Freaking stuck 600 miles from home need info

[parkerbink]

Waterpump siezed, took all day Monday to get it removed, rebuilt (would have had to wait a week to get from the U.S.) & replaced. I was able to drive another 60 miles before the car overheated and there was oil in the radiator. Took it to a shop here in Monterey (Mexico) and they say the transmission cooler is leaking. How the fuck would that make the car overheat?

It took them all day yesterday to remove the radiator, now it is at another shop to see if it can be repaired. Does this make sense? I do not see how a full radiator even if it was contaminated with transmission oil could no longer cool the motor. btw the temp went down when the engine revved higher. I am frustrarted, stuck in a 130.00 a night hotel and need to know if this makes sense or is the mechanic (I was referred there by the dealer that only sells cars no shop!) is full of it. He says there is no water in the oil or in the engine but first the radiator has to be fixed.


HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

[christophbmw]

i do know that the transmision fluid runs hotter than the coolant so maybe the hotter fluid that seaped into your coolant caused the water pump to freeze up. my suggestion would be to just replace the radiator.

[quan325i]

Let me try my best to help because I know how it feels in your shoes. Okay, unless your car has an automatic transmission, there's no such thing as a transmission cooler in a 5sp, well, not that I know of. Under the assumption that yours is a 5sp, the mechanic are full of it. The only time when you see oil in you cooling system is when your head gasket is blown and sound like it is in your case. If you water pump seized causing the engine to overheat, it will melt the gasket and creates leak into your cooling system. This is a big job because you have to remove the head and replace the gaskets, most people do a head job when they do this.

Now, if you're driving an auto gearbox, there's no freaking way a transmission coooler leakage can cause overheating. if there is, someone please educate me.

If I were you, I'll bite the bullet and just tow it home. Hope this helps.

[bmwguru007]

His car is an auto, and I agree that it is unlikely that the transmission cooling system is causing the overheating problem. The fact that there is oil in the coolant and the car is overheating points towards the head gasket. How hot did the engine get when the water pump seized? If the oil in the radiator is definently coming from the transmission, the cause of the overheating may be air in the cooling system and/or the water pump was poorly rebuilt and isnt pumping sufficient coolant at low engine speeds.

[parkerbink]

Yes it is auto, yes it was most likely not rebuilt correctly. I am 600 miles from home about 150 from Laredo. The shop is a big nice place that all the dealers here farm their work to. I just do not see how seeing as I had no transmission issues (would there not be some kind of slipping or other issues if it was hot?)

I called the person in Laredo I deal with and he said a radiator is 380.00 is that right?

The mechanic says there is good compression and no water in the oil. My first thought was the gasket. I never ran it in the red for more than 10 seconds at the very beginning of the red. When it got there I pulled over and waited until it was back to the middle.

When the engine was under 2k RPM it almost got to red, when I ran it at 3k it went back to 3 quarters.

The car runs fine wouldn't a leaking head gasket cause a loss of power?

Thanks

[parkerbink]

Can one of you guys post BMA's 818 direct non 800# please? I want to see if patrick can next day me a radiator and can't call 800,888 or any toll free U.S. #

I found it on Bigbook.com Have to go to my room to call thanks guys.


Thanks

[parkerbink]

Just got off the phone with Patrick he is sending me a Behr Radiator & water pump next day for about 270!!!

Now I have to hope they can fix teh radiator so I can get 140 miles to Laredo and that there is nothing else wrong.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

I blew my headgasket when my water pump went out and my temp needle only got up to 3/4 it never got to the red. So, just because your temp needle didn't hit red doesn't mean your headgasket isn't blown.

[parkerbink]

Well it has been running fine with no new oil in the rebuilt radiator they are going to run it for an hour more (been running for a half an hour) then they are going to clean out the system with something to break up the residue in there and road test it in the morning. I am still going to replace both the pump and radiator with the new ones that Patrick sent to Laredo for me.

[bddog]

With all that a new fan clutch would be a must . Don't ya think?

[parkerbink]

Well I had to take a 15 hour bus ride because Patrick didn't send the waterpump. so I was home for New Years. I am not thrilled about leaving my car 600 miles away but it is at a really nice shop: www.syma.com.mx They sent someone to Laredo to pick it up on Thursday but only the radiator was there. Patrick sent the pump for Monday delivery and they will get it on Monday. Hopefully I can get it on Wednesday. I am going to fly because 15 hours on the bus sucks! (they are nice buses like first class with movies) but for 15 hours I better get off in Europe!

As to the fan clutch the car has 63k orig and it is shocking the water pump died, the mechanic says the clutch is fine. I will replace it if I need to but it is not a priority right now.