Coolant leaking above tranny!! HELP!! - United Bimmer Community

**JBM BMW E36** · 01-24-2008, 12:14 PM

I have a 93 325i and it is leaking coolant that is dripping down from above tranny. I am having difficulties locating its source. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT IT IS FROM. seems to be towards back lower half of motor. Are there any lines that may be rotted? Newer car to me and unfamiliar with cooling system at this point. Any ideas would be great.

Does anybody have pics how to get to heater core valves and lines on what to check for in finding leaks?

Thanks all

witeshark · 01-24-2008, 01:09 PM

Most likely, it's coming from the lines to or from the heater core. This core is like a mini radiator that supplies heat inside the car.

**JBM BMW E36** · 01-24-2008, 01:13 PM

after readin up a lot and seeing a few things i believe you are correct. i think the valves are stuck. it happened when i tried running heat. all so cold. no heat. if i shut air down and turn to ac will it stop my leaking to get me thru emissions leak free and allow me to fix it at dealership.

**JBM BMW E36** · 01-24-2008, 05:38 PM

So i turned all air controls to cold, rinsed off all leaking coolants, refilled coolant and resivoir. Drove to emissions in rain which allowed any possible continuing fluids not to be detected in emissions and passed with flying colors. 93 BMW 325I GOOD. Still for caution purposes will spend weekend replacing heater core and valves.

witeshark · 01-24-2008, 05:52 PM

Cool, sounds like a plan.

**pswirley** · 01-24-2008, 08:18 PM

Thats some good quick goat thinking. Nice Job and congrats on the new car.

**3050rpm** · 01-25-2008, 02:18 AM

One other suggestion that is far less involved than dealing with the heater core, although still a p.i.t.a., is the heater control valve, or water valve (#64 11 8 375 792) located in the engine compartment, by the firewall. Or maybe you should check that out anyway even if the cause of your problem is the core itself. I have a '95, and mine went about 3 or 4 years ago. Some say it's a DIY job, but I found access to be very difficult, my independent shop somehow got to it, maybe even from underneath.

**max79** · 01-25-2008, 10:47 AM

before you open the heater core you have to check all the coolant lines mybe one houses leak and check the heater valve lines if they leaking ?
do u have any leak inside the car? or all out side the cay ( above trany), check above the accelerator if there's water,
if the leak is only outside its easy job to do, i think one of coolant lines damaged
one more question is there is water going to car motoronic? if so you have to clean the area where the fan locatetion(the small drains that allow rain and carwash water an escape from the body) here the pic

**JBM BMW E36** · 01-25-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max79

before you open the heater core you have to check all the coolant lines mybe one houses leak and check the heater valve lines if they leaking ?
do u have any leak inside the car? or all out side the cay ( above trany), check above the accelerator if there's water,
if the leak is only outside its easy job to do, i think one of coolant lines damaged
one more question is there is water going to car motoronic? if so you have to clean the area where the fan locatetion(the small drains that allow rain and carwash water an escape from the body) here the pic

It seems to be against firewall on passenger side almost. It is only external and it is only coolant as it appears. I'm hoping for just a coolant line to be the problem but am thinking that the valves aas well because I have no heat at all in the car. Does this all sound like it checks out?

**JBM BMW E36** · 01-25-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pswirley

Thats some good quick goat thinking. Nice Job and congrats on the new car.

Yea, had to think of something. That worked for emmissions but i do still have that leak problem. I think with some help and ideas I've narrowed it to the Heater Control Valve. I'm hoping its that or just a coolant line. This is very best scenario for me to get it running right by weekend!!

**JBM BMW E36** · 01-25-2008, 03:11 PM

Really starting to worry about the Head Gasket now. Gonna be one hell of ordeal if thats it. However there are two lines for coolant that we can kinda see and on the Valve i see that there should maybe be 3. Does anyone have more info? Need help bad. Startin to worry its going to get expensive.

**dinan540** · 01-25-2008, 04:15 PM

That sucks. Sorry that I can't help with the e36. I have had my fair share of coolant leaks in my 540. It took almost a year of replacing parts before I completely fixed the damn thing.

Good luck. Ask dudesky also. He is one of our e36 resident diyers.

witeshark · 01-25-2008, 04:32 PM

Do you see signs of water in the oil at the dip stick bottom?

**JBM BMW E36** · 01-25-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witeshark

Do you see signs of water in the oil at the dip stick bottom?

I pulled dipstick to smell and look at engine oil when it got hot make sure it wasn't burnin up or anything and it all looked normal and smelt fine. Only odd smell is the sweet smell of coolant steaming off block or headers i assume, something that I can't see from above angle. It drips down onto brace under tranny on the chasis. Leaks right down from firewall area. Its where the puddles are.

witeshark · 01-25-2008, 06:11 PM

Since water sinks in oil, it would have been clearly visible on the bottom of the dipstick.