After 3 months of persisting overheating problems, now with new radiator, water hoses, themostat and aircond fan, my mechanic supposedly a bmw specialist in Kota Damansara is asking me to overhaul my engine. Isn't that ridiculous! Can anyone help me to overcome this problem or find a new mechanic around PJ who could help me to overcome the problem. I have been using the car for the last 15 years and now it could only go 2-5 km before it overheats again.
Overheating E34
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cloudbuster
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Overheating issues are definitely a pain in the xxxx.
I know it sounds dumb to ask this, but when your mechanic replaced the radiator, did he also replace the radiator cap with a new one as well? And are you absolutely sure that the radiator has been replaced?
Did he check the water pump?
I know it sounds dumb to ask this, but when your mechanic replaced the radiator, did he also replace the radiator cap with a new one as well? And are you absolutely sure that the radiator has been replaced?
Did he check the water pump?
JKP
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Sorry to hear about your overheating problem and based on my experience; please check the following to narrow down the cause:
Are you loosing water, if so please check for any signs of water under the car after parking it overnight, identify which area of the engine,
- Front could indicate some issues with the radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, front hose and connectors.
- Middle could be your water jackets and hoses.
- Rear could be your heating hoses or water valve
If no water found under your car, please do a pressure test, pressure test is usually done at 1.5 bar above the standard operating pressure of your cooling system.
- Cut the water supply to the heating system, to determine if water is lost in the heating system.
- Weak radiator cap, you will notice some white deposits around the cap indicating water loss as steam. Cap can’t retain pressure.
- Check around the water pump and thermostat housing area for any leaks, again look for white/greenish powdery substance.
- Check for water in the engine, oil filler cap /dip stick will have milky chocolate deposits. please do a compression test.
- Sometimes if your head gasket is blown, it could leak water from your water jackets to the compression chamber.
I could have missed out other crucial points but hope you find this info helpful and avoid spending big $$$ in getting back your UDM back on track.
Cheers
jp
Are you loosing water, if so please check for any signs of water under the car after parking it overnight, identify which area of the engine,
- Front could indicate some issues with the radiator, water pump, thermostat housing, front hose and connectors.
- Middle could be your water jackets and hoses.
- Rear could be your heating hoses or water valve
If no water found under your car, please do a pressure test, pressure test is usually done at 1.5 bar above the standard operating pressure of your cooling system.
- Cut the water supply to the heating system, to determine if water is lost in the heating system.
- Weak radiator cap, you will notice some white deposits around the cap indicating water loss as steam. Cap can’t retain pressure.
- Check around the water pump and thermostat housing area for any leaks, again look for white/greenish powdery substance.
- Check for water in the engine, oil filler cap /dip stick will have milky chocolate deposits. please do a compression test.
- Sometimes if your head gasket is blown, it could leak water from your water jackets to the compression chamber.
I could have missed out other crucial points but hope you find this info helpful and avoid spending big $$$ in getting back your UDM back on track.
Cheers
jp
Thank you for the replies, guys.
Got another mechanic to check the problem. He showed that my fan clutch is not working due to wear & tear and need replacement together with the radiator fan. He said that should solve the overheating problem. Any views, please.
Got another mechanic to check the problem. He showed that my fan clutch is not working due to wear & tear and need replacement together with the radiator fan. He said that should solve the overheating problem. Any views, please.
JKP
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bmw31;550314 said:
This mech could be right, change your fan clutch first to see if the car overheats. Your electric fan is a 2 speed fan, air-cond on - 1st speed and car idling for sometime, the fan runs at 2nd speed to increase cooling.
Recently i changed mine (E34 525i single vanos) and cost RM.300 for a used electric fan.
Hammer278
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Used one for RM300....and has lasted till now (2 years)...brand new costs around RM600. If you want peace of mind, go for the new one.
Make sure its the fan though! Just turn on your aircond and go to the front of your car and look through the kidney grill...if you see it rotating then you gotta analyse further. Mine was straightforward, it was frozen in place as the motor was busted.
