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My 190E 2.3 is overheating very fast after I've driven a little and either crawl in traffic jams or stand idle. About a min on idle and it goes from 80 - 90°C up to 110 - 120°C, spiking the top of the indicator on the panel. There is no problem with coolant or pressure as I've noticed
I've had the car running on idle and managed to stop the fan with my own hands, even tho it's at operating temp or overheating. The problem is that according to my conclusions; Either the fan clutch isn't kicking in as it's supposed to do, or the fan does not grab on when the clutch activates.
From what I've seen online and by taking off the fan, my car got an outdated / poorly documented / special setup fornthe fan clutch. On M103 models the fan clutch is directly integrated into the fan with a few bolts. But on my car there is no fan clutch, (or a different type), attached to the fan. [ Picture shown below ]
If anybody knows either the fan clutch is attached under a protective shell or it's powered by magnetism as I've seen someone mention online could be possible, please let me know so I can proceed with this tinkering project of mine.
Drive safely and take care y'all 🎉🚘 The inner side of the fan The attachment point for the fan, maybe magnetically driving the fan?
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
I do not have your answer but all I know is running these cars up to 120c too many times is a recipe for head gasket failure.
And the reverse is also true from a few of these cars I have known including mine. Keep it under 100c and the head gasket will last a long long time.
I know you are trying to fix the problem but I would refrain from driving it too much in the condition it is in.
Does you car not have auxiliary electrical fans? I think you have 2 compounding issues because the auxiliary fans will keep the temp to closer to 105c, especially where you live.
Agreed Dolucassi. Repeatedly running a car at too high temperatures can cause all kinds of nasty and expensive engine damage. It's best not to run the car under such a circumstance.
It is indeed a magnetic clutch actuated fan and from I remember the thermo switch is there around the water pump area by the fan itself. It's been a long time since I worked on a 102 engine sadly.
I do not have your answer but all I know is running these cars up to 120c too many times is a recipe for head gasket failure.
And the reverse is also true from a few of these cars I have known including mine. Keep it under 100c and the head gasket will last a long long time.
I know you are trying to fix the problem but I would refrain from driving it too much in the condition it is in.
Does you car not have auxiliary electrical fans? I think you have 2 compounding issues because the auxiliary fans will keep the temp to closer to 105c, especially where you live.
- Cheers!
The car has reached 120 maybe twice or three time. But I won't run it until I solved the problem. Like you said, don't want to pop the head gasket.
I don't think I have the auxiliary electrical fans, this is the one and only fan I got. Someone said I could brute force this problem and force the fan to always spin with the fan clutch, but that don't sound like an optimal solution to me. Rather fix this properly so it spins on higher heat and not as much on low temp
It is indeed a magnetic clutch actuated fan and from I remember the thermo switch is there around the water pump area by the fan itself. It's been a long time since I worked on a 102 engine sadly.
Aaa, magnetic clutch, thanks! In that case I think I can reduce my potential errors to: The thermostat, loss of magnetic attribute in the fan itself or something preventing the clutch from getting magnetic like electrical failure. I got to check all cables extra carefully, because I know there have been some rats sneaking around the trunk and messed up my sound system cables last winter
190E 2.6L 1989, 190E 2.6L 1988, BMW 535dXdrive 2014, BMW 428i 2015
An M103 engine would not survive idling for 15 minutes in 100F ambient temp. without aux fans. I did not realize the M102 did not have aux fans. Perhaps because they have larger fan blades and you live in Sweden?
What you are saying (no aux fans) is shocking to me and is a recipe for disaster. Thanks to global climate change even Sweden is probably not safe any longer.
Is it safe to assume your car does not have an AC? Aux fans are definitely needed for a car with AC?
Bottom line is, if you do not have aux fans your entire cooling system will have to be in top shape: water pump, radiator, thermostat, fan clutch, radiator cap, etc etc. And for a 30 year old car unless these parts have been replaced at least once they will not be in top shape. I would say you radiator is definitely suspect and may not be working efficiently.
You can check the radiator for hot spots with an IR temp reader to see if the temp is not even across the entire radiator.
My W201 is a 2.3 with A/C so it has an auxiliary fan. My M102 engine wouldn't survive idling for 15 minutes at 100F either Dolucassi. I agree with all of Dolucassi's advise. I still continue to suspect that the radiator might be a culprit especially if it's the original one along with a sticking thermostat. I would rule these out first. Given Sweden's recent trouble with wildfires because of climate change, I also agree with Dolucassi's advise that no area is safe any more for such idling in hot temperatures.
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