|
In Reply to: Things about your thermostat... posted by Jon Caldito on February 04, 2001 at 21:59:14:
This is a very big topic and I just want to clear things up for some people that don't know whats really going on. Oh by the way, I am a BMW Level 1 Technician and replaced about a dozen or more thermostats on E46, E39s, and E36/7/8.
Whats happening is that the spring tension on the thermostat is too stiff and over time will brake the plastic tabs causing the thermostat to stay open.
BMW fixed this problem by lowering the spring tension. This seems to work. Now I've seen the sensor inside the thermostat failing but not as common as the tabs breaking apart (I've replaced one only) BMW again made a 3rd generation thermostat but unsure on what real changes they made.
Of course the first thing you're going to complain about is that the coolent temp. stays low for a long time, heater doesn't work, and CHECK ENGINE light is lit up.
If you have these complaints, it is recommended that you make an appointment with your service dept. or don't drive the vehicle much.
If the DME sees that the coolent temp. is too low, it'll think it is still in cold start and you'll be running too rich in fuel mixture. This can foul up your spark plugs, intake and exhaust valves, pistons, combustion chamber, and saturate your engine oil with hydrocarbons.
If you haven't had the thermostat replaced, don't go make an appoinment just yet. These thermostats are on a national back order and may take up to 3 days or 14 days depending on how many thermostats are ordered by a particular parts dept.
© 1997 -
2008
Jump Internet Inc. All rights reserved.
