Peugeot 306 HDI - cooling fans not kicking in

[rowey200]

Stuck in heavy traffic my GFs 306 HDI at the weekend I noticed that the cooling fans did not kick in as they should. Water temp rose to 90c ish and the 'STOP' indicator began to flash on the dash. Luckily the traffic cleared at this point and the temp settled back down to where it should be once we were on the move.

I've since had a poke about and checked that there is plenty of coolant in the system - all fine. I then located the water temp sensor and disconnecting it expecting this to kick the fans in (I've had to do this on a previous pug I owned to get me home). Unfortunately the fans did not kick in, but a couple of seconds after disconnecting the sensor I could hear a 'click' (relay type sound) at the front of the car by the fans, and on reconnecting the sensor I could hear the 'click' again.

So, I'm assuming the issue is with the fans / fan motor or associated electrical connections etc? Before I start pulling stuff apart can anyone point me in the direction of what the likely cause of the issue is?!

Cheers in advance

[megamaniac]

The relays are a very common fault on the hdi,Buy three new ones and that should sort it.Usually if you turn the aircon on it starts both fans.

[rowey200]

megamaniac said:

The relays are a very common fault on the hdi,Buy three new ones and that should sort it.Usually if you turn the aircon on it starts both fans.

Thanks for this. Just for ref the car is a non aircon model.

Having had a quick google I assume the relays you are referring to are the ones located at the front of the car in between the two cooling fans as per pic below?



Are the relays the same and any idea where I would get then from?

Thanks in advance!

[megamaniac]

That's the ones. Local auto electrical place, Peugeot,

[HereBeMonsters]

They're standard relays. Take them out, any motor factors place, Halfords or whatever should do them. Even places on the internet. They have it on computers now.

[rowey200]

Great, thanks for the help folks. I'm guessing I might as well just replace all 3 of them as accessing them looks like a bit of a faff?

[StoatInACoat]

I think you can get it to it by just taking the grill off then popping the cover off which is a 30 second job. Otherwise front bumper will need to come off which isn't especially difficult but a bit of a faff. If you have to pull the front off check the wiring harness on the front offside where it runs across the chassis leg as these rot and corrode causing all sorts of comedy faults.

Don't let the STOP light come on again! The warning light usually indicates that all hope is lost so you've been lucky not to cook it.

Unusual to have an HDI without aircon! Having said that, it never works anyway.

Edited by StoatInACoat on Sunday 25th May 21:25

[HereBeMonsters]

StoatInACoat said:

Unusual to have an HDI without aircon! Having said that, it never works anyway.

"It just needs re-gassing!"

[rowey200]

Right then, new relay purchased and fitted at the weekend (see pic 1 below), but alas, the fans are still not kicking in. I can hear the relay open and close when I disconect / contect the blue temp sensor (see pic 2 below), but the fans do not operate. As an aside both fans are spinning freely (ie, not ceased).

So, where do I go from here? Could it be the electric fan motor itself? Any advice gratefully received Also, can anyone advise at exactly what water temp the fans should kick in? From memory the 'STOP' light on the dash flashed up at just over 90c.

Cheers in advance.

[Old Merc]

Every time i`ve had 306 fans not cutting in its always been the fan motors themselves at fault.
When its up to temp`and they should be working give them a "bash" or try to urge them on,most cases with me they then start.Its a bit of an awkward job replacing motors though.

[StoatInACoat]

The fans themselves are held on with very flimsy screws which are an opposite thread. Just a pointer before you snap the head off one like I did I'd be surprised if they are both dead, is there not a brown plug somewhere? Pull that, they should both spin.

[rowey200]

StoatInACoat said:

The fans themselves are held on with very flimsy screws which are an opposite thread. Just a pointer before you snap the head off one like I did I'd be surprised if they are both dead, is there not a brown plug somewhere? Pull that, they should both spin.

Could'nt see a brown plug, just the blue & yellow ones as pictured

[Steve656]

I'm having the same problem and I've found a cable hanging down near the near side of the radiator with a small two slot plug on and also a blue connector near the battery housing and fuse box that is disconnected from some where

[Steve656]

Is there any way to check see if the radiator fan works

[StoatInACoat]

Pictures would help but there's always random things unplugged on 306's as they use a generic loom and it coud be something as simple as a fog light not plugged back in. It's been a looong time since I stripped one down and I can't remember the exact layout but there should be a brown plug on the thermostat housing. Pull it (with it running obviously) and both the fans should kick in. If they don't then you probably have a dead relay.