STRANDED ON SIDE OF HWY HELP engine fan not running

[90pioneer]

91 318I, crusing hwy with ac on, noticed temp gauge in red. Shut ac off, turned heater on high, no air was blowing.

Pulled over, shut car off, let cool for 20 min. Started back up, engine fan not running but the blower was now blowing air. Turned ac on, engine fan still not running, and the ac button didn't turn blue.

Fuses look good.

What's wrong? Coolant level is good...

[90pioneer]

Coolant is actually 6" low and there is a puddle under the car. Hoses look good... water pump?

Why won't my ac turn on the fan?

[devon.818]

stop running your car you have overheated.

why wont ac turn on the cooling fan? i guess you thought cooling fan cools you and the engine, ok...NO. the fan on the front of your motor is mechanical, you can't turn it on or off, its on when motor is on.

you might not see a leak because the system is not under pressure, still you obviously have sprouted a leak, so stop whatever it is you're doing...

i'd say get some duct tape and try to jimmy rig something, but for you, call a tow truck, find a repair shop, hope your HG isn't toasted.


gl

[mr.vang]

are you sure that puddle were coolant? it might be water, double check since you had the ac on because ac drip water

[90pioneer]

are you sure that puddle were coolant? it might be water, double check since you had the ac on because ac drip water

I've got both the ac drip water and a coolant puddle...

I thought when the ac was turned on it engages the belt driven fan?

And the blower in the cabin stopped working when the car was overheating..as in air was not coming out of the vents.

[future rs]

are you sure that puddle were coolant? it might be water, double check since you had the ac on because ac drip water

this.

Also if the fan behind the radiator isn't turning when the engine is running you probably have a bigger issue as im pretty sure they are all mechanical clutch fans.

[90pioneer]

stop running your car you have overheated.

why wont ac turn on the cooling fan? i guess you thought cooling fan cools you and the engine, ok...NO. the fan on the front of your motor is mechanical, you can't turn it on or off, its on when motor is on.

you might not see a leak because the system is not under pressure, still you obviously have sprouted a leak, so stop whatever it is you're doing...

i'd say get some duct tape and try to jimmy rig something, but for you, call a tow truck, find a repair shop, hope your HG isn't toasted.


gl

The mechanial fan in front of the engine is *not* running at all.

I just saw the belt broke that runs the engine fan...

[Nairb]

91 318i does not need a belt for a fan. Maybe your fan clutch has stopped functioning?

[bimmer630]

but it needs a belt to turn the water pump.. to circulate the water. stuffs busted. either a tensioner or the water pump..no fan turning and no water pump turning... and its overheating because theres no circulation, and blowing out all your coolant, and theres no coolant running past the temp sensor, so the electric fan doesnt know it should turn on.

[nrubenstein]

The mechanial fan in front of the engine is *not* running at all.

I just saw the belt broke that runs the engine fan...

Well, the belt runs the water pump and all the other accessories. So, the mechanical fan *is* belt driven. Broken belt means no water pump, so no circulating coolant.

[90pioneer]

I don't think it has an electric fan? Pretty sure its mechanical...???

[McGyver]

the belt that runs the water pump broke. so as said, no circulation and over heating.

the fan is mechanical and is connected to the pulley that drives the water pump. so no belt on that pulley means no fan either. dont drive it until you have a belt, then try it. you may have toasted your head gasket though.

[F34R]

I don't think it has an electric fan? Pretty sure its mechanical...???

The fan connects to the engine, you cannot miss it ;)

[mr.vang]

I don't think it has an electric fan? Pretty sure its mechanical...???

the a/c condenser fan is electric. when the a/c is on, it trigger the fan. the clutch fan is driven by the water pump belt, no belt = no clutch fan and no water flow causing engine to overheat.

[Gerta]

91 318I, crusing hwy with ac on, noticed temp gauge in red. Shut ac off, turned heater on high, no air was blowing.

Pulled over, shut car off, let cool for 20 min. Started back up, engine fan not running but the blower was now blowing air. Turned ac on, engine fan still not running, and the ac button didn't turn blue.

Fuses look good.

What's wrong? Coolant level is good...

Where are you at?