Radiator Fan Keeps Spinning

Hi Lads,

Just wanna ask some few tips how to troubleshoot the following.

**My Citroen C3 1.4 Petrol (2003 model) radiator fan keeps spinning.

I was trying to replace the valve body last Saturday and had to drain all the coolant and likely pull out the fan. It was running perfectly before the valve body replacement then suddenly after I was about to start the engine in the next morning, the battery gone flat. Fully charged it and hooked it up, and I noticed that my fan keeps spinning even though the engine was overnight parked. Likewise I have tried to plug and unplug the connector and still it keeps running and decided to took the battery cable out and it stops (obviously ).

I was wondering whether I spilled some coolant on the connector behind the fan (maybe had a short circuit) and also checked the coolant temperature sensor and its working well.

Did I miss something?

Appreciate everyones help around.


Cheers!
Gabriel

Welcome to the forum revridges,

What does the dashboard show with regards to the coolant temperature?

Thanks Arfur.

Dashboard shows normal temperature up to 3 bars.

Edit : Fan is running in full throttle, I cannot seem to find the relay.

Dashboard shows normal temperature up to 3 bars.

I would check the connection in the plug that you removed, make sure its making a good electrical contact and the wiring you disturbed (the temp sensor wires) are not damaged.

I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if the fan runs full speed if the sensor plug is disconnected as a 'fail safe' mode.

Some models don't have a relay, others do. Some relays are around the fan cowling and other have it hidden as one of our members, patt, mentions in his post https://citroenc3owners.com/petrol-citro ... -t558.html

patt wrote: 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......

There are only two connector I have disconnected when I pulled out the fan (shows below).

Black - Power supply (plug & unplug it kills and runs the fan)
Grey - Really do not know what does this connector is for (plug & unplug, nothing happens, fans still runs)

Temp sensor wires? (do you mean the wire on the coolant temp sensor)

I will try to check the relay during my off this coming Friday.

EDIT : Could you please provide me picture of the fan speed sensor and its location.

Temp sensor wires? (do you mean the wire on the coolant temp sensor)

Yes, the coolant temperature sensor plug that you disconnected to check.

Black - Power supply (plug & unplug it kills and runs the fan)
Grey - Really do not know what does this connector is for (plug & unplug, nothing happens, fans still runs)

Grey plug is the fan speed control - there are several speeds that the fan can run at and these are the wires that control it. I think you will find they go back to the engine ECU.

Maybe some wiring got damaged when you removed the fan?

If yours is the petrol model with air conditioning or climate control fitted, the relay could be the one in the BSM - the fuse box in the engine bay. https://citroenc3owners.com/citroen-c3-t ... s-t36.html. Its not something that is easy to replace.

Fuse F8 in the engine bay is the one for the fan. Pulling this will save disconnecting the battery while you are investigating.

@Arfur, nothing seems to change on the fan speed even i unplug/plug the grey connector back. Probably this is the main cause why the fan spinning in full throttle.

Gonna have to sit on this issue, this coming Friday. For the meantime, I just pull out the fan power supply instead of the battery cable, too scared might damage the ECU 'coz last night rear wiper starts running when i connected the battery cable and same goes with the interior lighting, sigh.

@C3CAR, printed a copy of the diagram and will purchase some spare fuses after office. Thanks for the tip mate.

Cheers guys! I will update this thread when I'm done with it this Friday.

Dont know what this valve body is, but could i suggest you go back over the procedure step by step either mentaly or phisicaly as your working on the valve body sure has disturbed something in the process. Could be a bad earth or bent/ weak wire.

New valve body got an error but manage to fix it by replacing only the two solenoid valves. A big BUT cames, fan didn't want to spin. Checked the power supply flow and its present but the grey button confuse me. Pull out the fan and seems all 5 wires short circuited and burned the motor. Last night manage to replace a tempo fan from a Nissan and had it directly connected to the power supply.

Just now, the fan starts to fall off the motor LOL. Before things get worst, I'm planning to sell the car instead. Its my first car and had it for a year and taught me lot of stuffs.

Sayonara to my so called citroGz.

Thanks for having me here. Cheers!