Water Temperature Warning Plus Electrical Crackles, Short circuit or dying alternator?

Hi all,

I’m posting from down here near St Gaudens, just north of the Pyrenees on holiday. The house we’re staying in has wireless broadband access which is pretty convenient for communicating with the outside world!

Although we arrived ok, I actually thought we’d get no further than Le Havre, because no sooner had we left the ferry than I got this odd thing initially with the Water Temperature Pre-Warning Lamp and then the Water Temperature light together with the STOP light coming on. I bought the car from the Citroen Centre in Oxford and they fiddled with the relays and thought they cured it before I left, but it happened very much more frequently. The symptoms were that initially the lights would flash a few times and then it would come on permanently I also noticed that the illumination of these lights coincided with what sounded light sparking – a definite crackling – coming approximately from behind the steering column. I also noticed that the problem seemed to happen at speeds of 30-45 mph but then seemed to go away once a speed of maybe 65 mph + had been maintained for maybe 5-10 minutes or so (long enough for the battery to charge?). There seemed to be no real temperature problem as the thermometer indicated 85-90c. After going along for a while, the problem seemed to disappear but then would recur again, particularly if we slowed down to 30-45 mph again. After the long drive down the motorway, the problem seemed to have disappeared entirely. On a few local trips on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday it didn’t occur at all, but it happened again late this afternoon (Wednesday).

It occurred to me that the crackling was coming approximately from where the idler pulley for the fanbelt would be located (replaced by the Citroen Centre about a week after buying the car as it was about to fail) and I wonder if there may be short circuiting – maybe a wire trapped in a body panel – which could be causing the problem or else maybe something like a dying alternator.

Based on these clues, do you have any thoughts as to what might be the problem?

Also, does anybody have any email contacts for Paul Johnson at the Citroen Centre, I can't seem to get through on his email given on their website or post a message through the "request a test drive" page!

Regards and thanks,

Andrew

Hello. Just come across your un-replied to post about the spurious temperature warning. Did you get it sorted ? I have exactly the same issue, although there is no pattern regarding when the warning disappears. On mine, there is sometimes the sound, I would guess, of a relay chattering; sounds like it's behind the dash in front of the driver. When I get the warning, it cuts the aircon out. I'm tempted to start by changing the sensor --- but which one is it --- there are three in a row near the thermostat on my 2.1TD; any clues please ?

Mike.

I have had a similar problem on my present 2.1 td since I had it. The over temperature light will come on occaisionally together with the warning ' slow down overheating' or something similar, the fans usually come on at full speed at the same time. It sometimes does this when I have just started up from cold! I think the fault is in the temperature sensor / fan operating circuit, probably bad connections on a relay, but it has never done it long enough for me to find it. When it does it, I look at the temperature and if its OK I ignore all the lights and they eventually go away. Sometimes turning the ignition on and off will cure it.

Peter.N.

Peter --- thanks for your reply. It's interesting you also have the same issue --- mine is also a 2.1, '95 build. The other side issue which I guess is related, is that increasingly the cooling fans run on after turning the car off (which generally they didn't), sometimes after a run so short (half mile) that the coolant can barely be tepid. Clearly something in the system really believes it is hot ! Once I've established which is the relevant sender I'll change it and see if it resolves the issue. I also wonder if the chattering relay is part of the cause, or is actually being triggered by the duff information ???????
I do think mind that it's important Xm owners don't become paranoid that they are the worlds worst cars for electrical issues ---- I have several friends with varying makes who have suffered problems that cost more to resolve than a complete, very nice XM would cost altogether !

The last reply was mine. Didn't log in !

Mike.

Hi Mike

I have been running XMs for 10 years or more and have had most electrical faults but I still get the odd surprise!. Mine is also a '95 build although registered in '96. If its any consolation the Mk1 was even more unreliable electrically, the Mk 2 seems to be a better car all round, except for the curved instrument housing - you cant stand a cup of tea on it!

Peter.N.

Hi Guys,

Sorry to come so late to this thread, but I too have this issue with my '95 2.1TD.
I don't get the lights illuminating fully, or the warning on the dot matrix, however occasionly when driving I can see the temperature light along with STOP glowing faintly. Often this can happen when the car is cold, the temperature gauge barely at 60. Other times it will happen during long drives, but driving at speed seems to make it go away for some reason?!!
This is obviously more noticible in the dark, which is maybe why I'm seeing it more now that the winter nights are coming in. It is totally random though, it won't do it for days, then it'll do it 3 or 4 times in one trip, definately a strange one!

As long as the temperature gauge is reading normal and the water level is OK, I wouldn't worry about it.

Peter.N.

i had a hydraulic pipe on mine replaced yesterday and after picking the car (Series 1 V6 24v) up from repair i have a "Pre Temp Warning" light on permanently.

Gonna have to look and see what sensors he's upset when fitting the pipe i think.

David.