My wife's mini thinks that it's overheating. After running for about 5 min the temp gauge spikes and the red light goes off. The fan starts going on high, but the engine itself seems fine. I can place my hand on the block and leave it there! Definitely not feeling like the 112 C that it should be for the fan to be going on high. I replaced the thermostat and the housing, yet it still persists. Could this be a faulty ECT sensor? It's not throwing any CEL's. I am planning on changing out the sensor in hopes that it works.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Also I'm looking for the torque spec for the ECT sensor.

 

Sounds like the temperature sensor is on it's way out and is giving bad readings.

 

Check fluid levels too...you might also have a air bubble in system....can result in an similar overheat....try to rebleed it.
Any odd noises lately? Or noises that just stopped....kinda rattling/dragging chains?

 

No noises. I bleed the system multiple times and am fairly confident it's air free. The high temp reading doesn't go away after it spikes. Once it's hot, it keeps reading hot.

 

One thing that can happen onthe s is that the waterpump can stop...it runs off of a set of gears on the bottom od the sc (pto)...the oil can get low...and then the gears grind up...end result is water pump stoppage...usually there is noises..high pitched or rattling chain sounds leading up to this...that is why i asked about noises...
Does the rad ever get warm/hot?! Could the themostat be in backwards?
Just tossing out ideas....

 

So I jacked it up to get to the bottom of the radiator to drain it. When I did this, i noticed that the bottom hose didn't seem to have fluid in it. I opened up the bleed screws and the pressure cap and added fluid while massaging the bottom hose. It took another qt or so of fluid. Started it up with the cap off and added some more fluid. I capped everything and let it run for a few. Took her around the block, and another block, and about 10 more blocks and the temp is sitting right in the middle. (I had also disconnected the ECT and tried to start it up beforehand resulting in the fan coming on immediately and the temp reading hot) So right now, it's looking good. I'm going to close everything up and take it on some longer loops to see if it holds. Crossing my fingers.