Cooling fan (again)!

HI, still pondering my cooling fan problem?????. My 1.4 petrol C3 2003, never runs it's radiator fan. I've owned it over a year now and the fan has never run,to my knowledge. The temperature "gauge" never goes beyond 3 bars, ever, in all traffic conditions and it does not boil or show signs of overheating.
O.K, I am 99.9 percent sure it has not run as I would have heard it, especially in slow traffic or when stopped, or even after switching off, as I believe it still runs.
My query is simply this. How many bars have to show before the fan runs? I've tried externally heating a sensor until it lit 5 bars, but still no fan. The maxi fuse (1) is o.k, but I cannot find the fan relay to complete the tests. (there is no aircon). The fan works fine on 12v.
The other mystery is this. The cooling fan spindle is slightly worn, suggesting much use before I got it.

Thanks.

Original cooling fan post here

Hi patt,

How about a dash of white paint on one of the fan blades, then you can look at it after each journey to see if the fan position has moved?

I have never heard the fan run on my diesel C3 while driving, the only time I have heard it is when I connected it up to my Lexia system and put it on test. I was looking to see what lexia could actually do, so I was just trying every option I could find.

On the petrol engine there are two temperature sensors (according to haynes), one for the dashboard display and one for the engine ECU. Its the one that connects to the engine ECU that affect the fan.

Heating the one for the dashboard display will only change the display and have no affect on the fan if haynes is correct for a non A/C car.

Hi, thanks for that. I have tried the paint idea, actually a piece of tape, but think that the fan windmills when travelling. Checking the fan body temperature by hand found it coolish. I think it is unlikely to operate at higher speeds, anyway.

Regarding the sensors, in spite of what Haynes says (and they confirmed to me that there are different models) there is only one sensor, the top one, and the other is a switch for the overheat warning. So the one sensor does the ecu and the dash. The switch does not go into a water passage and has a temperature mark on it.

I know nothing about the Lexia but may have to invest one day.

I am still hunting for the fan relay!

Cheers.

Hi patt,

This is the relay out of the car:
Its part number is 6555.VY (available from here) or 6555 VY if you ever need another one.

I will look into finding its location on the car for you.

Have you tried following the wires back from the fan, now you know what the relay looks like, it may be easier to spot?

If you wanted to see if power was getting from the relay and making its way to the fan plug and socket you could check for 12v at the plug when the fan should be running. Not so easy while you are driving - or stuck in a traffic jam.

The solution could be a 'tell tale' light in parallel with the fan power plug mounted on the dashboard.
Something like this

12v amber light
mounted in the car, your choice of location, say,
With a couple of meters of 12v, low current cable attached to the tags on the rear of the lamp run the cable into the engine bay and up to the fan plug/socket. Attach each of the 2 wires to the plug - separate the plug, poke the wires in and reconnect the plug and socket.
This sort of wire will do the job easily

Multi-Strand Cable: 4mm x 2mm 12v

The rear of the light will take a solder connection, a wire wrapped connection or some female spades will fit with a bit of a push, it all depends on what tools you can get your hands on.


Polarity is not an issue, neither is the current carrying capacity of the wire. A nice job for peace of mind.


The crimping tool, and information on crimping can be found in the topic 'Successful Crimp Connections'



or a soldering kit if you don't want to crimp


This topic may help if you wanted to run a cable from the engine bay fan to the dashboard
and
this topic about wiring the Citroen C3

Mmmmmm, yes, I've thought of things like this but really I just want it to work. A dashboard light would be an advantage, I agree and I may do this. I know the fan works as I've tried 12v on it, and even plugged a spare (working) sensor into the harness while heating it, reaching 5 bars on the gauge. The likeliest culprit is the relay and I am currently searching for it with the kind help of forum members. I suspect Citroen have hidden it somewhere obscure, possibly behind the front bumper!
Thanks.

Hi, the cooling fan relay can be replaced without removing the bumper. Removing the n/s headlamp cap will show the relay and nut.
Removing some items nearby will improve access i.e. battery cover and fuse box lid. Open the trap door underneath and if there are no spotlights, remove the n/s bung. Yes, it's fiddly, but allowing the relay to fall with loom makes it easier to unplug. Attach string to the new relay to pull it up unto place and replace nut.
Just waiting for some warm weather......

I was told there was only 1 sensor until i discovered 1 (blue) under the air filter

jaysanchez wrote:I was told there was only 1 sensor until i discovered 1 (blue) under the air filter

I think you will find that its the type of engine fitted to the petrols and diesels that decide the number and type of temperature sensors fitted. Some C3s have one and some have two.