Berlingo battery going flat and radiator fan staying on

[Frank555]

Hello all!

Hoping someone can help please. 

 I have a[b]Citroën Berlingo 2012 1.6 HDi 110 
[/b]


Its had two new batteries on in last 6 months or so. Initially they were ok but now Both are not staying charged but have been tested and are fine. So fitted new alternator and everything fine for two or three weeks but now the Battery that’s on is again not staying charged. 

Took it back to the auto electrician who fitted the alternator and he couldn’t find any issues (been in job for 40 years). He suggested changing the fuse box (350+vat) but couldn’t guarantee that it would fix anything. 



Not sure if this is relevant but The Fan is running for 10/15 mins after engine turned off. Its done this for the whole 3 years or so I’ve had the van. ( Local car parts shop say their Berlingo also does this and has done it for years too but it does not affect their battery). 

I’ve had a Radiator Fan Motor Relay Resistor fitted and this initially fixed the fan issue for 4 or 5 starts and stops  (to test it).  Then next day road to work and fan was back on again.



At the moment I am removing the battery negative after every journey (in order to stop the fan) and its started every time,  But still occasionally getting a flashing battery light when going to start.



No engine warnings or alerts. 


[b]Any help would be greatly appreciated [/b]

[saskak]

Test your alternator voltage under idle conditions with a multimeter. Start the car, put the multimeter on the +/- terminals of the battery and it should under idle read somewhere ~14.1-14.4V, no auxiliary stuff such as lights, etc. That would tell you if the alternator is charging the battery.

Next, if the alternator keeps up charging the battery, test for parasitic draw when the car is switched off. Search youtube for parasitic draw battery test. Plenty of videos.

Now, my car is older 1.6HDi (2007), so not quite the same, but the fan never keeps running after the engine is switched off. To be honest I have never even heard it being on at all. 1.6HDis are really energy efficient, so it is very rare that the fan needs to be on. My 1.6 petrol certainly puts the fan on, but it is different. It could well be a relay and someone else will give you pointers how to check it.

What is your normal coolant temperature that the engine keeps on? That would tell you whether your thermostat is alright. On a steady journey (once warmed) it should be relatively stable at ~82C. What is yours?

[oilyrag]

As Saskak says above ...at what point does the fan come on in normal driving? It should only come on when you're stopped in traffic for a while, but even if running for longer the alternator should be able to provide enough power to keep the battery charged.   15 mins over-run shouldn't kill the battery.  
Maybe the temperature sensor has a fault. 
Do you have any accessories fitted or a replacement radio/CD player that could be staying 'live' - particularly the latter.  
You can get a voltmeter display that fits a cigarette lighter socket for under a fiver - http://www.ebay.ie/itm/313919492530?fits...BMnPffkvdg, which could give you a running guide to what is going on with the state of charge of the battery and what by/when the electricity is being eaten. 
   

[saskak]

Also, how long are your journeys? Is it like 5-10min short trips, start/stop with lights on, etc? The batteries need time to charge, you would have a super duper 150-200A charger (alternator), but car batteries cannot accept all that in 5min, they will just boil over or worse. Longer (>1h) continuous trips from time to time might help with the charge and potentially prolong the lifespan of the battery. I put my battery every 2-3 weeks on a proper standalone charger if I have not made a fairly long trip in a while.

[Frank555]

Also, how long are your journeys? Is it like 5-10min short trips, start/stop with lights on, etc? The batteries need time to charge, you would have a super duper 150-200A charger (alternator), but car batteries cannot accept all that in 5min, they will just boil over or worse. Longer (>1h) continuous trips from time to time might help with the charge and potentially prolong the lifespan of the battery. I put my battery every 2-3 weeks on a proper standalone charger if I have not made a fairly long trip in a while.

Hi saskak

Thanks for the help. 

Im waiting for a multimeter to arrive today to check alternator charge and parasitic draw. Auto electric guy said these were normal, as was the battery itself. However I will recheck them as you advise. 

My journeys are usually between 15 and 45 mins.

What’s the easiest way to check coolant temp please? Is it with Infrared Thermometer.

[Frank555]

As Saskak says above ...at what point does the fan come on in normal driving? It should only come on when you're stopped in traffic for a while, but even if running for longer the alternator should be able to provide enough power to keep the battery charged.   15 mins over-run shouldn't kill the battery.  
Maybe the temperature sensor has a fault. 
Do you have any accessories fitted or a replacement radio/CD player that could be staying 'live' - particularly the latter.  
You can get a voltmeter display that fits a cigarette lighter socket for under a fiver - http://www.ebay.ie/itm/313919492530?fits...BMnPffkvdg, which could give you a running guide to what is going on with the state of charge of the battery and what by/when the electricity is being eaten. 

Hi oilyrag

Fan comes on almost immediately.

Ive ordered a temp sensor, only £5.

Only known accessory would be the factory fitted radio. 

Ive ordered the lighter socket voltmeter, it looks very handy, especially for price. 

[oilyrag]

With a diesel it often takes quite a while to get up to temperature - so near impossible for it to need the cooling fan for the first quarter of an hour. Check that the coolant level is correct and start the van from cold and leave it ticking over for 10 minutes-  fan wouldn't normally run.  
If you feel the top hose you'll be able to tell when the thermostat opens as the hose will go from cool to warm - again at least 5 minutes to become at all hot.  

Do you have air-con fitted as this may also 'call' the fan?

[dxcamper]

The only time I notice fan run on is if I interrupt a DPF clean. I am no expert so someone else would know better but is it possible to get stuck in an eternal DPF clean that could cause continued fan run on?

[Frank555]

The only time I notice fan run on is if I interrupt a DPF clean. I am no expert so someone else would know better but is it possible to get stuck in an eternal DPF clean that could cause continued fan run on?

i read on here some where about dpf cleaning cycles. Plus the dpf heat shield had fallen off last week (found on road where vans parked over night). i wondered if it was perhaps clogged and over hot,  So sprayed in dpf cleaner yesterday but fan still staying on.

[Frank555]

With a diesel it often takes quite a while to get up to temperature - so near impossible for it to need the cooling fan for the first quarter of an hour. Check that the coolant level is correct and start the van from cold and leave it ticking over for 10 minutes-  fan wouldn't normally run.  
If you feel the top hose you'll be able to tell when the thermostat opens as the hose will go from cool to warm - again at least 5 minutes to become at all hot.  

Do you have air-con fitted as this may also 'call' the fan?

just ran it for 15 mins and all hoses still cold.

fan came on after 20 seconds.

it has air-con but its not working