Random overheating problem....

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 9:59 am

Had a weird issue on Saturday as I was driving around Sheffield, the engine overheated....

I stopped immediately opened the bonnet to let it cool was thinking maybe coolant needed topping up so found a halfords store and set off in that direction once the engine had cooled down, expecting to have to limp there....

I got as far as the halfords without it overheating again temp sitting perfectly in the middle and I decided that as I would have to wait for the engine to cool down more before I could try and check coolant levels I would just carry on and call my breakdown service if it overheated again.

It didn't overheat again on Saturday even with the drive back to Huddersfield and still hasn't done it again either.

Anyone had a random case of this happening then just fixing itself don't know what to do cant really get it fixed if there isnt a fault

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 10:17 am

Hi, get your codes read as this could be the infamous n52 water pump entering nuclear meltdown phase

Rob

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 10:21 am

Smartbear wrote:Hi, get your codes read as this could be the infamous n52 water pump entering nuclear meltdown phase
Rob

Thanks you know if the torque android app will do it? got a bluetooth OBD dongle at home so will give it a go tonight

mac27040 · Post by **mac27040** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 4:51 pm

likely to be a sticking thermostat

csm180 · Post by **csm180** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 5:39 pm

Sounds simple but check oil, had similar 5 months ago, coolant fine, checked oil later that night and very low.

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:14 pm

Just done a fault code scan and it xame up with nothing....

Not sure about the oil as there's no dipstick thought it checked automatically for me

But still no overheating since that one off in Sheffield

Mike6 · Post by **Mike6** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:31 pm

Sounds like the thermostat is sticking or else water pump on way out.

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:35 pm

Just wierd that there are no logged faults on the ecu

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:36 pm

mac27040 wrote:likely to be a sticking thermostat

Would that be something that wouldn't show up on a code scan as it's been suggested that if it was water pump the scan would display a fault?

Silverzedtom · Post by **Silverzedtom** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 6:39 pm

As a plumber it sounds like a bubble of air, or dodgy stat. If it was the stat I'd expect it to do it at least intermittently.

It could be a leak drawing in air so if possible park in a garage or over some cardboard and check it for damp. But again you'd expect it more than on one occasion.

Have you had work done on the cooling system recently?

Was it the first drive in a while?

I'd recommend draining the coolant and sticking to the BMW coolant mixed 50:50 with de ionised water in a few weeks if nothing comes of it. Gets the added Halfords stuff out and stops any reactions that can happen when mixing coolants together and if you haven't had it done in a while it won't do any harm at all

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 7:18 pm

I didn't end up adding coolant as it stopped overheating before it cooled down enough to open the tank. And coolant was only done in December

It's a daily drive but that was the day after the first proper long run in a while if that could mean anything? Also the first drive in the sun for a while but probably clutching at straws

Thermostat sounds a logical issue but surprising that it's only done it once and it's not showing up any fault codes...

Guess I'll just have to monitor it for now but keeping the obd reader in the car from now on incase it throws another wobbler.

On a positive note I've taken the hardtop off tonight so back to full convertible mode

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alekos911 · Post by **alekos911** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 7:58 pm

Sounds like a water pump on its way out. If you turn the heater up does it blow hot air?

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 7:58 pm

Which code reader did you try it with? I'm not sure a basic version would pick up on it, I had a decent indi's device hooked up to mine.
Rob

Silverzedtom · Post by **Silverzedtom** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 8:42 pm

Only asked if it had been sitting as any air in the system might have grouped and then gone around as one big bubble. Lots of people have had problems with the pump though. I would have thought it would log a code if it stopped running / went bad for a moment.

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Mon Mar 27, 2017 9:43 pm

Smartbear wrote:Which code reader did you try it with? I'm not sure a basic version would pick up on it, I had a decent indi's device hooked up to mine.
Rob

I use torque pro connected fine to the car and was pulling data from the ecu but no faults found. I've got the carly pro app but it won't work with my dongle for some reason said I need a wired one?

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