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overheating!help!
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:32 am
by toffe30
hi guys,
When driving the motor, its fine and runs at a normal temperature, but when at idle the temp runs past the three quarter mark!
changed the thermostat on it and flushed the system through. can anyone give advice on what else to look at??
thanks
Re: overheating!help!
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:34 am
by march109
Engine?
Checked the fan? Given those symptoms thats what I would have done first.
Re: overheating!help!
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:44 am
by Hyperion
march is on the right track, test the fan, it will be at the front of the engine attached to the radiator, with the car off, the fan should not move freely, it should feel a bit stiff.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:18 am
by toffe30
cheers guys
checked the fan yesterday and its not electric so spins round constantly? thought maybe could be a faulty gauge but somehow doubt that? also where should the temperature gauge sit when the car is running? really cant think what else it could be!!
Re:
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:25 am
by 78dude
-Check coolant level
-Thermostat (as you replaced)
-Water pump
-Leak from radiator (some how BMW are not very good with making good quality rads)
-Air in the system
-Head gasket
Re:
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:43 am
by northloop
When the car is running and warm get a rolled up newspaper and stick it in the fan. If the fan (viscous coupling) stops it's knackered. It's a cheap fix. If it rips your arm off and keeps going it's fine and further investiagtion is required.
Re:
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:04 pm
by Jon_Bmw
Do what Northloop says, but once it has reached 3/4 on the gauge, it should be ripping the paper out of your hand.
You will be able to stop it at lower coolant temperatures....I think.
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:08 pm
by march109
toffe30 wrote:cheers guys
checked the fan yesterday and its not electric so spins round constantly? thought maybe could be a faulty gauge but somehow doubt that? also where should the temperature gauge sit when the car is running? really cant think what else it could be!!
it should spin all the time but is only 'drven' to cool the engine when the engine reaches temperature.
Do as Northloop suggests to test the fan properly.
Re:
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:53 pm
by Brianmoooore
It's easy enough to check the viscous coupling just by listening. If you rev the engine when the viscous has locked up the roar from the fan will drown the engine noise.
If the fan doesn't roar when you rev it, when the gauge has reached three quarters, the coupling is dead.
The normal position for an E30 temperature gauge is either just past the quarter mark or right in the centre.
There is a small brass nut on the back of the instrument cluster, directly behind the temperature gauge, that often works loose. This results in the gauge needle jumping about or reading about a fifth higher than it should.