Messages

1

Engine + Driveline / no heat car running hot

« on: November 12, 2009, 07:21:30 PM »

Stop driving that car until you find where the coolant is going.  You'll pop a head gasket or warp the head.

If you're not getting heat the system might need bled out properly.  This car is notorious for air-locked water pumps.  Also be very careful with the rad bleeder screw.  Don't use a philips screwdriver, just a big flat-blade and tighten it only until coolant stops flowing.  It'll crack otherwise & you'll have a ten-foot geyser of 200degF coolant.  Don't ask me how I know, I had to walk two miles back home.  Damn Behr.

Did you test the coolant temp thermo switch on the passenger side of the radiator?  If that's bad the aux fan will never turn on, unless you're using the A/C.  Pull the connector & jump it with a bit of wire to see if the fan spins.

You should be able to turn the engine-driven fan easily when it's cold but it'll have much more resistance when it's hot.  You can also test it with the engine running by using a magazine or rolled newspaper.  It should be strong enough to shred the paper when it's hot.  Keep your fingers away, of course.

Yeah, thanks man.

The coolant flange was cracked and leaking. The weird part is, before it overheated, it hadn't leaked at all, but the mechanical fan appears to work fine.

In any case, I got the flange replaced and now all is good.

Aux fan works fine, or at least it did the last time I used A/C (which was a long time ago, I live in Canada).

Heat was restored after fixing the leak and bleeding the system.

The faint thump is still there and I'm almost sure it's the heater valve, as I checked again and it doesn't make the sound when the heat is off.  Also, it only makes the sound when the engine is hot.

Thanks for your help!

2

General Topics / 318i - overheating - no heat

« on: November 12, 2009, 07:15:32 PM »

for anyone who cares or is having the same problem, the faint thumping sound by the pedals is the heater valve.

The coolant valve was cracked and leaking, though I'm pretty sure this happened after it overheated because I have never noticed it leak before.

replaced the valve and bled the system and heat is restored and no overheating.  However, faint thump still there.

Mechanical fan comes on, but I think my clutch is on the fritz. I'm going to replace the clutch anyway to avoid future problems.

3

General Topics / 318i - overheating - no heat

« on: November 10, 2009, 08:06:15 PM »

I had been hearing this annoying clicking sound by the pedals, like a faint thump. I had my mechanic and BMW look at it and they couldn't figure out what it would be. It only did it when the engine was hot, so it looks like that might have been a dysfunctional or jamming heater valve based off of some discussion in previous threads. Any other ideas? pump? I stopped noticing it about 3 days ago, right before my engine overheated.

I also think the fan clutch or switch is done because the fan doesn't come on when it should.

Yesterday my engine overheats and after red zoning, the heater stopped working. I filled the coolant up because it was virtually empty and took it for a drive today. After a couple minutes of driving it, it went up quickly to the regular temperature level, and stayed level until I got home. It stayed level at idle, but still after all of this, no heat from the vents.

Can anyone advise me as to what they think the issue is?

I'm going to bring it in to BMW soon, but they are booked till next week. Is this safe to drive until then?

4

Engine + Driveline / no heat car running hot

« on: November 10, 2009, 07:59:21 PM »

5

Engine + Driveline / no heat car running hot

« on: November 10, 2009, 07:45:36 PM »

Hey I had a similar problem.  

I had been hearing this annoying clicking sound by the gas pedal, like a faint thump. I had my mechanic and BMW look at it and they couldn't figure out what it would be. It only did it when the engine was hot, so it looks like that might have been a dysfunctional or jamming heater valve. Any other ideas? It just stopped making that noise about 3 days ago, right before my engine overheated.

I've also noticed the fan doesn't come on properly and suspect it is the mechanical fan clutch.

Yesterday my engine overheats and after red zoning, the heater stopped working.  I filled the coolant up because it was virtually empty and took it for a drive today.  After a couple minutes of driving it, it went up quickly to the regular temperature level, and stayed level until I got home. It stayed  level at idle, but still after all of this, no heat from the vents.

Can anyone advise me as to what they think the issue is?

I'm going to bring it in to BMW soon, but they are booked till next week.

Is this safe to drive?