what are symptoms of a bad water pump?

az335idesi · 07-23-2012, 05:53 PM

So last night i was in a garage, and i noticed a LOUD fan noise. I dont think i have noticed this before, but the temps here right now are close 100F...but back to the story, so i turned off the a/c, and the noise went away. Is this normal? or should i expect the water pump to give out soon?

*EDIT*: i am going on a 2000+ mile trip in a couple of weeks, is there anything i should check/do before i head out? anything to keep an eye out on?

rader1 · 07-23-2012, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by az335idesi

So last night i was in a garage, and i noticed a LOUD fan noise. I dont think i have noticed this before, but the temps here right now are close 100F...but back to the story, so i turned off the a/c, and the noise went away. Is this normal? or should i expect the water pump to give out soon?

The "loud fan noise" is normal with the AC on...

Phoenix0327 · 07-23-2012, 06:32 PM

My water pump just went out. Car overheated and went into limp mode. Then it worked fine for the night (guess it kicked back in for a while) and the next day shut off after just a mile of driving. My mechanic was able to isolate and test the pump with his computer and show me that for now it's intermittent and works for only a minute before it dies, but it's failing fast. Make sure your engine/water temp isn't getting too high if you have that gauge. The fan is bound to be a bit louder with the AC on though.

GeorgiaTech335coupe · 07-23-2012, 06:40 PM

Only symptom my water pump gave before it went out was the red thermostat warning light about the same time it died.

Gugs · 07-23-2012, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgiaTech335coupe

Only symptom my water pump gave before it went out was the red thermostat warning light about the same time it died.

Same here.

However they will trigger shadow codes when they are in the "failing" stage of their life.

will.c · 07-24-2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gugs

However they will trigger shadow codes when they are in the "failing" stage of their life.

Can these shadow codes be read by a code reader, or are they something that can only be seen by the dealer?

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 07-24-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonho

Can these shadow codes be read by a code reader, or are they something that can only be seen by the dealer?

Generic code readers cant read shadow codes.

You would need a bavarian technic tool or BMW diagnostics tools.

will.c · 07-24-2012, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff@topgearsolutions

Generic code readers cant read shadow codes.

You would need a bavarian technic tool or BMW diagnostics tools.

How about AccessPort? Thanks btw.

mid-corner fun · 07-24-2012, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gugs

Same here.

However they will trigger shadow codes when they are in the "failing" stage of their life.

Not always, I was betting on getting a code before the pump's impending death so I can schedule the replacement. I got nothing, it went from no codes/symptoms to yellow warning to red temp warning within a minute. Game over.

Veeemdoubleu · 07-24-2012, 03:10 PM

^^^^ Same went for me.

gerardm · 07-24-2012, 04:56 PM

I don't know if my car threw any codes but on 3 occasions in 1 weeks time the fan went into kill mode and I guess lucky for me it was stuck in the open position and my oil temps plummeted. I replaced the water pump and therm and the problem has been resolved

az335idesi · 07-25-2012, 06:16 PM

i am going on a 2000+ mile trip in a couple of weeks, is there anything i should check/do before i head out? anything to keep an eye out on?

Gugs · 07-25-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM1

Not always, I was betting on getting a code before the pump's impending death so I can schedule the replacement. I got nothing, it went from no codes/symptoms to yellow warning to red temp warning within a minute. Game over.

That's why they are called shadow codes. They will pop up in the dme
But they don't trigger an error on dash or cell. They often will trigger and even disappear after a short while like it never happened. I'm assuming this is to account for normal sensor glitches.

Only way to see them is to get lucky and catch them or what usually happens is the shadow code will trigger 3 times and it will actually show a cel.
In your case the part just failed all together creating a major error event

l2odrigomichel · 12-04-2014, 06:08 PM

I know I'm late on this but this may help anyone searching the forums in the future. My mechanic told me mine is about to give out. His reasoning was that passenger side of the radiator was cold, and the driver side was hot because the pump was not currently working sufficiently (or something to that effect).

