R50/53 blowing cold and running hot!
#1
blowing cold and running hot!
Ok, this just started happening yesterday and I'm at a total loss...
My '03 mini (standard) is taking forever to start blowing warm air, which in itself is unusual. She usually warms up nicely even on the coldest of days here in Rhode Island.
Anyway...I work in Boston and traffic going to and from work can be...time consuming. Today, I'm sitting in traffic and the heater starts blowing cold I happen to glance down and notice that my engine temp gauge is sitting damn near the top ! As we inch along I notice the temp gauge drops...stop for a minute and it starts moving back up. After traffic begins moving in earnest again, temp gauge settles in the middle mark and I get heat from the heater again.
Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to check my coolant levels...may do that at lunch time.
I'm leaning toward a stuck thermostat, but this is a Mini after all...
I have an appointment with my garage tomorrow.
Anybody else ever have this issue?
Any ideas? Please feel free to chime in, I'd like to know what I might be in for.
Thanks!
My '03 mini (standard) is taking forever to start blowing warm air, which in itself is unusual. She usually warms up nicely even on the coldest of days here in Rhode Island.
Anyway...I work in Boston and traffic going to and from work can be...time consuming. Today, I'm sitting in traffic and the heater starts blowing cold I happen to glance down and notice that my engine temp gauge is sitting damn near the top ! As we inch along I notice the temp gauge drops...stop for a minute and it starts moving back up. After traffic begins moving in earnest again, temp gauge settles in the middle mark and I get heat from the heater again.
Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to check my coolant levels...may do that at lunch time.
I'm leaning toward a stuck thermostat, but this is a Mini after all...
I have an appointment with my garage tomorrow.
Anybody else ever have this issue?
Any ideas? Please feel free to chime in, I'd like to know what I might be in for.
Thanks!
#2
Sounds like a leak. Some areas that are easy to spot is the coolant expansion tank ( MINI Cooper S ) or the leak near the thermostat housing ( MINI Cooper Non S & MINI Cooper S).
What Model do you have , I see you have an 2003?
Thanks
What Model do you have , I see you have an 2003?
Thanks
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
#6
Cooper ( non S ) thermostat looks like this and is located on the side of the engine towards the driver side. Here is what everything looks like.
#12 in the diagram Part # 11537596787
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES514854__ES2702793__ES2018337/
&
#10 in the diagram , which i recommned replacing if you change the thermostat.
Thermostat Housing W/ Cap
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/11537829959/
&
#13 is the bolts x 3 Bolt - Priced Each
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/07131486714/
And the coolant is here:
MINI Antifreeze / Coolant - 1 Gallon ( 3.79L ) Which you mix 50/50 with distilled water.
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/82140031133/ES196253/
I don't want you to overheat the engine, now you know where to look at . I would get this checked out asap.
#12 in the diagram Part # 11537596787
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/ES514854__ES2702793__ES2018337/
&
#10 in the diagram , which i recommned replacing if you change the thermostat.
Thermostat Housing W/ Cap
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/11537829959/
&
#13 is the bolts x 3 Bolt - Priced Each
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/07131486714/
And the coolant is here:
MINI Antifreeze / Coolant - 1 Gallon ( 3.79L ) Which you mix 50/50 with distilled water.
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/82140031133/ES196253/
I don't want you to overheat the engine, now you know where to look at . I would get this checked out asap.
__________________
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
MINI Guru/ MINI Owner Since 2004 | NEW Lifetime Part Replacement | Local Pickup
Milltek | Genuine MINI | Forge Motorsport | NM Engineering | ECS Performance | M7 Speed
Customer Service Hours: 8am-8pm EST|Sales Team Hours: 8am-11pm | SAT 10am-7pm 800.924.5172
#7
So simple to do....simpler than starting a thread....not fun to do in the cold..but just like adding gas or checking your oil, 100% nessasary as cars age a bit....
Driving with a failed thermostat...if that is the issue is like rolling the dice...
Just be sure to pullover and STOP before a full blown steam spewing overheat...that can get costly...costing you a head gasket, head or even a motor.
Trending Topics
#8
P.S.
Ever hear the radiator fan run....
You CAN have the PS fan sieze.... It will blow a 5 amp fuse that disables the radiator fan (due to the wiring of the relay)...resulting in overheating when the car stops moving....
While this would not result in no heat...it would not be uncommon to have a low coolant level WITH a blown PS fan pump fuse...very common for either/both.
Ever hear the radiator fan run....
You CAN have the PS fan sieze.... It will blow a 5 amp fuse that disables the radiator fan (due to the wiring of the relay)...resulting in overheating when the car stops moving....
While this would not result in no heat...it would not be uncommon to have a low coolant level WITH a blown PS fan pump fuse...very common for either/both.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
alistaircookie
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
6
10-08-2015 10:52 AM
minipopkart
R50/R53 :: Hatch Talk (2002-2006)
2
08-13-2015 05:22 AM