Xantia HDi Relay Testing

[Rhothgar]

Am getting a P1519 Error Code on the HDi.

Paul previously posted that the fans should switch on when the air con is switched on but they don't.

If the car is running for any period of time, the fans pulse in and out. On for, I don't 15-30 seconds, then off, then on, then off.

Just got to the relays but they do not have the proper marking you would expect on a relay instead they are number 1 - 5 on the pins. A Citroen idiosyncrasy, no doubt.

Does anyone on FCF know which pin numbers to test for continuity or resistance please?

Off the vehicle I get continuity between pins 3 and 4.

The 3 relays are an upside-down triangle in orientation. The lowermost relay has corrosion to pin 3 and not a good continuity unless you press hard.

Will any relay suffice as a replacement?

I am therefore also concerned about corrosion on the connector and I think Paul said damage can be occasioned to the look if you pull the relay connector too far forward.

Advice and thoughts greatly appreciated.

EDIT:

Tested with power across two terminals and there is continuity between 3 and 5 when powered.

Another question and hopefully someone knowledgable can fire me back an answer before I put it all back together in the next 15 minutes or so.

Service.citroen shows the 3 relays and states two are 25A Green and one is 25A Violet. I assume that this is referring to the actual block connectors which are two green (the upper ones) and a black one, not violet (the bottom one with the corroded pin on the relay).

Next question is I notice that the upper green ones do not have central pin 4 spade connectors in them which the bottom one does so...

can I move the one with corroded pin 3 for now up to one of the green block connectors until I get replacement.

[Rhothgar]

No ideas chaps or I have said something to upset someone!!!!

[Hell Razor5543]

Nope, you haven't offended anybody, it is likely that either nobody has had that problem or people who have have not yet read your post. Be patient, somebody will come up with a useful answer (I cannot, as I have not had that problem).

[Rhothgar]

I guess you're wrong!

Either that or perhaps the forum is getting too successful for its own good and cannot cope any more?

There seems to be a huge amount of posts since when I posted 4 days ago.

[Xantidote]

can I move the one with corroded pin 3 for now up to one of the green block connectors until I get replacement.

Firstly, I'm sorry no-one's been along to date - must all be on holiday as it's Bank Holiday week.

I'm not much use, as I've never had a problem in this area, as well as my car being a Series 1, without a/c. However, as I understand it, on Xantiae with a/c, the 3 relays are there to arrange the fans in slow/fast mode depending on temperature, and as such, I'd not expect switching 1 dodgy relay with 1 of the good ones to effect a temporary solution - however, I could be wrong. Some relays have their wiring diagram imprinted on one side, which should help with terminals' identification.

There must be quite a lot of information on the Forum, though it can be laborious seaching. I'm sure this issue of corrosion to 1 or more of these relay terminals has cropped up before

Good luck

[MikeT]

(Sorry for my ailing memory but) there is a lot of detailed instruction already posted in this forum regarding troubleshooting the xantia cooling system electrics which I (and Toby) have jointly successfully used to sort mine with but I'm darned if I can find/bring up the links/posts for you.

But what I do recall is of the three relays - two are for the two fans (so would be identical) while the odd-one-out will be the changeover relay which switches the fans from serial (half speed) to parallel (full speed) circuit.

What I would do is try to find those posts then work out what's not working as it should. A quick test is to disconnect one of the thermostat housing connectors (can't recall which but doing so will confirm which) which will put both fans on, first in slow speed then a second or two later to high speed. This will tell you that the fans/relays and power/wiring to them is working or not, eliminating a lot of unnecessary guesswork.

[myglaren]

Roger, Clogzz has posted lots of info on the fans and relays problems and fixes, have a shufty through his posts and there will almost certainly be a solution there.

[Rhothgar]

Thanks Guys for the response.

Sylv said to me, "they never liked you anyway - it's only me they like!" I admit she is prettier than me and a nicer temperament.

That's some good advice. I never thought to do a search for cooling fans rather I just fixated on the relays and not the system as a whole and what they are doing.

Interestingly, my mate says the air con is not working on mine because you cannot hear the clutch click and funnily enough in another post recently, citroenxm asked if the fans were kicking in when the aircon was engaged and they weren't so we thought it might be temp sensor.

I have a better dig on the forum rather than searching for "xantia cooling system relay" or whatever I searched. I will try to find MikeT's post but I guess with over 3000 posts it will be difficult.

Thanks again.

[CitroJim]

Sylv said to me, "they never liked you anyway - it's only me they like!" I admit she is prettier than me and a nicer temperament.

That's rubbish Roger. We love you both but Sylv's right- we love her more!!!

[RichardW]

When the fans are pulsing do they both run? What engine temp is this occuring at - HDi doesn't put the fans on till about 100, and then on high at about 110 - you have to try quite hard in the UK to get them on high. Does it sound like it's about to take off (ie high speed fans)? Can you turn both the fans easily by hand? If you put the AC on, can you see the end of the compressor pulley start to rotate? Normally if the AC starts, but the fans don't then the temp and STOP lights flash.

The relays are not the same - the centre one is a 5 pin switch over relay, whereas the other 2 are 4 pin switching relays only. If there is no pic on the top, then they may be marked with std relay pin numbers (like 35, 85, 87 IIRC - can't recall the config or all the numbers, but no doubt Google will!). Failing that pop off the top cover and have a look inside, you will be able to see the internal workings, and deduce what pin does what.

[Rhothgar]

I am going to get my mate to regas the air con on Saturday whilst I am doing Sylv's brake rebuild. Question on that. Is there any way to identify whether she has Bendix or Girling without stripping the rear drums down as I need to process this brake rebuild without glitch on Saturday in a few hours. We are driving to Austria in der Fliegender ZX nachste woche.

[RichardW]

Post up the last 8 digits of the VIN and we'll check on service.citroen

[Rhothgar]

Sylv's is 01C78206 but I am sure that doesn't help as I have a service citroen login unless I am missing something obvious. It gives part numbers for both types.