
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My Name: sskillz

Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:44 pm
Model: C3 2009-2013, New shape (A51)
Year: 2012 (12)
Engine Size: 1.6
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 45000
Trim Level: NA
Gearbox: Automatic PRND
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: LHD

Post

Hi,
So I tested my resistor in a friends c3.
It worked in low speed at about 96c temp at the obd coolant reading, didn't test higer temps/speeds.

So the resistor relay unit seems ok.
Does this resistor also closes the high speed (shorts the big 2 pins...)?
Or is it parralel to another relay?

Thanks,
Paul.
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User avatar
My Name: Arfur Dent

Guru
Posts: 3547
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2011 3:47 pm
Model: C3 2002-2005, Original shape model
Year: 2002 (52)
Engine Size: 1.4 (16v)
Fuel Type: Diesel
Mileage: 100000
Trim Level: Exclusive
Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: RHD (UK)
Engine name: DV4 16-valve diesel (90 PS)
Has thanked: 355 times
Been thanked: 139 times

Post

sskillz wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:34 am So I tested my resistor in a friends c3.
It worked in low speed at about 96c temp at the obd coolant reading, didn't test higer temps/speeds.
testing on another, known working can be useful. Check parts by substitution. But if you only part test it, then you only get part results.
sskillz wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:34 am So the resistor relay unit seems ok.
Does this resistor also closes the high speed (shorts the big 2 pins...)?
Or is it parralel to another relay?
I don't have access to the diagrams for that, sorry. There are quite a few different cooling fan configurations on the C3 and when the fan fails the test, it's usual to change the fan and it works.
You can add an avatar to your account - Avatar or change your vehicle details - Car Bio or even add a signature to your posts - Signature. But this is not all you can do in the User Control Panel :)
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My Name: sskillz

Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2019 7:44 pm
Model: C3 2009-2013, New shape (A51)
Year: 2012 (12)
Engine Size: 1.6
Fuel Type: Petrol
Mileage: 45000
Trim Level: NA
Gearbox: Automatic PRND
DPF: No
LHD or RHD: LHD

Post

Arfur Dent wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:31 pm
sskillz wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:34 am So I tested my resistor in a friends c3.
It worked in low speed at about 96c temp at the obd coolant reading, didn't test higer temps/speeds.
testing on another, known working can be useful. Check parts by substitution. But if you only part test it, then you only get part results.
sskillz wrote: ↑Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:34 am So the resistor relay unit seems ok.
Does this resistor also closes the high speed (shorts the big 2 pins...)?
Or is it parralel to another relay?
I don't have access to the diagrams for that, sorry. There are quite a few different cooling fan configurations on the C3 and when the fan fails the test, it's usual to change the fan and it works.
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