Non Stop Engine Fan Running - Citroen C3

[Jobeda Ali]

Hello, I am a new driver and just bought an old 2003 petrol C3 as my first car. I have no idea about anything to do with cars. For two months everything has been fine, but a few days ago the engine fan started running really loudly in the car. The first day it was quieter, I had never heard it before but i figured it was ok as sometimes engines get hot and need a fan. But the second day it was really really loud and I was so concerned I almost stopped driving. I haven't had the courage to drive it since. I thought maybe it needs water to cool down, but the manual says nothing about where the water goes. It was fully serviced and MOTed when I bought it two months ago so I can't imagine the coolant is gone. Any advice or suggestions please? Sorry for such a naive question. Thanks.

[paul.h]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Is your car the 1.4 petrol ?

 

The engine fan would normally only run if the engine is getting hotter than normal such as when moving slowly in traffic, or if the engine is running but the car is not moving, or if the weather is hot, or if the air conditioning is being used. When the engine is switched off the fan may still run for a few minutes until it cools down but should then stop.

 

Is the temperature gauge showing normal which on our previous 2003 1.4 petrol C3 was 3 bars or is it higher than this ? Our C3 would sometimes run the fan at low speed whilst still on 3 bars but if more bars would run at its higher speed which sounds louder (it is a 2 speed fan). If the gauge is high all the time it could be one of the 2 engine temperature sensors is faulty so the car thinks it is hot and the fan is running all the time.

 

You should check the coolant (water mixed with anti freeze) level is about half way up in the coolant expansion tank which is on the left side of the engine compartment as you look from the front of the car.

 

The engine is cooled by water/anti freeze coolant being pumped around the engine to the cabin heater matrix and to the front of the engine compartment where it goes through a radiator. Air goes through the radiator to cool down the water and it then circulates back round the engine. The air flow is provided as the car moves along or if not enough to remove the heat the fan will run.