320 overheating-advice please!

[johnwindwood]

Guys

A bit of advice if you please. My Son has bought a 320iSE auto and picked it up this morning. (He's quite a way away, on his way home.) He drove about 25 miles then got stuck in traffic for 30 mins. Noticed steam from under the bonnet and there was water escaping around the expansion tank cap (Which was done up tight.) The temp didn't rise above 3/4 on the gauge. The water in the tank is pretty brown according to him. I got him to test the viscous coupling on the fan which is fine. I think he's going to get the AA to bring him home because he has a long motorway journey ahead and doesn't want to cook it.

Now I have a fair idea on causes of overheating generally, but it's many years since I had a car with the M20 engine. Can people suggest the best things to check to make a diagnosis?

My gut feel is to drain and flush the system, refill and bleed and see if that solves it-what do people think, and is there a specific bleed procedure?

Thanks for your advice.

[Pinchy_Larou]

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... n_Problems

Wiki has some useful info if you get stuck with things

[johnwindwood]

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... n_Problems

Wiki has some useful info if you get stuck with things

Thanks -that's useful. One thing though-what is the correct bleed procedure? -it talks about it but doesn't describe it.

[johnwindwood]

Bit of an update on this-AA saw the car and noticed that the expansion tank cap wasn't on right. It now seems OK and he's on his way home, BUT my son spoke to the PO who said he was "advised to switch it off if stuck in traffic" so clearly the system is marginal.....
My thought is that the rad is clogged-not cheap because its an auto with aircon....
So I think I will flush and refill-any help with the correct bleeding procedure would be VERY much appreciated......
Thanks.

[Brianmoooore]

Tested 'OK' or not, this is almost certainly a duff viscous fan coupling.
Tell him to drive with the heater on full.

[daboy3000]

Cracked head?

I was stuck in an hour long traffic jam a few days after I bought mine, the temp was spot on, so glad. Must be the only fault I haven't got!

[Mitchen]

If needed you can get a new radiator made by Nissens, a well respected brand for just over a £100.

[andysheep]

Ditto great brand,very relieable.