Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
Y Cymro
Posts: 118
Joined: 11 Sep 2017, 11:36
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 2.0hdi Exclusive Auto
x 7

Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Y Cymro »

The heater for on my C5 is stuck on a medium fast setting however I adjust the temperature control when in automatic mode. When set to manual, setting the fan speed control to off stops it, but whichever fan speed is chosen it always turns at a medium fast speed.
From other posts here it seems the heater resistor is a common fault so I bought a non-branded one from eBay for £19 and fitted it thanks to Marc’s guidance in another post.
The new one turns the fan at a medium speed (ie slower than the original one) and adjusting the temperature controls speeds or slows the fan slightly, but it never blows fast nor switches off. I cannot turn it off manually either.
The seller has sent me a replacement but it’s exactly the same. Because the fan speed of the replacement is different to the original, and because I can turn off the fan using the original resistor I assume the problem is with the resistor rather than the fan, and that my new replacements don’t work with my car.
I’m tempted to buy a Bosch branded one for about £40 but am wary of throwing more money at it as the cheap replacement resistor didn’t work (though it produced a different fan speed to the original one). I’ve completed a BSI reset after replacing the part.
I’d appreciate your thoughts.
2013 Citroen C5 Exclusive Tourer, 2.0 HDI Automatic with Techno pack
Online
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36993
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by GiveMeABreak »

The cheaper aftermarket ones are notorious for failing - they are often not up to the job. Try and get a Valeo branded one.

I don't have your VIN to hand, but if you pop that up I can probably point you to one.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Y Cymro
Posts: 118
Joined: 11 Sep 2017, 11:36
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 2.0hdi Exclusive Auto
x 7

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Y Cymro »

Thanks Marc

VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]
2013 Citroen C5 Exclusive Tourer, 2.0 HDI Automatic with Techno pack
Y Cymro
Posts: 118
Joined: 11 Sep 2017, 11:36
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 2.0hdi Exclusive Auto
x 7

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Y Cymro »

In fact I can’t find a Bosch branded on, only a Behr-Hella at around £40. The part number is 6441S7 which I assume is right as it’s the same number on the two Chinese ones which fit but don’t work.
Any idea where I can find a Valeo one for around the same price? Have done a Google search but nothing popped up.
2013 Citroen C5 Exclusive Tourer, 2.0 HDI Automatic with Techno pack
Online
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36993
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Ok, so the part is 6441S7. I meant Hella / Behr - not Valeo, but in any case Citroen main dealers sell these for £150.35 inc. VAT. I have found several about the £90 ish mark that are genuine ones:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-CITR ... SwymxVMmsz

A Hella one here for Just under £40:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hella-AIR-CO ... SwzzZZfdT1
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
crapday69
(Donor 2017)
Posts: 278
Joined: 31 Oct 2017, 15:52
Location: Glasgow
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 1.6 eHDi VTR+NAV
x 59

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by crapday69 »

or you could try a scrap car that has a working fan.
User avatar
Paul-R
Donor 2023
Posts: 6916
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
Location: Wirral, NW England; Vaucluse 84, France
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2015 1.6 Blue HDi 120 Peugeot 308 Active SW
2013 2.0 HDi 163 C5 Exclusive Tourer
2003 2.0 HDi 110 C5 Exclusive Estate (Gone)
2001 2.0 HDi 90 Xsara Estate (Gone)
x 1369

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Paul-R »

In my experience the heater blower either works correctly or not at all so there might be a fault with motor that stops it going any faster (implying that the control unit is working correctly) or that, as has already been said, the control units are misbehaving.

It does seem strange that all control units are giving the same result so I would suggest trying the shorting loop trick to see if the motor will run at full speed without the control unit in circuit. If it does run at full speed then try putting the original control unit back in just to see if everything now works correctly. None of this may happen of course but it will limit what could be wrong.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson​
Y Cymro
Posts: 118
Joined: 11 Sep 2017, 11:36
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 2.0hdi Exclusive Auto
x 7

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Y Cymro »

Hi Paul
Yes. with the original OEM control unit fitted the fan always runs at a high speed (though not the fastest speed) and I can use the manual control on the dashboard (ie not Auto) to stop the fan running. On both eBay replacements the fan always turns at a medium speed and won’t turn off using the control set to manual.
I’ll bridge the terminals but I think this will work as expected.
2013 Citroen C5 Exclusive Tourer, 2.0 HDI Automatic with Techno pack
crapday69
(Donor 2017)
Posts: 278
Joined: 31 Oct 2017, 15:52
Location: Glasgow
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 1.6 eHDi VTR+NAV
x 59

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by crapday69 »

my fan runs at top speed for a second as I start the car, then goes to the slowest setting. I have tried 2 different modules and still the same. I can live with this slow speed, it just take a little longer to de-mist the windscreen and heat the car.

