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#1
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1987 535i Cabin Heater Not Working
Hi, can anyone comment on this problem:
BMW 1987 535i Problem: Cabin heater starts to blow cooler air when car is moving. a.. Heater starts to work well when vehicle is not moving. b.. Radiator, thermostat, waterpump, hoses are all brand new. All working properly. c.. Pressure test shows no leaks in cooling system. d.. Coolant remains at constant level with virtually no sign of being depleted. e.. No blockage exists in heater core. f.. Engine running very strong with no sign of malfunction. I've been told by a mechanic that the problem is most likely a head gasket leak. Does this sound reasonable given the above observations? Thanks for any feedback you may provide. Grant |
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#2
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Grant wrote:
> Hi, can anyone comment on this problem: > > BMW 1987 535i > > *Problem: Cabin heater starts to blow cooler air when car is moving.* > > * Heater starts to work well when vehicle is not moving. > * Radiator, thermostat, waterpump, hoses are all brand new. All > working properly. > * Pressure test shows no leaks in cooling system. > * Coolant remains at constant level with virtually no sign of being > depleted. > * No blockage exists in heater core. > * Engine running very strong with no sign of malfunction. > > I've been told by a mechanic that the problem is most likely a *head > gasket leak*. > Does this sound reasonable given the above observations? > > Thanks for any feedback you may provide. > > Grant First - find a new mechanic. He wants to do a $2,000 job to fix a $15 problem. There is an electrical control valve for the heater water - and yours has failed with the classic failure mode. There is a kit to fix it available from BMW (about $15 - the valve is about $50). It takes about 10 minutes to install, and if you're handy you don't even have to drain the coolant (the valve is up high). I'd suggest investing $50 in the Bentley E28 manual and firing your mechanic. It will be the best $50 you'll ever spend on the car - even if you do NO work on your own - you'll be able to tell the bonehead you're using how to fix things. |
#3
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Much appreciated Don
I will purchase the manual you suggest and look forward to reading through it. Also, the mechanic will be given the proverbial boot. Thanks for your feedback, Grant "Don" > wrote in message ... > Grant wrote: > > > Hi, can anyone comment on this problem: > > > > BMW 1987 535i > > > > *Problem: Cabin heater starts to blow cooler air when car is moving.* > > > > * Heater starts to work well when vehicle is not moving. > > * Radiator, thermostat, waterpump, hoses are all brand new. All > > working properly. > > * Pressure test shows no leaks in cooling system. > > * Coolant remains at constant level with virtually no sign of being > > depleted. > > * No blockage exists in heater core. > > * Engine running very strong with no sign of malfunction. > > > > I've been told by a mechanic that the problem is most likely a *head > > gasket leak*. > > Does this sound reasonable given the above observations? > > > > Thanks for any feedback you may provide. > > > > Grant > > First - find a new mechanic. He wants to do a $2,000 job to fix a $15 > problem. > > There is an electrical control valve for the heater water - and yours > has failed with the classic failure mode. There is a kit to fix it > available from BMW (about $15 - the valve is about $50). It takes about > 10 minutes to install, and if you're handy you don't even have to drain > the coolant (the valve is up high). > > I'd suggest investing $50 in the Bentley E28 manual and firing your > mechanic. It will be the best $50 you'll ever spend on the car - even if > you do NO work on your own - you'll be able to tell the bonehead you're > using how to fix things. > |
#4
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In article >,
Grant > wrote: > I've been told by a mechanic that the problem is most likely a head > gasket leak. Does this sound reasonable given the above observations? Ask him how a 'head gasket leak' can cool the temperature of the water circulating in the heater. I'd love to hear the answer. -- *I don't suffer from insanity -- I'm a carrier Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
#5
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> BMW 1987 535i
> Problem: Cabin heater starts to blow cooler air when car is moving. > a.. Heater starts to work well when vehicle is not moving. > b.. Radiator, thermostat, waterpump, hoses are all brand new. All > working properly. > c.. Pressure test shows no leaks in cooling system. > d.. Coolant remains at constant level with virtually no sign of being > depleted. > e.. No blockage exists in heater core. > f.. Engine running very strong with no sign of malfunction. 1) Fred has offered some good advice; however, you don't mention the fan clutch. BMWs (and many other cars) have a viscous clutch on the fan that responds to temperatu if things get hot, the clutch couples the fan to the drive belt to increase airflow/cooling. It may have failed and is driving the fan continuously, which would cause the problem you're seeing. 2) get another mechanic. 3) please post in plain text, not HTML. Floyd |
#6
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Thanks for the additional comments. I'll take note of your suggestions.
Grant "fbloogyudsr" > wrote in message ... > > BMW 1987 535i > > Problem: Cabin heater starts to blow cooler air when car is moving. > > a.. Heater starts to work well when vehicle is not moving. > > b.. Radiator, thermostat, waterpump, hoses are all brand new. All > > working properly. > > c.. Pressure test shows no leaks in cooling system. > > d.. Coolant remains at constant level with virtually no sign of being > > depleted. > > e.. No blockage exists in heater core. > > f.. Engine running very strong with no sign of malfunction. > > 1) Fred has offered some good advice; however, you don't mention > the fan clutch. BMWs (and many other cars) have a viscous clutch > on the fan that responds to temperatu if things get hot, the clutch > couples the fan to the drive belt to increase airflow/cooling. It may > have failed and is driving the fan continuously, which would cause > the problem you're seeing. > > 2) get another mechanic. > > 3) please post in plain text, not HTML. > > Floyd > |
#7
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In article >,
fbloogyudsr > wrote: > 1) Fred has offered some good advice; however, you don't mention > the fan clutch. BMWs (and many other cars) have a viscous clutch > on the fan that responds to temperatu if things get hot, the clutch > couples the fan to the drive belt to increase airflow/cooling. It may > have failed and is driving the fan continuously, which would cause > the problem you're seeing. I'm not quite sure how the radiator cooling fan can effect heater temperature? The heater will work with the rad still cold - that's the function of the thermostat. -- *When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty. Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
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