Help ! Problems bleeding coolant system

[kammy1975]

Hi all

Hoping someone can help

After taking car for its MOT last weekend, only to find when I went to collect it that they hadn't actually been able to MOT it as it p1ssed coolant everywhere, I stripped it down to find sure enough the Expansion tank had a massive split in it. Pretty sure the car overheated, but not sure if the fan or water pump caused the overheat at this stage.

So, replacement tank bought, along with thermostat as mine is an auto and it crumbled when I took the tank off. All fitted, but before using coolant, I have topped system with deionised water to make sure there aren't any leaks and give it a flush before I waste coolant.

So comes first question. I have filled tank so that float rises to top, but some posts state that I should fill until fluid comes out of the bleed screw, but in my case I would need to overfill it. Is that correct ?

Secondly, I have put car on battery charger, turned key so electrics are all on (ready to start position, not accessory) and pressed accelerator for 10 seconds. I can hear something making the slightest clicking noise, but hardly audible. Surely this isn't all that's supposed to happen? In addition, some posts claim that the tank cap and screw should be installed before running the venting procedure, others on YouTube show the tank cap off. Which is correct.? Not sure how the system can bleed itself if cap and bleed screw are installed, but Bentley implies this as does some other write ups for the N52 engine and pump.

Please help!

Final one - I read I can test the electric fan by simply turning on the air con in the car, and the fan should get a signal to activate. But since the overheat pressing the AC button doesn't turn it on ! Can anyone with an electric fan test this and confirm if that is the case.

 

[kammy1975]

Quick update - that sound defo can't have been the water pump as it was still going 25mins later! I believe it should only run for 12 mins...

 

[bazza190]

When I bled mine I seem to remember it being important to have the front of the car raised and to start the bleed process the climate controls had to be in a certain position. It didn't bleed properly whilst level.
I will try and find the instructions I followed.


Barrie

http://blog.bavauto.com/13140/bmw-c...ectric-waterpump-water-pump-no-bleeder-screw/

Doesn't mention raising the front but it is important to have the bleed at the highest point.

 

[kammy1975]

Thanks for the link. But front end was already up on ramps and based on the info, I filled the tank until fluid poured out of the bleed hole, without bubbles. Closed it all up and tried the venting procedure, but still no joy.

Connected up my laptop to see if I could figure out how to activate it via DIS (can't get INPA to give me any activate options) but realised the car was in Transport Mode.! Can only assume this was caused when battery got low. Worked out how to clear it, tried the venting procedure again and voilà ! It bleeding worked ! ( no pun intended!!)

After exactly 12mins it ended, and I opened up the expansion tank and bleed valve and it was still topped up! So either I got really lucky and got no air in, or the venting procedure doesn't actually work... Guess I will only find out after a test drive or two.

 

[kammy1975]

Can someone check whether or not their electric fan comes on if they turn on AC without starting the car? Just trying to understand if my electric fan works or not.

 

[bazza190]

Thanks for the link. But front end was already up on ramps and based on the info, I filled the tank until fluid poured out of the bleed hole, without bubbles. Closed it all up and tried the venting procedure, but still no joy.

Connected up my laptop to see if I could figure out how to activate it via DIS (can't get INPA to give me any activate options) but realised the car was in Transport Mode.! Can only assume this was caused when battery got low. Worked out how to clear it, tried the venting procedure again and voilà ! It bleeding worked ! ( no pun intended!!)

After exactly 12mins it ended, and I opened up the expansion tank and bleed valve and it was still topped up! So either I got really lucky and got no air in, or the venting procedure doesn't actually work... Guess I will only find out after a test drive or two.

Took 2 attempts to do mine properly, instructions seemed to miss out bits but mine stopped after 12 mins both times. Heater wasn't bled properly and was cold after first attempt. Sounds like you have sorted it now but I was nervous the first few times out with it.


Barrie

 

[enzed4]

Can someone check whether or not their electric fan comes on if they turn on AC without starting the car? Just trying to understand if my electric fan works or not.

Just tested on mine, If you meant the fan that blows air out of the vents, then mine definitely came on.
Turned ignition to on (without starting the car) and tried various AC options and fan settings, fan worked fine.
If you meant the electric fan in the engine bay that cools the radiator, then no, it did not come on, but then I wouldn't expect it to unless the temperature was warm enough that it thought it needed to cool down the rad.