Make sure its the fan though! Just turn on your aircond and go to the front of your car and look through the kidney grill...if you see it rotating then you gotta analyse further. Mine was straightforward, it was frozen in place as the motor was busted.
morpheus5039
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Hammer278;550711 said:
I dun think that is the fan clutch. If the fan rotates when you switch on the air-con, it is the Aux fan. It is in front of the radiator which you can see through the kidney grill. Fan clutch is the one inside the fan shroud that is near to the engine.
Hi! Simple tips to inspect head gasket failure that cause by Engine Overheating.
1) Run the Engine for 5 min to get the temperature up.
2) Stop the Engine and wait for a few minutes and make sure that is no pressure sign from the radiator.
3) Keep it safe and caution before open the radiator cap. If you can see that is something like water boil pressure out , stop and let the pressure release.
4)After you open out the radiator cap and check the water level. If the water good enough, that's is fine.
5) Ask someone to crank the engine. IF YOU CAN SEE THE WATER SPLASHING OUT WITH PRESSURE FROM THE RADIATOR DURING ENGINE CRANKING .... CONFIRM !!! mean THAT YOU ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLOW OUT.
6)The only way to solve the problem...(TOP SERVICE THE ENGINE). REMOVE the CYLINDER HEAD and REPLACE A NEW TOP GASKET.
7) Inspect cylinder Head condition, If bend !! The CYLINDER HEAD need to machine out for the surface skimming.
Regards.
1) Run the Engine for 5 min to get the temperature up.
2) Stop the Engine and wait for a few minutes and make sure that is no pressure sign from the radiator.
3) Keep it safe and caution before open the radiator cap. If you can see that is something like water boil pressure out , stop and let the pressure release.
4)After you open out the radiator cap and check the water level. If the water good enough, that's is fine.
5) Ask someone to crank the engine. IF YOU CAN SEE THE WATER SPLASHING OUT WITH PRESSURE FROM THE RADIATOR DURING ENGINE CRANKING .... CONFIRM !!! mean THAT YOU ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLOW OUT.
6)The only way to solve the problem...(TOP SERVICE THE ENGINE). REMOVE the CYLINDER HEAD and REPLACE A NEW TOP GASKET.
7) Inspect cylinder Head condition, If bend !! The CYLINDER HEAD need to machine out for the surface skimming.
Regards.
aangavatar
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Fan clutch should cost around $250, don't use cheapo brand.
can u tell me the brand of thermostat your mech change for u ? there r certain brand in the market that give endless problem.
Also try the steps suggested by lane 34.
can u tell me the brand of thermostat your mech change for u ? there r certain brand in the market that give endless problem.
Also try the steps suggested by lane 34.
Problem solved
Thank you guys for your comments. The overheating problem solved by changing the fan clutch costing RM220, radiator fan RM190 and labour charges RM100. All parts were purchased from Bavarian Auto, Subang Jaya. Best regards.
Thank you guys for your comments. The overheating problem solved by changing the fan clutch costing RM220, radiator fan RM190 and labour charges RM100. All parts were purchased from Bavarian Auto, Subang Jaya. Best regards.
fandango
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Hammer278;550711 said:
wow seems like i got ripped off man...i paid 950 for a new one some years back...damn that workshop.
actually if the electric fan is not turning, it's usually just the capacitor that's busted - just change it with a Mercedes part and it'll be ok. them BMW suppliers don't sell it separately.
Hammer278
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Yeah careful with that workshop. Actually after I replaced my fan it stopped working after 3 weeks, and it seemed just the fuse needed to be replaced in the fuse box (no cost) and since then it was all good.
Btw, fandango I know this guy in Subang Jaya who sells parts almost cost price to me as I've been a loyal customer since I got this car. If you need any significant replacements and don't mind a little travel I could refer you to him.
Btw, fandango I know this guy in Subang Jaya who sells parts almost cost price to me as I've been a loyal customer since I got this car. If you need any significant replacements and don't mind a little travel I could refer you to him.
