Radiator cooling fan not working.

[Goo]

Kangoo 1.4 Petrol - 53k miles

What worked before the cylinder head gasket failed on my K7J engine doesn't work anymore and I am rather at a loss with what to do next.

The radiator cooling fan won't come on when the engine gets hot leading me to scrabble for the heater controls or in worse cases stop, lift the bonnet and pull the plug off the CTS of which appears to prove the fan works - some ECU fail safe function I think, but the fan won't come on in normal operation.

So what has been done to the engine since the CHG failure (of which was found to be caused by incorrect coolant - a weak water dominant mix combined with lack of use, the low mileage for the year) is that the cylinder head has been skimmed and pressure tested before refitting, the water pump has been replaced along with a Dayco timing belt kit, the thermostat has been replaced after having been tested and the CTS has been replaced twice along with the coolant, but still no fan. Where of course as , mentioned pulling the plug off the CTS proves the fan works in the fail safe function, but not in normal operation.

So has anyone any ideas what may be amiss as I have run out of ideas and am fed up with replacing stuff I can't test in the hope it might fix the problem?

 

[barnesautos]

You need to check wires from the CTS to the ecu . Seems to me that the ecu isn’t getting the info .
That said - it’s detecting you pulling off the connector and activating the fail safe .

Make sure you’ve checked that the replacement CTS has the 3 pins to match the 3 wires , I’ve seen people say that only 2 wires are present , so maybe only 2 pins may only be present on the switch . I’d like to think that a default 3 pin switch was the only one that could be purchased , but I may be wrong .

Is your car with or without air con ?

Few wires to start checking .
Pic is a general one not model specific , but Clios generally run the same across the range.

 

[Goo]

Yes, I thought it might be a wiring problem and thank you for such a detailed reply.

And yes I generally search 1.4 Clio problems when dealing with snags on the Kangoo as aside from the body shell, I believe there is not much difference between the two and I have had a Mk1 Clio 1.4 to notice a fair few similarities. I fact I used to consider the Kangoo as a Clio van.

But no no air conditioning on my Kangoo.

Oh yeah it's definitely a three pin sensor I have fitted , part number ; 226306024R

This one ; https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/z/kKYAAOSwvjdZUkle/$_58.JPG

 

[STEVE.M]

F4R 182 has a 2 pin Coolant Temperature Sensor.
Connects to pins 46 & 73 of the ECU 90 pin connector.
Be surprised if its not the same.
Stop posting in acronyms, its not clever.

 

[Goo]

Problem solved

Lacking the time necessary for yet more fault diagnosis, we bit the bullet and put the car into a Renault specialist to be pleasantly surprised with the phone call we received later that day, saying there is nothing wrong with the cooling system and yes the fan does come on ' when it should and cuts off when it should ' albeit it is noisy in operation ( yeah I know the motor is a bit ropey - it was on the list to replace to now be sooner rather than later).

So the problem, turns out to be a perceived problem and appears to have been created by the culmination of three things ; history - the indicated temperature the fan used to switch on prior to the cylinder head gasket failure, the mechanic who did the cylinder head gasket repair who said he can't get the fan to come on and the fact that I since the head gasket repair have not got it hot enough for the fan to come on.

So that was that where I received a report telling me;

1. Carried out diagnostic check stored fault code DE004 water temp sensor open circuit (Ah that would be me pulling the plug off)
2. Erased fault from memory and road tested, with no overheating issues.
3. Data monitor in workshop and cooling fan comes on at 98 0C and off again at 95-96 OC
4. Note cooling fan sound rough/noisy when in operation.

So we'll see, of which will not stop me fitting the planned independent water temperature gauge, dash mounted fan operation tell tale light and dash mounted fan on/off switch, parts of which I already have as I would really not like to go through what I have with this motor again.

And so in finality I would wish to thank both this website and all those that kindly offered the advice I asked for