 

[firebobby]

All you can do now is go for a steady run and stop every 5 or so mins to check for leaks or strange noises from the engine. Don't go to far from home and let the engine get to full temperature. Sounds like you've sorted it though.

 

[kammy1975]

Can someone check whether or not their electric fan comes on if they turn on AC without starting the car? Just trying to understand if my electric fan works or not.

Just tested on mine, If you meant the fan that blows air out of the vents, then mine definitely came on.
Turned ignition to on (without starting the car) and tried various AC options and fan settings, fan worked fine.
If you meant the electric fan in the engine bay that cools the radiator, then no, it did not come on, but then I wouldn't expect it to unless the temperature was warm enough that it thought it needed to cool down the rad.

Sorry, I should have been clearer, i did mean the electric fan within the engine bay and not the blower inside the car.

I had read several sites claim that it could be tested by turning the AC on, or by disconnecting the Coolant temp sensor on the lower radiator hose. Had tried both methods, but my fan didnt come on. I also assumed it could be because the DME didnt think it was warm enough to require the fan to kick in as it must work to specific conditions like outside air temp. But it didnt confirm either way whether my electric radiator fan was working or not (the blower\fan inside the car defo works!)

So, read a whole lot more material on various sites and finally found the setting for activating the fan within INPA. Annoyingly, in Bcables INPA version, this is hidden under a menu called Actuator Activations, rather than Activate which is what everyone else posts referred to. And its F6, not F3 ! However, when I used this, the fan still didnt come on. Managed to get another fan from a local breakers, who claimed that was working, but that doesnt work either ! Now i could have got unlucky, and that could be a broken fan too, but the Open Circuit error remains for both fans within DIS which makes me think i have a break in the wiring.... and havent a clue where to start with that..

Time to take it to an autoelectricians...

Anyone know if there is a fuse related to the fan... just wondering if its something simple...

 

[kammy1975]

All you can do now is go for a steady run and stop every 5 or so mins to check for leaks or strange noises from the engine. Don't go to far from home and let the engine get to full temperature. Sounds like you've sorted it though.

Cheers fella, I think i have the coolant system sorted, but without MOT and no fan, not sure i fancy risking taking it for a drive ! And defo not taking it back to MOT station without fan working so they can blow another expansion tank for me!!

 

[kammy1975]

Update - having checked fuses and the fan connector block, it was clear that there was 12v at the connector. So started thinking that maybe it was the control wire from the DME. Decided to get brave and slice into the cable to check for continuity. Lo and behold there wasn't ! Feeling the cable, there was a piece which felt softer and weaker than the rest so cut the wire at this point. The wire was non existent! It has simply corroded to leave a green powder inside the protective sleeve. How this happened, I have no idea. Quick wiring job, test for continuity, then back onto laptop and used INPA to see if fan would kick in! And it did! So wasn't the fan but the wiring loom from the car side into the connector block.

Quick test of running car until warm only to realise car was still blowing cold inside car, so had to have air in system - so much for venting procedure. Topped up with 2 more litres of fluid, and tried again. This time the engine did warm up as did internal cabin, and the fan kicked in!! Only a whole easter weekend wasted !!

Still not convinced that Bentley article is right about venting procedure. This post suggests that both bleed screw and expansion tank should be open during venting process, and topped up as pump is run. Can anyone confirm ??

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=488476

 

[enzed4]

Update - having checked fuses and the fan connector block, it was clear that there was 12v at the connector. So started thinking that maybe it was the control wire from the DME. Decided to get brave and slice into the cable to check for continuity. Lo and behold there wasn't ! Feeling the cable, there was a piece which felt softer and weaker than the rest so cut the wire at this point. The wire was non existent! It has simply corroded to leave a green powder inside the protective sleeve. How this happened, I have no idea. Quick wiring job, test for continuity, then back onto laptop and used INPA to see if fan would kick in! And it did! So wasn't the fan but the wiring loom from the car side into the connector block.

Happy to hear you sorted the wiring issue (but possibly not the venting). I could have tested the fan activation with INPA if you wanted but not necessary now. Good luck with this.