E36 328 engine overheating issue

[neil_bolton]

Heads up BMW gurus, quick one I hope for you all:

My 328 has always run happily in traffic with the air con running, with a slight sniff of increase in heat when serving up nice refrigeration in 28 degree heat.

However recently, when running the air con cold whilst in traffic, the water temp creeps up. The furthest I've let it get before getting all nervous and whacking the heaters on full heat to drag the hot air off the engine is the 2/3rds marker on the temp guage.

Obviously I'd not want any head gasket issues, and seems not to be experiencing any at the mo.

Question is, I believe that the fan is running whilst its hot - anyone any ideas why it could be now going so hot?

The car does need a new radiator as its bowed from overheating whilst ragging up the Alps lasy year, but its never got upset about it (after having a full service and radiator flush afterwards) and ran perfectly normally.

Any ideas?

Plus, although now running fine: The car was left for a week, pointing slightly downhill, and outside in some pretty torrential rain whilst I was away on holiday. Upon jumping in and starting it after that week, it sounded like it was running on three cylinders - wouldn't rev (just stalled) and seemed as if it had water in the fuel or something.

However after a few minutes of trying to get it to rev (and the cat getting very hot) I stopped it, considered calling the AA, and tried again. Lo and behold it sprang to life on 6 cylinders and was fine. I gave it a gentle workout and all seemed well; Was it just one of those things?

You thoughts appreciated chaps

[neil_bolton]

Edited to add, bit of digging about suggests that my air con fan may be fubared if its only happening in traffic with the air con on.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any help if this is the case (if you think it is that?)...

Ta

[Omi]

Replace Viscous fan.

[neil_bolton]

Omi said:

Replace Viscous fan.

You could say that (if vicous fan = auxillary).

However, a bit of rummaging about t'geekerweb, and I figured out the cooling system works with the A/C systems.

Seems that the Aux fan should cut in when the air con is on, and run at two speeds - the higher being when it get hot, i.e. in traffic.

The trick was to work out whether the fan is seeing power and its the motor thats failed, by turning the ignition off, spinning it both ways to see if it runs freely.

Then turn the ignition on, and try and spin it the reverse way - if you get resistance, there is no problem with the relay, and its the motor.

Thinking cap on, I wondered whether the motor may be sticky or whatever and gave it a tap.

We get a little life.

I then give it a bit more of a whack, and we have spinnyness.

A few more whacks and it seems to be running freely

I'll probably squirt a bit of GT85 in the back of the motor just to make it a little freer, but I suspect it'll be ok now

Don'cha just love cheap repairs like that although I expect I might have to replace the motor soon perhaps...

[neil_bolton]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Granted - I agree with your points. Thing is, it was ever so slightly above the centre (we're talking the smallest of margins) ever since I had it and has been in the 2 years I've had her.

The only wavering has come from this episode, and seems I've cracked it