Loosing coolant - United Bimmer Community

**Wailer** · 08-24-2007, 03:12 PM

1994 325. Week ago I popped the hood for my weekly inspect and noticed coolant tank was low. Filled, over the past week I heard a slight screech like a loose belt when I would first start the car. This am turned the key and low coolant alert came on. Checked, filled, drove for 10 minutes looked under and slight drip. Jacked car up, looked around and I can not see where it is coming from but the drip is eventaully coming off of that sprocket looking thing behind the main pulley. Has anyone ever had a similar symptom. Water Pump?

**dinan540** · 08-24-2007, 04:08 PM

Sounds like the water pump. If you change it, change the t-stat, hoses and radiator at the same time. The E36 has a plastic impellar water pump that is known to fail. I would buy the metal impellar water pump. www.autohausaz.com is a good place to buy parts.

**dinan540** · 08-24-2007, 04:22 PM

You want to replace the overflow tank also. www.zionsville.com sells aluminum radiators and tanks, but they are spendy. I have the zionsville aluminum radiator in my car after 3 plastic radiators failed in mine.

**xsperf** · 08-24-2007, 07:32 PM

when the car is hot, is there pressure in the coolant tank?

**Dudesky** · 08-24-2007, 08:03 PM

^^^I'm gunna pretend I didn't read that

**xsperf** · 08-24-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky

^^^I'm gunna pretend I didn't read that

whys that? what did i do big man? haha
EDIT: and if its what i think it is, i was asking if there IS pressure, not to CHECK for pressure

**Wailer** · 08-24-2007, 08:43 PM

A squezze of the hoses did not produce a stream when hot. I also noticed tonight that if I pull upward on the fan blade at the 12 oclock position, the "play"s excessive it appears the H2O shaft has the play.

**Dudesky** · 08-24-2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

whys that? what did i do big man? haha
EDIT: and if its what i think it is, i was asking if there IS pressure, not to CHECK for pressure

Nuthin, just thought you'd know that, just messin' w/ ya

Yea it's pressurized as long as the motor is hot.

Wailer- sounds like the bearings are shot to hell on your water pump

**Wailer** · 08-24-2007, 09:25 PM

That we can handle. Thanks for the info. It's nice to be able to bounce these synapse misfires off some other folks. Be well