Jklad · 12-04-2014, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by l2odrigomichel

I know I'm late on this but this may help anyone searching the forums in the future. My mechanic told me mine is about to give out. His reasoning was that passenger side of the radiator was cold, and the driver side was hot because the pump was not currently working sufficiently (or something to that effect).

What's your mileage?
Is your fan always blowing loudly?

POBEP · 02-10-2019, 06:39 PM

Reviving old thread. '09 E91 N52, 84K miles.
Daily HWY/City commute 70:30 split, 35 miles each way

I never got coolant low warning in dash, no overheating dash signs.
Recent key code read also did not show any codes related to t-stat / coolant temps

My fan rarely kicks-in. Hidden menu observations: coolant temp reaches 97C within 4 minutes of driving. Highest ever value was 109C, city driving. Freeway range stays at 90-103. Uphill driving will drop temps to 84C, following gradual return to 103. No visible signs of coolant leaks under the hood or anywhere in the garage.

Based on reading water pump / t-stat related posts my cooling system works as expected.
The only concern would be age and milage.

While at last old change I requested to check car for leaks.
I was told that coolant level was low ( 1L added ) and hose from cylinder head needs replacement, along with water pump.

I also have minor oil leaks ( valve cover, filter housing and pan ) and dying battery.

At this point I can not decide if water pump (and t-stat needs) immediate replacement or not.

All input appreciated.

code85 · 02-10-2019, 07:34 PM

This was my symptom when my water pump was going. The fan would keep going on and off like that, sometimes the fan would rev up a lot higher then right back down.

POBEP · 05-18-2019, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by code85

This was my symptom when my water pump was going. The fan would keep going on and off like that, sometimes the fan would rev up a lot higher then right back down.

Thank you!

My fan rarely kicks-in, never at full speed.
I managed to monitor pump speed with ISTA+ over several days of driving. It appears to operate as designed.

hellokitty · 05-18-2019, 03:53 PM

Max fan turning on at cold start

Loud water pump sound after shutting the car off after a long, spirited drive

Those were my 2 symptoms before replacing the water pump at 40k

MGT81 · 05-09-2021, 09:53 PM

Yeah, they just go. Currently sitting at the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Second time this thing has died on me.

crod_E90 · 04-19-2023, 10:32 AM

Same here.. I’m just gonna bite the bullet and buy a new water pump

whyzee125 · 04-24-2023, 01:24 PM

If you're idling in a hot garage with the AC on, a loud fan is normal. These water pumps fail in a couple different ways; sometimes the fan will start coming on loudly when they're dying but not always. I've had 3 water pump failures on my n54's. All 3 times it just started leaking but was working fine.

