e36 overheating!!! - United Bimmer Community

**coxapple007** · 02-14-2008, 08:41 AM

hi, had problems with the car over heating (1994 320i coupe e36), cjanged the T/S and water pump, bled the system and all was fine,
its just started over heating again, when in stop start traffic but not all the time.
i bled the system and it seemed happy

however when i checked the water level after using it, the level had dropped slightly
this morning i took the car into work - a journy it doesnt usally like, but there were no signs of over heating at all!!!! the heater vents all seemed ok. i switched the engine off, and lifted the bonet to check if it was bubbling over, was ok again, yet as soon as i looked water start hissin from the top of the filler cap and just poured out!!!! i dont understand as the engine running and its all fine, yet i turn it off and it dies on me

Anyone no what i can do to save my baby??

johnnybayonne · 02-14-2008, 08:57 AM

If you are not loosing coolant anywhere, & you replaced the thermostat! Make sure you installed the t/s in the right direction: UP! You can check this by feeling the difference in temp. in the upper & lower radiator hoses. If the upper hose is boiling hot & the lower is not hot, then the thermostat is not opening, they should feel the same temp. Also make sure your coolant fan is working properly, meaning the clutch fan, it should be turning as fast as the belt & pulley! note: if you have an electric fan, ck that too! also when bleeding the system it helps sometimes to squeeze the upper & lower hoses to get any remaining air pockets out!!!

**coxapple007** · 02-14-2008, 09:12 AM

i dont think its loosing any coolent over then from wen it bubbles up

**pswirley** · 02-14-2008, 09:15 AM

I think there are air pockets in your coolant lines.

**JetBlack328i** · 02-14-2008, 11:59 AM

also be sure to turn the heater on hot and high when you bleed the system again this will help make sure that you have all the air out...

**craigsbmw** · 07-09-2009, 01:09 PM

i had the same problem just after i brought my e36 we ended up taking the head off and found that most of the water channels in the head was blocked up, its fine now! i think the last owner keped putting rad weld in to stop a leak in the rad, wich i also replaced!

**Bruce Meredith** · 04-25-2012, 04:31 AM

Hello to all. I have a problem with my motor as it keeps overheating. I have had the water pump, thermostat, radiator replaced with new parts as well as new silicon hoses. I drive the car for five minutes and the temp is so high that the moter will stall. So if anyone can help me out with this dilemma I would really appreciate it. Thank you in advance for now.

DEATH2000 · 04-25-2012, 10:21 AM

When replacing those parts did you check your fan clutch? If the fan clutch isn't working properly the fan will spin freely and not pull any air into the engine to cool it down.

To test your fan clutch take a rolled up newspaper (not the new York times, a small one) , and with the engine running insert the news paper into the spinning fan. Be careful because the plastic may be brittle and crack. If the fan is able to be stopped by the newspaper then the fan clutch is in need of replacement. You can replace the fan at this time f you wish too. When they break it's scatters plastic all over the engine bay.

**Bruce Meredith** · 04-30-2012, 02:06 AM

I've discussed the overheating with the mechanic and he informed me that it is an electrical fan and that it is not kicking in. He suggested an auto electrician. However I still like to try to find out as best I can by myself. as I like to do most of my own work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

BruceM

DEATH2000 · 04-30-2012, 04:27 AM

You mean the electrical fan behind the kidney grilles? That electric fan is an auxiliary fan that only comes on when the car needs additional cooking not able to be provided by the mechanical fan. Depending on the area you live in you could remove the electrical fan with no effect overall.

**Bruce Meredith** · 04-30-2012, 05:06 AM

Yes I live in Perth Western Australia and it does get hot here, sometimes 47 degrees so no chance of removing it in our climate. This fan is usually running consistently. Are there any fuses for this unit? or should I look at buying a new fan. It does get hot though on the day it really overheated I only drove about 12 km and just made it into my driveway before the engine shut itself off but the weather was only mild around thirty degrees. Thank you for answering so fast I really do appreciate your input and knowledge.

BruceM

DEATH2000 · 04-30-2012, 06:18 AM

If the electric fan is "coming on constantly" I would really check your fan clutch. The mechanical fan is more likely to fail them the electric one. The auxiliary fan as I said before is ony supposed to come on when the car detects the temperature is getting too high as the mechanical fan isn't able to provide enough cooling.

I may live in Canada but we can get 40 degree (Celcius) summers too and the only times my car has "overheated" was when the water pump died, and when the fan clutch died. If you can stop the spinning fan with a newspaper then it needs to be replaced.

**Bruce Meredith** · 04-30-2012, 07:04 AM

Yes that is my job for the weekend. I'm almost certain that it is the fan clutch too. Everything else is new; water-pump, thermostat, radiator and hoses.

Thanks once again for your prompt reply

BruceM

**Bruce Meredith** · 05-15-2012, 03:10 AM

I started my car to try the news paper trick but the fan didn't kick in at all. My car was in the driveway and it just overheated while sitting there. The day was mild only 21, but the car still overheated with no fan running. It was running for a maximum time of about ten minutes. If any one has any more ideas I would like to know.

BruceM

DEATH2000 · 05-15-2012, 04:15 AM

That means your fan clutch is definley gone. When stopped theirs no air flow so it's up to the mechanical fan to suck air into the engine. When the fan can't spin the car overheats. It only takes a few minutes.