M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: xwill112x on December 19, 2008, 09:32:16 AM
-
so my temp guage crept up from the blue as normal...but as i was driving it went back down...and wont come up? it ust stays in the middle of the blue column.
and now this morning i noticed that the heat doesn't work that well but the fan is blowing fine?
this is really confusing me..any input would be appreciated
:confused::confused::confused:
-
I wonder if your thermostat is stuck open.
-
+1 on the thermostat idea
-
Check your coolant tubes from the radiator to the block. (After you've driven for a bit, or let it 'warm up')
-Are they cold or warm?
The t-stat might be stuck open as suggested.
-
so my temp guage crept up from the blue as normal...but as i was driving it went back down...and wont come up? it ust stays in the middle of the blue column.
and now this morning i noticed that the heat doesn't work that well but the fan is blowing fine?
this is really confusing me..any input would be appreciated
:confused::confused::confused:
Feel lucky that it decided to fail in the open position. Sounds like a good time to flush your coolant and replace that thermostat. Sucks its really not a garage gig being so cold outside. Good luck.
-
when the gauge returns to blue, open the hood and put an hand on the engine, if you resist for less than 1 second your engine is hot and the gauge is gone, if you can keep your hand for a lot more time you must change your thermostat
-
+2 or whatever on the stat.
-
k. thanks for all your help guys!
-
There is also a heater control valve that comes off the driver's side of the heater core. The heater core is tucked behind the center console under the dash. You have to remove the center console & center console shifter section to see or even access the heater core & that valve. When the valve starts to fail, it does not allow the proper flow of hot coolant through the heater core, thus you end up with less & less warm air in the cabin...
From what I have seen online, these heater control valves are NOT cheap by any means, upwards of $100+ to replace just that part. While you're in there replacing the valve, might as well replace the heater core too, since heater cores do not last forever...
-
jusr replaced the heater core in feb 08
-
plus i dont think it would be that, bc the gauge reads cold.
i have a thermostat, jus came in 2 days ago, but havent replaced it yet, due to the fact my alternator died after changing the voltage regulator.
i'll let you know how it goes.
-
plus i dont think it would be that, bc the gauge reads cold.
Not necessarily. My gauge barely gets out of the blue, but when I put my scanner on the car and read my data the temp was 193*F.
I'm going to replace my SI board battery and see if that helps.
-
oh, well i just think the probability of both parts breaking at the same time isn't as realistic as the thermostat going bad on a car wih 166k.
but we'll see how things go when i get the time to fix the thermostat.
studying for finals takes to much time!!
-
not to revive a dead thread or anythinhg buttt....
is there a gasket for the thermostat houseing plate thing i have to buy aswell...bc i have enough time today to replace my thermostat, but im not sure if i need another gasket?
-
Yes, there is an o ring that should come with the thermostat and a paper gasket for the thermostat housing. Probably not a bad idea to have an m6 helacoil kit with you as well.
not to revive a dead thread or anythinhg buttt....
is there a gasket for the thermostat houseing plate thing i have to buy aswell...bc i have enough time today to replace my thermostat, but im not sure if i need another gasket?
-
I just replaced my thermostat and the antifreeze as I was having the same problem- ran cold, warmed up slow, not much heat inside the cabin either. New Stat came with O ring but did not come with a gasket so I made one myself from a tracing. Works great- needle is dead center, warms up quick. warm toes and nose. Stuck German thermostat came out; Chinese Stant went in. The END is nigh....
-
yeh, all turned out well when i changed the tstat.
im running a 88* one though, just to be on the safe side.
only regret was not ordering bavauto's kit....pelican parts's kit didnt come with the gasket...and there about the same price.
bavauto ftw (on some things..)