Over heated..... - BMW Forum

knotarian · 02-23-2009, 07:49 AM

Morning all!

OK, so this morning I decided to take my car to work. I haven't had any problems in the past with it over heating, but it did this morning. The raidiator fluid was on everything, But the thing that confuses me is why it was stalling out.... my car is an automatic.
Is there any special reason that it was doing that?
I mean I'm not stupid or anything, I just don't understand the bimmers.

marti5 · 02-23-2009, 07:55 AM

So the coolants everywhere??, why it was stalling ?? they dont like running with no coolant in, also being an autobox its fluid is probably cooled via the radiator.

vincentmb615 · 02-23-2009, 02:50 PM

the crankshaft sensor is right by the radiator if its wet that may cause your issue if you look behind the front left radiator hose you should see it there its down a bit im not totally sure but its worth a shot clean it with just a rag and maybe a little water i dont know what else to use without compromising anything ,any one else think so?

olds72 · 02-23-2009, 08:34 PM

if coolat was everywhere, it could of gotten into the spark plug wells. That could also cause it to stall.

vincentmb615 · 02-23-2009, 10:25 PM

i highly doubt that seeing that the coil packs cover the plugs and the protective cover over the engine but good point but i doubt that would happen

knotarian · 02-24-2009, 07:49 AM

UPDATE!

OK. So at lunch I met back up with my boyfriend where we left the car. He noticed that there was a hole in one of the hoses. So we thought all the fluids leaked out. We went to discount and and got the part and the stuff that we needed. Long story short he didn't even make it a mile before he had to pull over.
We never made it home. We had to have my boyfriends dad load the car up on the trailer and take it home.
When we got home we started looking for other problems. We pulled out the fan and fan clutch. Most of the hoses, water pump, thermostat, and the housing.
Everything seems to be fine except there radiator, It wont drain.

garbone · 02-24-2009, 08:09 AM

the radiator wont drain? sounds like a blockage if i ever heard one (unless you just didnt pull the drain plug on the radiator). use a water hose and try to flush the blockage out. you may need the hose to build up pressure. i would try flushing from the bottom radiator hose since its the opposite of the coolant flow. if it doesnt work, Radiator is gonna need to replaced.

at first i was gonna say the collant system probably wasnt bleed completely of air when you had it towed, but the radiator not draining is a good indictor that its the radiator.

garbone · 02-24-2009, 08:16 AM

just my .02 cents. while everything is apart i would get a lower degree thermostat, aluminum housing (if not already equipped), two bottles of water wetter, possible a small pull fan depending on the climate, and ditch that fan clutch.

That thing is a ticking time bomb and once i replaced my radiator i had to replace every hose and splice all the wires even near the clutch fan since it disintergrated and shrapneled my entire engine bay while at 4k rpms.

knotarian · 02-24-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garbone

the radiator wont drain? sounds like a blockage if i ever heard one (unless you just didnt pull the drain plug on the radiator). use a water hose and try to flush the blockage out. you may need the hose to build up pressure. i would try flushing from the bottom radiator hose since its the opposite of the coolant flow. if it doesnt work, Radiator is gonna need to replaced.

at first i was gonna say the collant system probably wasnt bleed completely of air when you had it towed, but the radiator not draining is a good indictor that its the radiator.

I was hopeing that I wouldn't have to replace it, but from the sound of it I will.
Ill update when I find out more. Most likely tomorrow morning.

knotarian · 02-24-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garbone

just my .02 cents. while everything is apart i would get a lower degree thermostat, aluminum housing (if not already equipped), two bottles of water wetter, possible a small pull fan depending on the climate, and ditch that fan clutch.

That thing is a ticking time bomb and once i replaced my radiator i had to replace every hose and splice all the wires even near the clutch fan since it disintergrated and shrapneled my entire engine bay while at 4k rpms.

The fan delete mod, YES, I was reading about that about 10 mins ago. I've been talking about it but I guess thats something that we need to do.
~thanks

garbone · 02-24-2009, 08:42 AM

i highly recommend the delete.

I'de send you the automatic radiator i have, for cost of shipping, but im in Iraq. I got the wrong radiator and made it work my my standard. have since gotten an all metal radiator. If the money can be spared go for an all metal radiator. The Oem radiators upper hose fitting tends to fail before long. i was stranded between Yuma, AZ and El Paso, TX cause of thatstupid hose fitting breakin.

Luckily i had a foldable bike in my trunk. Never carry a radiator on a bike.

the only thing good i got out of that was a strong grip. It was the last radiator that radiator shop had in stock.

FCPGroton · 02-24-2009, 09:26 AM

If you wind up needing any parts in regards to the cooling system, here is what we offer for the E36.

FCP Groton â€“ Discount Car Parts & Auto Parts- Low Prices | Free Shipping

Best of Luck!

-FCP

basrite · 02-24-2009, 10:09 AM

side note... hehe

2cents worth.. we dont have them in australia.. smallest we have is 5cents!

Just thought i'd add a light note to a dramatic and devistating demise of the cooling system.

J.

vincentmb615 · 02-24-2009, 11:20 AM

so where you at now? does it still stall out? heres a link about the drain plughttp://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Coolant_Flush/E36-Coolant-Flush.htm and try and spray it out to clear the clog any way bleeding the system is on there as well good luck

knotarian · 02-25-2009, 07:33 AM

Morning! OK, Last night, we finally drained the radiator. We flushed everything out aaaaannnnnddddddd its still over heating. But this time it overheated idling after 10 minutes instead of 20.

My dad works on cars and he suggested that we have a blown head gasket??!!

OK so here is my question for everyone: My dad used this stuff in his corvette Bars Leak Head Gasket Fix. And it stopped his problem. But then he had it fixed for good.
Could I use this stuff in my car, just to see if that's what my problem is? And then I will have it fixed the right way?!

And thanks for everyone's help.