Another f#%ing problem... :(

[pilotnick1203]

So I get my car back and drive it home from the shop, a near home I smelled burning but the engine temps were ok and coolant light was not on. I thought it was residual trans fluid burning. So I go out to start the car today because I had a meeting to go to and as soon as I start it the coolant light went off, and I checked the coolant level. Dry. Idk why because it was full. Kinda worried???


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[Smilez]

Any leaks that you can see?

[Newjack]

So I get my car back and drive it home from the shop, a near home I smelled burning but the engine temps were ok and coolant light was not on. I thought it was residual trans fluid burning. So I go out to start the car today because I had a meeting to go to and as soon as I start it the coolant light went off, and I checked the coolant level. Dry. Idk why because it was full. Kinda worried???


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Wait the coolant light came off when you started it up the second time? Was it on before?

What kind of work was done to your car at the shop?

Obviously you have a coolant leak but without any knowledge of your car its hard to guess which component failed. Just look under the car and see whats wet.

[pilotnick1203]

Wait the coolant light came off when you started it up the second time? Was it on before?

What kind of work was done to your car at the shop?

Obviously you have a coolant leak but without any knowledge of your car its hard to guess which component failed. Just look under the car and see whats wet.

No coolant light after I left shop. I turned the car on today and it came on. Transmission was removed and fixed.


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[Newjack]

No coolant light after I left shop. I turned the car on today and it came on. Transmission was removed and fixed.


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Just look under the car and see what's leaking. Could be hoses expansion tank radiator water pump thermostat.....

[pilotnick1203]

Just look under the car and see what's leaking. Could be hoses expansion tank radiator water pump thermostat.....

What are the estimated prices to fix these?


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[Hornung418]

What are the estimated prices to fix these?


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Parts plus free labor (because you're gonna do it yourself). Just pop the hood and pull the belly pan to find what's leaking.

Sent from my GS3.

[pilotnick1203]

Parts plus free labor (because you're gonna do it yourself). Just pop the hood and pull the belly pan to find what's leaking.

Sent from my GS3.

Thank god


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[Pip]

Parts plus free labor (because you're gonna do it yourself). Just pop the hood and pull the belly pan to find what's leaking.

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Lol. If you're so inclined.

[Hornung418]

Lol. If you're so inclined.

Its easy if you know how to read and can hold a wrench...

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[LivesNearCostco]

Pilotnick, do you have an automatic transmission? If yes, I believe there are two lines connecting it to a cooling unit attached to the bottom of the expansion tank mounting plate. The shop could have disconnected it from the ET and forgotten to replace it, or replaced it incorrectly, or replaced it correctly but didn't refill the coolant enough. It's possible they just filled the ET to fill without fully bleeding the system, in that case when the engine warmed up, it would suck coolant into the radiator making it low. It's possible when hot the coolant didn't trigger the light but once it cooled down it did.

Or... maybe you just have a cooling system leak.

[pilotnick1203]

Pilotnick, do you have an automatic transmission? If yes, I believe there are two lines connecting it to a cooling unit attached to the bottom of the expansion tank mounting plate. The shop could have disconnected it from the ET and forgotten to replace it, or replaced it incorrectly, or replaced it correctly but didn't refill the coolant enough. It's possible they just filled the ET to fill without fully bleeding the system, in that case when the engine warmed up, it would suck coolant into the radiator making it low. It's possible when hot the coolant didn't trigger the light but once it cooled down it did.

Or... maybe you just have a cooling system leak.

Yeah sadly an auto. I'll check that. Thanks!


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[Dave1027]

OP, didn't you get a new water pump and radiator? Maybe you don't have a leak but the shop did not do a complete cooling system bleed?

[WOLFN8TR]

Pilotnick, do you have an automatic transmission? If yes, I believe there are two lines connecting it to a cooling unit attached to the bottom of the expansion tank mounting plate. The shop could have disconnected it from the ET and forgotten to replace it, or replaced it incorrectly, or replaced it correctly but didn't refill the coolant enough. It's possible they just filled the ET to fill without fully bleeding the system, in that case when the engine warmed up, it would suck coolant into the radiator making it low. It's possible when hot the coolant didn't trigger the light but once it cooled down it did.


OP, didn't you get a new water pump and radiator? Maybe you don't have a leak but the shop did not do a complete cooling system bleed?

This ^

Pull the belly pan and check to see if the tranny cooler is leaking where it attaches to the expansion tank. There are two lines coming from the tranny into the cooler. The cooler is attached to the ET via a metal clip, yep thats it! It may not be fully seated.



http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/13/9fd16c90f949d637c75c988bdc1c9398.jpg

Metal Clip for the Trans Cooler
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/13/51389db9d44286cecd425e620cd1f4bf.jpg


http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/09/13/c6db8ac260507b15a8b566c3c0ff15ad.jpg

But I would put money on the cooling system not being bled correctly.

Read these:
http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=760515

Bleeding Cooling System:
http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=689618

-Start with the engine cold!
-Remove the small black bleed screw from the elbow that connects to the expansion tank.
-Remove the coolant filler cap
-Turn the ignition on but do not start the engine
-Turn the climate control to the highest temperature and put the fan on the lowest setting
-Slowly pour coolant into the expansion tank until coolant runs out of the bleed screw hole
-Keep pouring coolant until you no longer see any air bubbles in the coolant coming out of the bleed screw hole
-Replace the bleed screw and check the coolant level in the expansion tank
-Replace the expansion tank cap and start the motor
-Allow the car to idle until normal operating temperature is reached
-Watch carefully to make sure the temperature gauge doesn't rise above 12:00
-If the gauge starts to move past 12:00 shut the car off immediately, let it cool and start over

After a few minutes of idling at normal temp it is safe to assume there is a minimal amount of air in the system. Take the car for a quick test drive, carefully watching the temperature. If all is well congrats, you have completed your task, if not, you may still have air in the system.
Shut it down, allow the engine to cool and try again several times until ALL the air is completely out.

* E46 Cooling Guide (Information w/parts list/bleeding) *
http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=914109



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX2EFnAL-Q8