e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
So the dash light pops up when the engine is up to temp and then goes off sometimes. The level is fine. The coolant was changed 2 months ago. It has never happened before and first happened a week ago.
Just now the needle moved briefly into the red quadrant but not onto the red zone before moving back to normal middle position
I've not yet tried to top up the level with the bleed screw removed until it pours out of the bleed screw hole. That won't purge air unless in the top hose so I'm not hopeful that will work
It's done 115k miles and my touring with similar miles had most of its cooling system replaced.
I know that there is a prescribed process to flush and refill the system and I know it has been observed
If it was a duff sensor I don't think the needle would move the way it did. I also don't see obvious signs of a leak but I've not removed the undertray nor have I yet checked hoses for obvious signs of a leak.
Anyone had similar symptoms and if so what was the cause and remedy?
Just now the needle moved briefly into the red quadrant but not onto the red zone before moving back to normal middle position
I've not yet tried to top up the level with the bleed screw removed until it pours out of the bleed screw hole. That won't purge air unless in the top hose so I'm not hopeful that will work
It's done 115k miles and my touring with similar miles had most of its cooling system replaced.
I know that there is a prescribed process to flush and refill the system and I know it has been observed
If it was a duff sensor I don't think the needle would move the way it did. I also don't see obvious signs of a leak but I've not removed the undertray nor have I yet checked hoses for obvious signs of a leak.
Anyone had similar symptoms and if so what was the cause and remedy?
Porsche 997.1 GT3 CS I Alpina E46 B3s Coupe I Alpina E46 B3 3.3 Touring I Ducati 749S Mono I Ducati 748R I Ducati 749 Track Bike I Ducati 916S
Re: e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
Sticky thermostat not opening fully possibly ?air lock so needs bleeding
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Re: e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
I had some cooling issues on a Subaru I once owned and the needle would move around randomly like this. Turned out to be airlocks caused by the heater matrix. That needle behaviour could well be due to air in the system.
Paul
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
2013 F11 B5 BiTurbo Touring #135 - Alpina Blue
2017 F33 B4S BiTurbo Cabrio #235 - Tanzanite Blue
Re: e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
Some thoughts ...
If the coolant was changed two months ago then it is unlikely to be due to airlocks if you've been using the car regularly. If there is air in the heater matrix then you will struggle to get hot air blowing so this is easy to check, as well as checking coolant level (which you have already done).
If you want to try and bleed the system then park on a slope with the front of the car higher than the rear before running the car with the coolant cap off as this helps force any air towards the front high point.
A faulty thermostat fails open so the gauge struggles to reach normal, so probably not that.
A faulty sensor might be the issue causing the electric fan from not being triggered but the overheating may also be due to the electric fan failing, which happened on mine recently. Is this happening only when stuck in traffic? If so, then this is likely.
Finally, you can easily check if the viscous fan mounted on the front of the engine is moving freely, as it should, by spinning it (when the engine is off, of course) and observing it when running.
If the coolant was changed two months ago then it is unlikely to be due to airlocks if you've been using the car regularly. If there is air in the heater matrix then you will struggle to get hot air blowing so this is easy to check, as well as checking coolant level (which you have already done).
If you want to try and bleed the system then park on a slope with the front of the car higher than the rear before running the car with the coolant cap off as this helps force any air towards the front high point.
A faulty thermostat fails open so the gauge struggles to reach normal, so probably not that.
A faulty sensor might be the issue causing the electric fan from not being triggered but the overheating may also be due to the electric fan failing, which happened on mine recently. Is this happening only when stuck in traffic? If so, then this is likely.
Finally, you can easily check if the viscous fan mounted on the front of the engine is moving freely, as it should, by spinning it (when the engine is off, of course) and observing it when running.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Re: e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
thanks for the input gents
so it transpires when i checked the level all was not what it appeared to be
i re-checked and it needed topping up by about 1 litre. its now fine but theres clearly coolant loss somewhere. im wondering if there is a loose fixing/hose clip from when the coolant change was done
ill get it booked into the garage and update when i have news
so it transpires when i checked the level all was not what it appeared to be
i re-checked and it needed topping up by about 1 litre. its now fine but theres clearly coolant loss somewhere. im wondering if there is a loose fixing/hose clip from when the coolant change was done
ill get it booked into the garage and update when i have news
Porsche 997.1 GT3 CS I Alpina E46 B3s Coupe I Alpina E46 B3 3.3 Touring I Ducati 749S Mono I Ducati 748R I Ducati 749 Track Bike I Ducati 916S
Re: e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
expansion tank split
new tank and thermostat to be fitted - glad nothing more sinister
new tank and thermostat to be fitted - glad nothing more sinister
Porsche 997.1 GT3 CS I Alpina E46 B3s Coupe I Alpina E46 B3 3.3 Touring I Ducati 749S Mono I Ducati 748R I Ducati 749 Track Bike I Ducati 916S
Re: e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
Glad that you've found the problem and it isn't too major - this is a predictable failure for the E46.
You might consider replacing the hoses at the same time - whilst the system is drained down and access is easy - as, from my experience, the E46 cooling system has a habit of having cascading problems until everything has been replaced.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!
Re: e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
Could the coolant loss not be the fact that there was trapped air in the system and when expelled the air pocket was then filled with coolant. To leak 1 ltr is a lot of coolant that would surely leave a trace on the engine or at least in the compartment. Perhaps the problem is now fixed
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32
Re: e46 cooling system issues dash light intermittently on
Yep common issue mine did same split could only see it in right light