Re: 328i Temperature Gauge Shows Hot Fast

You are accessing this site in a read-only mode. For full access to all member benefits, including message posting, please login or register. Registration is completely free, simple, and takes only a few seconds.

The message you are replying to and its parents are listed in the reverse order with the most recent posts first. This might not be the whole discussion thread. To read all the messages in this thread please click here.

Re: 328i Temperature Gauge Shows Hot Fast

Dave Plowman (News)

18 Oct 2007 16:58

> Also, check the fan clutch. If the fan spins freely to the touch with
> the engine cold, the fluid clutch is probably no longer a fluid clutch
> any more. It should feel pretty stiff.

Isn't this the wrong way round? The viscous coupling on these fans is
designed to slip with the engine cold and then gradually increase the
drive to the fan as the engine gets hot. With the engine very hot - AC in
use on a hot day in a traffic jam , it should near lock up and easily
checked by the very noticeable increase in fan noise when the engine is
revved. So with the engine stationary and cold you can turn the fan easily
by hand.

That's assuming the 328 has the same arrangement as my 528. Earlier
viscous drives transmitted a fixed ratio to the fan but then simply
limited the maximum speed of it. So that will drag with the engine
stopped.

The easy identification is in the fixing. The later type has a left hand
thread cap nut which fits on the end of the waterpump spindle. The earlier
type fits over the spindle and is secured by a normal thread nut. The
thermostatically controlled later type also has a clock spring on the
front - which usually can't be seen until it or the rad is removed.

Hope this generalization applies to all US spec models. ;-)

Signature

*If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

Dave Plowman dave@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Scott Dorsey

18 Oct 2007 01:06

>> >I have a '97 328i with 116,000 miles. A few times the past month, the
>> > temperature gauge has quickly climbed from the normal dead-center
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>job? Can I get a new thermostat from the local parts store or is it
>better to get one from the dealer?

If you can get the Wahler OEM branded one from a local store, do it,
otherwise get it from a dealer or one of the mail order parts places.
You should be able to do the whole job in ten minutes flat, including
bleeding the air out of the system.

Also, check the fan clutch. If the fan spins freely to the touch with
the engine cold, the fluid clutch is probably no longer a fluid clutch
any more. It should feel pretty stiff.
--scott

Signature

"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

mjb920	17 Oct 2007 20:52
> >I have a '97 328i with 116,000 miles. A few times the past month, the > > temperature gauge has quickly climbed from the normal dead-center [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Change the thermostat. Thanks for the answer. I should know this, but is that a fairly easy job? Can I get a new thermostat from the local parts store or is it better to get one from the dealer?

Bob Smitter	17 Oct 2007 18:01
>I have a '97 328i with 116,000 miles. A few times the past month, the > temperature gauge has quickly climbed from the normal dead-center [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > worse. I do not see any leaks or low coolant in the reservoir or > radiator. Thanks for any help. Change the thermostat.

mjb920

17 Oct 2007 17:21

I have a '97 328i with 116,000 miles. A few times the past month, the
temperature gauge has quickly climbed from the normal dead-center
position into the red when at idle. Either revving the engine or
getting the car moving would cause the needle to drop fast back to
normal. This morning the gauge went into the red at 40 mph and then
quickly dropped back down, so whatever the problem is, it's getting
worse. I do not see any leaks or low coolant in the reservoir or
radiator. Thanks for any help.

Quick links: