Over heating

[Siamanda]

Hi
Can any one help, I took the old girl out today for a run down to sandbanks in Dorset. While we where in traffic I suddenly noticed the temp gauge in the red. Turned on the heater too bring down the temp. When finely got back on to open road all fine. When I got home I checked the fuse all ok, should the fan turn freely as it is solid and will not move. Can this be fixed or do I just replace it

Thanks Simon

 

[billysally208]

Try bleeding the cooling system - mine did this when I first bought it out of winter storage - thought it was the fan failing, but bled it and removed a small amount of air, and topped up the coolant and it was fine.

 

[t-tony]

Are you talking about the viscous fan or the electric cooling fan Simon?

Tony.

 

[Siamanda]

Are you talking about the viscous fan or the electric cooling fan Simon?

Tony.

Hi Tony
It's the electric cooling fan that you can see when you open the bonnet. It will not turn by hand.

 

[Siamanda]

Try bleeding the cooling system - mine did this when I first bought it out of winter storage - thought it was the fan failing, but bled it and removed a small amount of air, and topped up the coolant and it was fine.

Thanks I have checked the levels all ok.

 

[t-tony]

Hi Tony
It's the electric cooling fan that you can see when you open the bonnet. It will not turn by hand.

Hi Simon, if you can't turn the electric fan by hand it must either be jammed somehow or the motor siezed, my money would be on the latter. Requires a new one I would imagine.

Tony.

 

[Siamanda]

Hi Simon, if you can't turn the electric fan by hand it must either be jammed somehow or the motor siezed, my money would be on the latter. Requires a new one I would imagine.

Tony.

Hi Tony
Been out this morning have freed up the motor, should the electric fan run when you turn turn on the air on.

Simon

 

[mwpe]

The electric fan runs when the air con is on or the engine temp reaches a certain level.

 

[Siamanda]

Been able to free up fan now running when I jump the pins, still not coming on with air con. Not sure if temp switch is working, so will probably buy a new one. Maybe this has not worked for quite a while and rusted solid, just be lucky up until now.

Simon

 

[t-tony]

Could be your fan temp switch failed, could even be the fuse if it tried to start a seized up motor.

Tony.

 

[Siamanda]

All fuse's ok been running engine but fan not coming on suspect fan switch. Up to the parts shop tomorrow, will a non BMW part be ok, or should I buy genuine part.

Simon

 

[t-tony]

If there are only 2 wires to the switch you can bridge these with a split pin or similar and the fan should run. May need ignition on.

Tony.

 

[Siamanda]

Hi Tony
Have done the bridging with the paper clip and the fan works,now that I have freed it up.

 

[t-tony]

Hi Tony
Have done the bridging with the paper clip and the fan works,now that I have freed it up.

Got to be the temp. switch then mate. Keep an eye on the fan motor because once they've been seized the bearings can fail quickly.

Tony.

 

[Siamanda]

Got to be the temp. switch then mate. Keep an eye on the fan motor because once they've been seized the bearings can fail quickly.

Tony.

I thought it might be quite noisy once freed up but sounds quiet when running. Will keep an eye on it once I have fitted the new temp switch.

Simon

 

[Siamanda]

It is still not coming on when I turn on the Aircon, all fuses are fine maybe wiring somewhere.

 

[t-tony]

Try it again after fitting a new temp. switch. Try to OEM quality switch, not cheaper option, or genuine if price not too silly.

Tony.

 

[Siamanda]

Will let you know what happen's

Simon

 

[Dino D]

The fan doesn't come on with the AC if it is too low on aircon gas.
But it should kick in if engine temp exceeds a certain temp.
Is yours a 2.8?
Some early 2.8's including mine had the fan wired incorrect from the factory so it never kicked in at low speed (at 91c) only at high speed (99c I think, will have to dig up previous post).

 

[Siamanda]

Hi Dino
Yes it is a 2.8 built June 1998. With air con on it gets cold but not really cold, so maybe a gas regen needed as well.
Thanks for the advice

Simon

The fan doesn't come on with the AC if it is too low on aircon gas.
But it should kick in if engine temp exceeds a certain temp.
Is yours a 2.8?
Some early 2.8's including mine had the fan wired incorrect from the factory so it never kicked in at low speed (at 91c) only at high speed (99c I think, will have to dig up previous post).