Car overheating (NLC)

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BiggestNizzy
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Car overheating (NLC)

Post by BiggestNizzy » Wed May 09, 2018 1:00 pm

For once it's not an S1 that's overheating it's my BMW.

On Sunday it overheated and it did it's best job of trying to empty it's coolant out thru the expansion cap. I called the AA and they did a Sniff test and found nothing wrong there so the water pump was suspected. (it had it replace back in December) Towed it to a garage and the pump was checked yet no fault could be found. System was refilled and bled and taken on a test drive but no faults could be found.

Any ideas?

Only thing I can think of is either thermostat or the fan isn't working.
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Dominic
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by Dominic » Wed May 09, 2018 2:52 pm

We are forever being told that cars are getting more and more clever these days. So, I would think your clever BMW is telling you that it is keen to find a new owner and that it's time for you to treat yourself to the next victim, er, sorry, new car!

Is the radiator getting warm? - all working as it should be? What type of coolant does it take? When the water pump was changed was the correct coolant put in? Start it up, let it get warm and see if the fan kicks in? - just because the water pump has been replaced does not necessarily mean that it has been done correctly.... or refer to my initial comment above :o)
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woody
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by woody » Wed May 09, 2018 3:40 pm

The water pumps are notorious for failing so would have guessed that first. Haven't broken the cooling system on mine yet, so dint know what else may be the issue. Worth a post on babybnw though, or at least a search.

Is it running ok now?

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campbell
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by campbell » Wed May 09, 2018 8:30 pm

If the stat is stuck closed, can this cause a boil & vent?

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BiggestNizzy
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by BiggestNizzy » Wed May 09, 2018 10:44 pm

Got the car back from the garage tonight as they couldn't find anything wrong with the water pump. I plugged my obd reader in to keep an eye on the temp (easier than using the secret menu) driving home it climbed upto 120 degrees and the warning light came on.
The fan does come on, I will try and put it into ait bleed mode tomorrow before I take it back to the garage.

Also the heater is only blowing slightly warm air on 1 side.

Dom, I don't sell cars in 24 years of motoring I have never sold a car.

Will have a nosey on baby bmw and see what I can find.
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BigD
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by BigD » Thu May 10, 2018 9:31 am

Heater blowing warm air on one side would suggest air lock in the heater matrix?

In the old days you used to put the heater on full hot when bleeding the system to make sure water was circulated through the heater matrix.

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BiggestNizzy
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by BiggestNizzy » Thu May 10, 2018 10:03 am

Another update, up early this morning to try and bleed the system. I could only find one bleed screw but opened it up anyway. It's a bit of a rigmarole to get the car into bleed mode (seriously wtf!) but tried it anyway didn't get any water coming out of the bleed hose but when driving it to the garage this morning I was getting warm air from the heater and the temp sat at a constant 80°C
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BiggestNizzy
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by BiggestNizzy » Wed May 16, 2018 8:53 pm

Turns out it was the thermostat, been running about for the past couple of days with the OBD reader plugged in as the car has no temp dial on the dashboard.

I hate Digital readouts, hated it on the elise hate it on the BMW it just creates paranoia.
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campbell
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by campbell » Wed May 16, 2018 9:00 pm

I thank you

But just delighted you found the issue
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BiggestNizzy
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Re: Car overheating (NLC)

Post by BiggestNizzy » Sat May 19, 2018 7:52 pm

Spoke too soon, first it overheat then it fixed itself!
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