no heat coming from bmw 316 heaters

h there is no heat coming from my heaters and today the car overheated is this a sign the head gasket has gone i checked the oil cap and no white stuff also its running fine ideas ? thanks

Plug

Loss of coolant, check for a leak. Also could be a broken water pump.

do i put a sheet under the car to check ?

Plug

Anna Moldy Economist wrote: »

do i put a sheet under the car to check ?

Never heard of that before, could do the trick but you would want a light to have a good look round. Is the coolant level low or even gone? Don't be driving round if it is over heating.

Prenderb

Anna Moldy Economist wrote: »

do i put a sheet under the car to check ?

You could check the coolant reservoir level first, then some cardboard or something under the car might help. Might not, if it's rained, unfortunately.

If coolant reservoir is low, you could fill it back up (using the correct coolant/antifreeze) and keep track on its level over the following hours, days, always (!) keeping an eye on the temperature gauge if you have to drive it. Be wary of doing long trips until you've tracked and fixed a leak.

Could be radiator also, conceivably.

Thanks guys would a water pump be expensive to fix ? Radiator ? Am i looking at a big bill

Plug

Depends whats gone really. Did you check the coolant level? If its gone which it probably is you can eliminate the water pump. The chances are its not the water pump but you never know with cars. If you check the coolant level and its gone well then you have a leak, if its full then its the water pump(not common).

Its not the head gasket then eek and if i can get the leak fixed will the heating work ?

Plug

you will have to get it checked for head gasket as you say it was over heating. Don't assume anything yet. Best of luck.

swhyte027

My guess would be water pump as there a common fault and we do a good few of them. But as u said it overheated so they will check for head gasket don't worry it only takes a good mechanic two mins to find out. And don't always beleave the gunk under the oil cap or other trucks some times it can be different signs

Is that a sign then heating not working ? Been driving fine then just overheated today ??

Atlantic Dawn

Check the coolant level first, this will indicate where the problem might be.

swhyte027

Yes of course as the pump isn't pumping the water around to heat.could also be a termostat but we specalise in BMW and the most common fault is the water pump I'd go for that

swhyte027

swhyte027 wrote: »

Yes of course as the pump isn't pumping the water around to heat.could also be a termostat but we specalise in BMW and the most common fault is the water pump I'd go for that

Does that cost a lot to fix ? Thanks

Seth Brundle

Check out prices on micksgarage
http://www.micksgarage.ie/engine-parts/water-pumps/bmw/3-series/3/1998-2005/
Maybe an hours labour to drain the coolant, swap the pumps and refill the system with fresh coolant.
€200 all in all?

swhyte027

Yeah I'd agree about 200e maybe a small bit more or less either way

Plug

swhyte027 wrote: »

Yes of course as the pump isn't pumping the water around to heat.could also be a termostat but we specalise in BMW and the most common fault is the water pump I'd go for that

If it was the thermostat failed closed he would have hot air(he said he had no hot air) or do mean a fecked water pump and thermostat together?

swhyte027

Sorry I read the post wrong my bad no I just mean a knackerd water pump

Mar4ix

yes, id bet for water pump. when i was working in garage, we had to deal with same size engine bmw, getting overheated in 10 - 15 min.
damn plastic blades on waterpump was gone.

replaced waterpump, and long and frustrating but successful cooling system bleeding did the job.

swhyte027

Well I deal with bmws everyday and I'd be pritty sure it's a water pump

Oblomov

If the engine is overheating and no heater the first thing to check and test would be the thermostat.

Before jumping iinto replacing the water pump check if any flow through the heater pipes. After checking the thermostat. A silly fault like the heater water flow could be restricted and creating the problem. The water valve is relativvley easy to check and operating by a vacuum Is the pipe connected and operating when selecting hot or cold.

easy elementary items to check before the cost and endeavour of replacing the water pump.

Then.. if no flow... then water pump.

What mileage has the vehicle and which engine dow you have?

Plug

Oblomov wrote: »

If the engine is overheating and no heater the first thing to check and test would be the thermostat.

Can't be the thermostat. If its failed open the engine would not over heat and it would take ages for hot air to come out. If its failed closed the engine will over heat and you would be getting hot air quickly. OP has engine overheated with no hot air at all, so thats either loss of coolant or a pump issue, most lads here suspect its the pump, common fault after all(I don't have much experience with this engine).

Oblomov

The cooling system is designed to by pass heater if thermo stuck closed...

Any cooling system fault ..check the basics first and then move on.


Check the water valve. for the heater.. vacuum controlled.

Nissan doctor

Anna Moldy Economist wrote: »

Does that cost a lot to fix ? Thanks

Have you checked your coolant level yet???(the 5th time you have been asked and always the 1st thing to check)

If the level is still full then you know its not a leak and would point more towards the water pump issue.

If the level is empty then you know you have a leak to look for.


Having said that, with a BMW, once is has overheated for any reason then it may have already caused the head gasket to fail.

Ok i checked the coolent and yes its gone way down not down but way down no overheating though . So is it a leak? Got in booked in fri

Big Nasty

Anna Moldy Economist wrote: »

Ok i checked the coolent and yes its gone way down not down but way down no overheating though . So is it a leak? Got in booked in fri

Are you continuing to drive the car? Have you topped up the coolant?

Yes i topped it up not much seems to be going down but slowly no overheating and running fine

Nissan doctor

Anna Moldy Economist wrote: »

Yes i topped it up not much seems to be going down but slowly no overheating and running fine

Even driving the car with a bad enough leak can cause damage. A bad enough leak will prevent the cooling system from pressurising properly, meaning it won't be circulating properly around the engine.

On an engine so prone to head gasket failure...I wouldn't risk driving it.

mondeo

The knecks of those rads love to split. Flimsy plastic radiators in those cars. Have a look on the kneck near the expansion tank and see if fluid is dribbling out when the engine is running. Plastic propelled water pump blades and plastic thermostat housings are not up to scratch at all. Stupid design.

banjobolt

seen a couple of those bmw"s that only need bleeding of the cooling system

Nissan doctor

banjobolt wrote: »

seen a couple of those bmw"s that only need bleeding of the cooling system

Bleeding can only be required if there is a leak or another problem somewhere.