05 X3 overheads intermittently (weird oil light blinking)

[plbowler]

Howdy,
90% of the time my temp is pegged at halfway like it's supposed to be.
occasionally it will climb all the way to the red and beep. if I turn the car off and wait it will come down slightly.

if I drive the car it will usually drop right back to 50% after a few seconds of driving.

I bled the Radiator two weeks a gin and the issue went away temporarily. Now it's back.

sounds like I have a slow leak letting air into the system. does that sound right?

the only reason I wonder if it's electronic is that when the overheat light comes on every third or fourth time the oil light will come on, and it will kind of blink spastically then go off when the temp return to normal.

my oil is a bit low, but why would the oil light come on then go off again?


thoughts?

[Pelican Parts]

I would have the codes read to see if anything comes up. It sounds like a slow leak is possible, but it could also involve the radiator temp sensor. Check out the link below to our Cooling System DIYs, I hope you'll find some good info to troubleshoot with. Best of luck!

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...X3.htm#cooling


-Dmitry

[jclausen]

Sound like it needs a coolant system inspection

[plbowler]

Thanks for the reply's guys.

the system is not losing very much coolant and I have a new symptom.

during the last two overheats (still 5-10 seconds long before dropping back to normal) the needle went out of the range to the right and the Red light turned off.

has anyone ever seen that before?

makes me wonder if it is the coolant temp sensor as the needle moves very quickly back to normal (like faster than an engine could cool) and now seems to be sending readings to the gauge that are out of the range.

thoughts?

[plbowler]

Update,
Water pump was bad, plastic impeller etc. etc.

Got the parts from pelican for less than $100, for pump, pully and belt.
Never used pelican before, very pleased.
Car is happy now...