need some cooling help - United Bimmer Community

**Reddots89** · 03-17-2008, 07:15 PM

hopefully someone can help me with this problem i have had for over a year, so the car has just been sitting and i havnt time to mess with it. I have a 96 328i convertible and i cant get the cooling system right. one day i parked in my driveway and left the car running, ran in the house for 5 minutes, came back out and the car was about to die with smoke pouring out and coolant all over the ground. turns out the expansion tank where you put the coolant in cracked. so i bought a new one, changed the thermostat, and the car is still over heating. i dont think there is any coolant flowing. i have replaced the water pump twice in the last 5 years...so i doubt that its bad. i could be wrong though. If i blow into the expansion tank, coolant will flow for a few seconds.

any suggestions?

**Numark318i** · 03-17-2008, 07:19 PM

check the hoses for blockage?

when you pulled the first thermostat out was it in one piece of did it break? Did you make sure all of it was there and none went into the block?

also I know on E46 models there is a sensor for the fan in one of coolant lines. It triggers the Aux fan, without it the car might still overheat. (I had this issue).

outside of that make sure your radiator isnt leaking somewhere. just as a precaution.

**Dudesky** · 03-17-2008, 07:30 PM

Crack a few eggs and pour them into the radiator.

I'm kidding. But really, I heard of someone who did that.

Seriously tho, assuming you bled the system correctly, there's a good chance you're getting air or gas introduced into the cooling system. This results in over pressurizing the system and overheating, which may have cause your expansion tank to rupture. You should do a pressure test on the cooling system. If no leaks are found, try a combustion leak test to see if there is any exhaust gases coming in through a weak head gasket.

**Reddots89** · 03-17-2008, 07:35 PM

the thermostat was in one piece...also the temp gauge isnt going hot, it just goes to the normal spot (the middle) but then the car starts smoking and i cut it off. i havnt touched the car in a couple months though since i can't figure it out. my brother is going to school for bmw in orlando but just started a couple weeks ago and hasnt even began working on the cooling systems, nor do they even touch a e36. i love bmw but they are just too complicating

**Reddots89** · 03-17-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Crack a few eggs and pour them into the radiator.

I'm kidding. But really, I heard of someone who did that.

Seriously tho, assuming you bled the system correctly, there's a good chance you're getting air or gas introduced into the cooling system. This results in over pressurizing the system and overheating, which may have cause your expansion tank to rupture. You should do a pressure test on the cooling system. If no leaks are found, try a combustion leak test to see if there is any exhaust gases coming in through a weak head gasket.

bleeding the system could be a factor, i never found any good instructions on how to do it...i used alldata (bro went to nti and had access to it) but never found anything useful. as far as the pressure goes, how would i check the pressure in the cooling system? and i will run a combustion compression check tomorrow. I go and start the car about once a week and the motor runs phenominal w/ 168, xxx on the clock.

**Antiburn** · 03-17-2008, 09:00 PM

When you say the temp gauge is in the middle and the car starts smoking, where does it smoke from? Out the exhaust or from under the hood?
You need to check the fan clutch that bolts to the water pump. With the vehicle cold try to spin the blades with your hand, if it moves free you need a new clutch, if its hard and you cant get it to spin freely then your good. A bad clutch can also cause your car to overheat.

**Reddots89** · 03-18-2008, 07:38 AM

it smokes from under the hood, but the temp gauge reads normal...i'll check the fan clutch today too when i do the compression check.

**Antiburn** · 03-18-2008, 05:57 PM

What you need to get the coolant system pressure tested. You could try renting one from a local parts store if they do that. What it sounds like is you have a small hole somewhere or some hose spraying out causing that steam.
You need to pin point where the steam is comming from and find whats leaking.

**Reddots89** · 03-19-2008, 12:36 PM

thankyou guys for all the input, unfortuneatly i did not have time to touch the car yesterday but i have time today so i will let you guys know the results. what type of comopression numbers should i be looking for from the cylinders?

**JetBlack328i** · 03-19-2008, 01:18 PM

my 2 cents...

1.Check to make sure you have all the air out of the cooling system.
2.Check the fan to ensure its engaging.
3.Do you have the plastic style waterpump or metal style? Could be a
rebuilt waterpump.
4. sensor could be bad also causing the gauge to show in normal and
not the actual reading.
5. check hoses to ensure they are not leaking.
6. did you place the thermostat in the right way. Meaning not upside
down. not trying to insult your intelligence.
7. Radiator leaking

**Reddots89** · 03-19-2008, 03:07 PM

Quote:

my 2 cents...

1.Check to make sure you have all the air out of the cooling system.
2.Check the fan to ensure its engaging.
3.Do you have the plastic style waterpump or metal style? Could be a
rebuilt waterpump.
4. sensor could be bad also causing the gauge to show in normal and
not the actual reading.
5. check hoses to ensure they are not leaking.
6. did you place the thermostat in the right way. Meaning not upside
down. not trying to insult your intelligence.
7. Radiator leaking

im sure its one of those. i have the car on the lift right now and im checking everything. i did not install the thermostat, my brother did so im not exactly sure and i have been concerned about that too.

i just did a compression test on the motor and got between 185 and 212 through all six cylinders. what numbers are average? thanks.

**JetBlack328i** · 03-20-2008, 01:43 AM

good luck...keep us informed....

**Dudesky** · 03-20-2008, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reddots89

i just did a compression test on the motor and got between 185 and 212 through all six cylinders. what numbers are average? thanks.

The numbers you got back are not bad, could be better. But still within limits for normal. For more detailed explanation, look towards the end of this writeup:

http://www.unitedbimmer.com/kb-e36-s...ssion-test.php

Keep with the basics for now. Re-bleed they cooling system, making sure it's properly done by following step #10 in this writeup:

http://www.understeer.com/waterpump.shtml

**Reddots89** · 03-20-2008, 09:25 AM

thankyou everyone for all of the help. The car has now been fixed and runs perfectly

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudesky

Keep with the basics for now. Re-bleed they cooling system, making sure it's properly done by following step #10 in this writeup:

http://www.understeer.com/waterpump.shtml

That is exactly what i needed. I feel like an idiot now but i was never able to find instruction on how to do it. My brother called me the other day and masically gave me the same instructions so i tried it. Now my vents are blowing heat and the gauge sits exactly where is is supposed to.

thank you everyone for their help. it is nice to come on a forum where people provide you with help

**JetBlack328i** · 03-20-2008, 07:16 PM

glad it was something so simple.