Gary.
User avatar
Paul-R
Donor 2023
Posts: 6916
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
Location: Wirral, NW England; Vaucluse 84, France
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2015 1.6 Blue HDi 120 Peugeot 308 Active SW
2013 2.0 HDi 163 C5 Exclusive Tourer
2003 2.0 HDi 110 C5 Exclusive Estate (Gone)
2001 2.0 HDi 90 Xsara Estate (Gone)
x 1369

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Paul-R »

Y Cymro wrote: 17 Apr 2019, 16:49... I can use the manual control on the dashboard (ie not Auto) to stop the fan running.
Now that is interesting. If you can actually get most of the speeds (albeit not full speed) then that suggests to me that the control unit isn't being sent the correct instructions by the climate control ECU. Maybe one of the many sensors that provides data to the ECU isn't doing its job and the ECU can't make a valid decision as a result.

I'd still like to know whether the fan can blow at full speed with a shunt in place. And then see what happens when the control unit is put back in circuit.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson​
User avatar
Paul-R
Donor 2023
Posts: 6916
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
Location: Wirral, NW England; Vaucluse 84, France
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2015 1.6 Blue HDi 120 Peugeot 308 Active SW
2013 2.0 HDi 163 C5 Exclusive Tourer
2003 2.0 HDi 110 C5 Exclusive Estate (Gone)
2001 2.0 HDi 90 Xsara Estate (Gone)
x 1369

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Paul-R »

crapday69 wrote: 17 Apr 2019, 16:53my fan runs at top speed for a second as I start the car, then goes to the slowest setting. I have tried 2 different modules and still the same. I can live with this slow speed, it just take a little longer to de-mist the windscreen and heat the car.
What happens if you press the defrost button? What happens if you select the fan speed manually?
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson​
Y Cymro
Posts: 118
Joined: 11 Sep 2017, 11:36
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 2.0hdi Exclusive Auto
x 7

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Y Cymro »

Paul-R wrote: 17 Apr 2019, 18:33
Y Cymro wrote: 17 Apr 2019, 16:49... I can use the manual control on the dashboard (ie not Auto) to stop the fan running.
Now that is interesting. If you can actually get most of the speeds (albeit not full speed) then that suggests to me that the control unit isn't being sent the correct instructions by the climate control ECU. Maybe one of the many sensors that provides data to the ECU isn't doing its job and the ECU can't make a valid decision as a result.


Can’t get most speeds, on the OEM unit I get quite fast or off, on both eBay replacements I get medium speed only. I can’t alter the speed on any of the units.
2013 Citroen C5 Exclusive Tourer, 2.0 HDI Automatic with Techno pack
User avatar
Paul-R
Donor 2023
Posts: 6916
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
Location: Wirral, NW England; Vaucluse 84, France
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2015 1.6 Blue HDi 120 Peugeot 308 Active SW
2013 2.0 HDi 163 C5 Exclusive Tourer
2003 2.0 HDi 110 C5 Exclusive Estate (Gone)
2001 2.0 HDi 90 Xsara Estate (Gone)
x 1369

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Paul-R »

Ah, that's slightly different. OK, just waiting to see what speed the motor runs at with the shunt in position.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson​
Y Cymro
Posts: 118
Joined: 11 Sep 2017, 11:36
Location: Swansea
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 2.0hdi Exclusive Auto
x 7

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by Y Cymro »

So pull the connector off the control unit and bridge the two heavy cables in the connector?
2013 Citroen C5 Exclusive Tourer, 2.0 HDI Automatic with Techno pack
crapday69
(Donor 2017)
Posts: 278
Joined: 31 Oct 2017, 15:52
Location: Glasgow
My Cars: Citroen C5 Tourer 1.6 eHDi VTR+NAV
x 59

Re: Citroen C5 X7 mk3 climate control heater fan fault

Post by crapday69 »

Paul-R wrote: 17 Apr 2019, 18:35
crapday69 wrote: 17 Apr 2019, 16:53my fan runs at top speed for a second as I start the car, then goes to the slowest setting. I have tried 2 different modules and still the same. I can live with this slow speed, it just take a little longer to de-mist the windscreen and heat the car.
What happens if you press the defrost button? What happens if you select the fan speed manually?



If I hit the defrost button or try and change the speed manually it just stays the same. The only time the fan runs faster is for that second on startup, then it goes to a low setting. Think I would put it in to get sorted if we had really bad winters, but the car still heats up hot in about 5/6 minutes.
Post Reply