07-23-2012, 05:53 PM	#1
az335idesi Private First Class 20 Rep 144 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	what are symptoms of a bad water pump? So last night i was in a garage, and i noticed a LOUD fan noise. I dont think i have noticed this before, but the temps here right now are close 100F...but back to the story, so i turned off the a/c, and the noise went away. Is this normal? or should i expect the water pump to give out soon? EDIT: i am going on a 2000+ mile trip in a couple of weeks, is there anything i should check/do before i head out? anything to keep an eye out on? Last edited by az335idesi; 07-25-2012 at 06:15 PM.. Reason: add
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07-23-2012, 06:32 PM	#3
Phoenix0327 New Member 0 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2007 e92 335i Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (0)	My water pump just went out. Car overheated and went into limp mode. Then it worked fine for the night (guess it kicked back in for a while) and the next day shut off after just a mile of driving. My mechanic was able to isolate and test the pump with his computer and show me that for now it's intermittent and works for only a minute before it dies, but it's failing fast. Make sure your engine/water temp isn't getting too high if you have that gauge. The fan is bound to be a bit louder with the AC on though. __________________
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07-23-2012, 06:40 PM	#4
GeorgiaTech335coupe Lieutenant Colonel 76 Rep 1,883 Posts Drives: Black BMW 335i coupe Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Only symptom my water pump gave before it went out was the red thermostat warning light about the same time it died. __________________ Legal Disclaimer: Anything I or anyone else says about my vehicle on this website(e90post.com or any affiliated or nonaffiliated sites), pertaining to modifications, is only to gain acceptance from my/our peers, and does not actually represent anything actually existing on my car, and thus, cannot be held against me in any issues, i.e. warranty claims, that may arise.
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07-24-2012, 03:10 PM	#10
Veeemdoubleu Second Lieutenant 16 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Convertible Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Atlantic City iTrader: (-1)	^^^^ Same went for me.
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07-24-2012, 04:56 PM	#11
gerardm Captain 29 Rep 703 Posts Drives: '07 335i Sedan - Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Rocky Point, NY iTrader: (5)	I don't know if my car threw any codes but on 3 occasions in 1 weeks time the fan went into kill mode and I guess lucky for me it was stuck in the open position and my oil temps plummeted. I replaced the water pump and therm and the problem has been resolved
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07-25-2012, 06:16 PM	#12
az335idesi Private First Class 20 Rep 144 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	i am going on a 2000+ mile trip in a couple of weeks, is there anything i should check/do before i head out? anything to keep an eye out on?
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12-04-2014, 06:08 PM	#14
l2odrigomichel New Member 0 Rep 12 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Miami iTrader: (0)	I know I'm late on this but this may help anyone searching the forums in the future. My mechanic told me mine is about to give out. His reasoning was that passenger side of the radiator was cold, and the driver side was hot because the pump was not currently working sufficiently (or something to that effect).
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02-10-2019, 06:39 PM	#16
POBEP Lieutenant 364 Rep 552 Posts Drives: E70 E90 E91 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Christmas Valley, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 E90 335d [9.33] 2013 E70 xDrive35d [5.00] 2009 E91 328i [10.00] 2016 F25 xDrive28d [0.00]	Reviving old thread. '09 E91 N52, 84K miles. Daily HWY/City commute 70:30 split, 35 miles each way I never got coolant low warning in dash, no overheating dash signs. Recent key code read also did not show any codes related to t-stat / coolant temps My fan rarely kicks-in. Hidden menu observations: coolant temp reaches 97C within 4 minutes of driving. Highest ever value was 109C, city driving. Freeway range stays at 90-103. Uphill driving will drop temps to 84C, following gradual return to 103. No visible signs of coolant leaks under the hood or anywhere in the garage. Based on reading water pump / t-stat related posts my cooling system works as expected. The only concern would be age and milage. While at last old change I requested to check car for leaks. I was told that coolant level was low ( 1L added ) and hose from cylinder head needs replacement, along with water pump. I also have minor oil leaks ( valve cover, filter housing and pan ) and dying battery. At this point I can not decide if water pump (and t-stat needs) immediate replacement or not. All input appreciated.
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02-10-2019, 07:34 PM	#17
code85 Enlisted Member 0 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2011 335is cab Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Markham iTrader: (0)	This was my symptom when my water pump was going. The fan would keep going on and off like that, sometimes the fan would rev up a lot higher then right back down.
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05-18-2019, 03:53 PM	#19
hellokitty Brigadier General 2896 Rep 3,726 Posts Drives: '17 M3 ZCP DCT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (2)	Max fan turning on at cold start Loud water pump sound after shutting the car off after a long, spirited drive Those were my 2 symptoms before replacing the water pump at 40k
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05-09-2021, 09:53 PM	#20
MGT81 Lieutenant 101 Rep 535 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Yeah, they just go. Currently sitting at the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. Second time this thing has died on me.
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04-19-2023, 10:32 AM	#21
crod_E90 Chris_310 3 Rep 12 Posts Drives: BMW 328i Join Date: Dec 2022 Location: San Pedro, CA iTrader: (0)	Same here.. I’m just gonna bite the bullet and buy a new water pump
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04-24-2023, 01:24 PM	#22
whyzee125 Brigadier General 1665 Rep 3,629 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	If you're idling in a hot garage with the AC on, a loud fan is normal. These water pumps fail in a couple different ways; sometimes the fan will start coming on loudly when they're dying but not always. I've had 3 water pump failures on my n54's. All 3 times it just started leaking but was working fine.
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