Fan Relays Behind Grille

Post by **KennyW** » 20 Apr 2011, 10:20

When I had a problem with my fans it turned out to be a bad connection prior to the fans in the wring loom.

The only way to cure it was to remove the front grill,lights & bumper to access the wiring and slowly check back until I found the fault

.

With the dry Easter weather an opportunity

Kenny

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 20 Apr 2011, 10:37

KennyW wrote:When I had a problem with my fans it turned out to be a bad connection prior to the fans in the wring loom.

The only way to cure it was to remove the front grill,lights & bumper to access the wiring and slowly check back until I found the fault .

With the dry Easter weather an opportunity

Kenny

Exactly the same with mine. It was a corroded (completely disintegrated) splice in the loom within the O/S wing, diagnosed by testing each relay feed in the radiator grill then traced back (thanks Toby!) using wire numbers.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 20 Apr 2011, 16:38

My fuse box

While you’re in the fuse box, check for an open 5A fuse that’s meant to actuate the top right relay.
If the fuse is good, then check the wires and connectors as posted about since.
Does the relay click when you turn on the aircon ?
That’s where the fault is because ‘manually’ closing the relay starts the fans.

P616VKX · Post by **P616VKX** » 20 Apr 2011, 23:50

The Air Conditioner works fine, actually, it works really well! All I need is a new pollen filter, but that's neither here nor' there.

I hear a click when the Air Con is turned on, but that MIGHT be the compressor kicking in.

The Relays on the radiator do not click when the AC is switched.

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 21 Apr 2011, 08:26

The top right relay must click on almost immediately when the aircon is switched on.
The compressor will loudly clutch in about two seconds later.

P616VKX · Post by **P616VKX** » 21 Apr 2011, 22:08

It doesn't click when the AC is applied.

Stuart.

P616VKX · Post by **P616VKX** » 22 Apr 2011, 23:53

When I'm in Cornwall on holiday, I'm going to try swapping the Bitron relay for a new one. It's one of the last things I can think of causing this problem...

Post by **CitroJim** » 23 Apr 2011, 11:20

P616VKX wrote:When I'm in Cornwall on holiday, I'm going to try swapping the Bitron relay for a new one. It's one of the last things I can think of causing this problem...

Definitely a holiday job that

Bumper off and inner panel too. Lovely job but infinitely more fun that whiling away your time soaking up the sun on the beach... Ham and sand sandwich anyone?

P616VKX · Post by **P616VKX** » 23 Apr 2011, 20:35

The Bitron Relay is in the fusebox under the bonnet... Lol.

Post by **CitroJim** » 23 Apr 2011, 20:59

P616VKX wrote:The Bitron Relay is in the fusebox under the bonnet... Lol.

No it's not

It lives under the plastic panel under the passengers headlight... It is a ****** to get to

P616VKX · Post by **P616VKX** » 23 Apr 2011, 21:18

Well, the relay that I played with resulting in working fans for a short time was a purple one under the fusebox cover marked "BITRON"...

That's my next port of call, whilst I'm down in Cornwall.

Post by **CitroJim** » 23 Apr 2011, 21:36

P616VKX wrote:Well, the relay that I played with resulting in working fans for a short time was a purple one under the fusebox cover marked "BITRON"...

Ahh, fair do! I was thinking of the fan controller ECU... This device is also made by Bitron... Bitron is in fact just the trade name of an auto electrics maker (like Lucas) and their name can be found on all manner of electrickery...

Safe to say that Bitron is most associated with fan and A/C control stuff though...

Enjoy Cornwall

P616VKX · Post by **P616VKX** » 24 Apr 2011, 16:57

If this doesn't work... What am I looking at? A break in the wiring? a duff plug? Or rewiring the fan relay sockets? I just don't know where to look as there's just NO room to work under the bonnet!

Clogzz · Post by **Clogzz** » 25 Apr 2011, 15:53

There’s still the 5A fuse to check, and if it’s good there will be a break in a thin wire.
To go any further you would need a test lamp or multimeter to check for a permanent 12V on two connectors of the top right socket.

Rewiring sockets is out of the question; it’s a monumental job and all the thick wires are good because they can spin the fans when you close the relay ‘by hand’.

P616VKX · Post by **P616VKX** » 25 Apr 2011, 22:24

Clogzz wrote:There’s still the 5A fuse to check, and if it’s good there will be a break in a thin wire.
To go any further you would need a test lamp or multimeter to check for a permanent 12V on two connectors of the top right socket.

Rewiring sockets is out of the question; it’s a monumental job and all the thick wires are good because they can spin the fans when you close the relay ‘by hand’.

All 5a fuses are fine, under the bonnet and otherwise. Removed, looked at, replaced. All good... I don't even know which 5a fuse I'm meant to be looking at but they're all fine under the bonnet and in the cabin.

Stuart.