2014 Citroen C4 Picasso Cooling Fan on in Winter

[digidave]

1.6 HDI Diesel with aircon

New timing belt and water pump.
New cooling fluid.
New Aux belt.
Expansion tank is at the correct level.
Temp gauge midway on a run.
Just done 8 miles in the cold today and when I got home, radiator fan is running when the engine is off. Why? It is blimming cold here. I have cleaned the rad grills and keep on top of maintenance but is this normal?

I do notice that in below freezing winter, I have to drive about 10 miles before the temp gauge moves to midday, but in rest of the time, it gets there faster.

Thermostat?

[GiveMeABreak]

Hard to say without a proper diagnostic as it could be that or the electronic control module for the fan assembly. Water and corrosion can affect this unit.

Having said that, it is also possible the system was not degassed properly when the above work was done. There is a procedure that needs to be done according to engine type to ensure this is done correctly or you'll have issues with it.

[RichardW]

Is it just a one off or every time? If a one off it was probably regenning the DPF when you stopped. If every time, there is a fault somewhere!

[digidave]

No not every time. The garage I use and have used for years are very well respected around here so maybe yes DPF. I did take it once to a garage near where I worked about two years ago and he noticed it. He said the expansion tank was low, but I check it all weekly. When the fan stays on now the ET is the fist thing I look at. It goes off after about 10 minutes and the car drives like a dream other than this. As mentioned when I was working and leaving here on frosty mornings at say minus 4, the temp gauge took about 10 miles to get to midway. I might change the stat. In 5 years of ownership, I have never changed it so no idea how old it is.

[digidave]

Hard to say without a proper diagnostic as it could be that or the electronic control module for the fan assembly. Water and corrosion can affect this unit.

Having said that, it is also possible the system was not degassed properly when the above work was done. There is a procedure that needs to be done according to engine type to ensure this is done correctly or you'll have issues with it.

Cheers

It is not the air con, but cooling rad fan. The garage did find the air con leaking a year ago and did a diags test on it all as well and it was fine. He did menton fan coming on and said Exp Tank low but that was cobblers. Since the re-gas it has been great. I have brushed and cleaned the cooling rad of dead flies, leaves etc. Its the cooling fan that is the issue. Might try a new stat. The car is lovely other than this. Runs like a dream in fact. The fan goes off after about 10 mins.

[GiveMeABreak]

I was talking about the radiator fan, and yes, it is directly linked to the Air Con.

The radiator fan is operated when the air conditioning is operating, that is normal behaviour.
What I was referring to was the radiator fan assembly. These have relays and an electronic control module to operate the fans at the required speed (depending on the system you have). The fan will kick-in when the A/C is operating as I mentioned, but apart from any perceived overheating issues, the fan can also kick in for things like a detected clutch overheating problem if one of the wheel speed sensors is faulty.

When I talk about degassing, I'm not talking about the A/C, I'm referring to the cooling system, which has to be degassed when drained and filled.

[digidave]

I thank you MArc

Not done it sicne. I have done two16 mile runs this week, 8 each way, without air con on. Today I cleaned the fan sensor relay and plug sockets just in case. I could do with brushing the air con rad grills they don't look good, but cant get to it unless I go under the car. PS Had timing belt done in January so new water pump and coolant done then.

[GiveMeABreak]

Just be careful as the rad fan can activate without warning if it 'thinks' there is an overheating situation, regardless if there isn't, so don't do any cleaning or maintenance in that area without first disconnecting the battery, or prepare to loose fingers potentially (or worse )

BSI Reset / Battery Disconnect / Reconnect Procedure