C3 Picasso (2012) - Stop Temperature Warning on cold start

[Billy-Fish]

Hi all,
This is my first post (although I have been using the forum to solve my issues in the past).

I have a 2012 Citroen C3 Picasso.

I have a problem which I have not been able to solve and have also looked through the other posts on here and not found a solution.

Each time we start the car, within 15 to 20 seconds the dashboard matrix displays a warning message that the engine temperature is a high and should stop the car immediately. The cooling fan then starts running at maximum speed and continues even after the engine is turned off. The only way I have found to stop it is to disconnect the battery.

My mechanic replaced the water and oil temperature sensors, the Radiator Blower Motor fan relay resistor, water pump and the thermostat but the fault persists. He was unable to fix the problem and returned the car to me to avoid any further costs.

He suspected it could be a fault with the ECU.
I sent the ECU away to be tested.
They didn’t find any faults but they explained that the issue I described is a known fault so they replaced those components. Even after this the car still thinks it is overheating as soon as you start the engine.

I have plugged in a my OBD2 reader (Foxwell NT680Pro) to look for any error codes and there are no error codes.

I have used the obd2 reader to monitor lthe live temperature data and with the engine running from cold and the oil / water temperatures start at ambient and slowly rise (as you would expect). Since I am able to read the live data I don’t believe that there is a wiring fault on the temperature sensors or the ECU.

I am now at my wits end with the car and have spent a small fortune trying to fix this.

I am now seriously considering scrapping the car if I can’t resolve this issue.

Thanks in advance for any help / suggestions on how I can diagnose and fix this issue.

[PaulC5]

Were the people fixing your car Citroen dealers, if not maybe you might try one. Maybe there is a software update if it is a known fault. Possibly you have a wiring fault.

We had a 2010 C3 1.4 vti that started to go to max temp when not hot and there was a known fault which Citroen fixed without cost to us but only involved fitting another temp sensor and a wiring loom.

[Billy-Fish]

Thank for the suggestion PaulC5

The garage that investigated the fault is one that has maintained the car for several years. They know me well and didn’t want to keep racking up costs trying to trace the fault after they had replaced sensors etc.
I have since then spent another couple of hundred pounds having the ECU checked.

I spooked to the local Main Citroen dealer about the issue and they wouldn’t talk to about the issue or look at the car without paying a £200 Non refundable deposit.

Given I have now nearly spent half the value of the car trying to solve the issue I’m reluctant to throw even more money (especially at main dealer prices) to try and diagnose the issue.

My wife wants to cut our losses and scrap the car

I would ideally like to find what the fault is and get it back on the road but I also don’t want to just keep throwing money at it, especially if I do eventually have to get another car.

[Aesud]

Thank for the suggestion PaulC5

The garage that investigated the fault is one that has maintained the car for several years. They know me well and didn’t want to keep racking up costs trying to trace the fault after they had replaced sensors etc.
I have since then spent another couple of hundred pounds having the ECU checked.

I spooked to the local Main Citroen dealer about the issue and they wouldn’t talk to about the issue or look at the car without paying a £200 Non refundable deposit.

Given I have now nearly spent half the value of the car trying to solve the issue I’m reluctant to throw even more money (especially at main dealer prices) to try and diagnose the issue.

My wife wants to cut our losses and scrap the car

I would ideally like to find what the fault is and get it back on the road but I also don’t want to just keep throwing money at it, especially if I do eventually have to get another car.

Hi, did you solve the issue with your car? I have the same and after a trip to the mechanic, who couldn’t fix the problem, I’m now stuck again and don’t know what to do.
Hope you got your car fixed and got a solution!