Water Pump Creaking Noise

turbochargedcow · 05-02-2015, 12:24 PM

Hi all,

I have this creaking noise coming from the water pump area and want to know if any of you can tell me if it's broken or not.

Background
I experienced my car going into limp mode yesterday for the first time because of coolant supposedly overheating. The car was restricting power in 1st and 2nd gears, then the yellow thermometer light came on restricting more power, then the red thermometer light came on moments later cutting power entirely. This all happened in the span of a 5 minute drive at 25 mph. The radiator fan was also running at full speed for most of those 5 minutes, which is the first time that has happened.

I found error codes 2E81 (electrical cooling pump:, speed deviation) and 2E82 (electrical cooling pump: switch off) suggesting it is pump failure. Coolant was also leaking under the passenger side, so I followed Beamer Fanatics E39 E90's youtube video to see if coolant was flowing into the reservoir:

put key in ignition without starting the car
press the start button once to turn all of the dash lights on
turn heater on lowest fan setting at 84 degrees
hold gas pedal down for ~15 seconds

It wasn't flowing, but I could hear this noise coming from where the pump was. I am taking my car into the shop next week to most likely replace the pump and thermostat. Any recommendations?

Cloud9blue · 05-02-2015, 11:24 PM

Yep, that pump is done doe. Unless your shop is just a mile or two away. I would have the car towed there.

Efthreeoh · 05-03-2015, 06:28 AM

All you need is to see the codes to know the pump is failing. BTW that procedure you posted adds air into the system, so don't go opening up the coolant reservoir after you get the car repaired to see if the new pump works. The bleed procedure states to keep the cap on and the bleed screw closed.

ferocity02 · 05-04-2015, 05:28 PM

Yep, mine made the same exact noise when it failed. Other signs were code 2E82 and the fan running on high the entire time.

turbochargedcow · 05-04-2015, 05:34 PM

Thanks for the quick replies everybody! You all confirmed my suspicions, and I will be getting it towed to the shop. Also thanks for the heads up on opening the reservoir cap.

mweisdorfer · 05-09-2015, 09:35 AM

Pump is fried.

There are plenty of DIYs on how to replace the thermostat and water pump. Parts will run you $450-500.00 plus new coolant.

Bav auto has a great video on this. The only thing I did different was that I took out the fan and the FMIC, which created a lot more room to work with.

05-02-2015, 12:24 PM	#1
turbochargedcow New Member 1 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: May 2014 Location: Beavercreek, Ohio iTrader: (2)	Water Pump Creaking Noise - Sign of Failure? Hi all, I have this creaking noise coming from the water pump area and want to know if any of you can tell me if it's broken or not. Background I experienced my car going into limp mode yesterday for the first time because of coolant supposedly overheating. The car was restricting power in 1st and 2nd gears, then the yellow thermometer light came on restricting more power, then the red thermometer light came on moments later cutting power entirely. This all happened in the span of a 5 minute drive at 25 mph. The radiator fan was also running at full speed for most of those 5 minutes, which is the first time that has happened. I found error codes 2E81 (electrical cooling pump:, speed deviation) and 2E82 (electrical cooling pump: switch off) suggesting it is pump failure. Coolant was also leaking under the passenger side, so I followed Beamer Fanatics E39 E90's youtube video to see if coolant was flowing into the reservoir: put key in ignition without starting the car press the start button once to turn all of the dash lights on turn heater on lowest fan setting at 84 degrees hold gas pedal down for ~15 seconds It wasn't flowing, but I could hear this noise coming from where the pump was. I am taking my car into the shop next week to most likely replace the pump and thermostat. Any recommendations? Last edited by turbochargedcow; 05-02-2015 at 12:47 PM.. Reason: Wrong youtube link
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05-02-2015, 11:24 PM	#2
Cloud9blue Brigadier General 711 Rep 3,251 Posts Drives: around the potholes Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: NY/NJ/MA iTrader: (13)	Yep, that pump is done doe. Unless your shop is just a mile or two away. I would have the car towed there. __________________ 09 BMW E92 335i: Top Mount EFR 7670 / Dinan / AP Racing / Wavetrac / TC Kline [Full Mod List] 07 BMW R1200S: Shine Yellow / Akrapovic / Ohlins 19 Volvo V90 T6: R-Design / Bowers & Wilkins / Polestar Optimization
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05-03-2015, 06:28 AM	#3
Efthreeoh General 17303 Rep 18,727 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	All you need is to see the codes to know the pump is failing. BTW that procedure you posted adds air into the system, so don't go opening up the coolant reservoir after you get the car repaired to see if the new pump works. The bleed procedure states to keep the cap on and the bleed screw closed. __________________ A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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05-04-2015, 05:28 PM	#4
ferocity02 Colonel 530 Rep 2,083 Posts Drives: 2013 135is Join Date: May 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (8)	Yep, mine made the same exact noise when it failed. Other signs were code 2E82 and the fan running on high the entire time. __________________ 2013 135is DCT Carbon Black Metallic
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05-04-2015, 05:34 PM	#5
turbochargedcow New Member 1 Rep 25 Posts Drives: 2018 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: May 2014 Location: Beavercreek, Ohio iTrader: (2)	Thanks for the quick replies everybody! You all confirmed my suspicions, and I will be getting it towed to the shop. Also thanks for the heads up on opening the reservoir cap.
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05-09-2015, 09:35 AM	#6
mweisdorfer Major General 1903 Rep 6,968 Posts Drives: 2007 Black/Black 335i e90 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Holly, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW E90 335i [0.00] 2008 bmw x5 [0.00]	Pump is fried. There are plenty of DIYs on how to replace the thermostat and water pump. Parts will run you $450-500.00 plus new coolant. Bav auto has a great video on this. The only thing I did different was that I took out the fan and the FMIC, which created a lot more room to work with.
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