Fan shroud loose, touched AC compressor (pics!!!), also some leak (lower rad hose)

[faz]

Fan shroud:

I am very glad I looked at the engine bay this morning... had done an oil check about a month ago, so I thought I should check it again today.

Well, oil level was fine, but I noticed the radiator fluid was low. I needed to add about 500 cc to bring it up to max. This was strange, never needed coolant, so looking around, I noticed that the fan shroud is not in place and is actually hitting the AC compressor, and the AC compressor had drilled a nice round hole right through it!!!



The bottom passenger side of the shroud had unhooked and the tabs were not in place.



I pulled up on the shroud and was able to kinda put it back in place (I am assuming the picture above shows it back in its place, the way it should be. )

The last person to do any work in there was the dealer working on it under warranty back before the 50k miles mark, from my notes then:

- they noticed cracks in the alternator belt and replaced it,
- they found the source of the rattle to be deflection pulley and idler pulley having excessive play, replaced both.


I am going to contact the dealer and see if they can replace the fan shroud and see if they accept responsibility for it. I am not sure if this is something that can come off on its own (any feedback on this is appreciated)??? Our driving style: we drive our 3 year old child in this car only, and drive it like a grandma would in the city streets.


Leak: (the more important and the main question for this post)

I noticed a bit of a leak and sweat under the location where the lower hose (passenger side) attaches to the radiator. I think it could be due to fan shroud rattling and touching the hose/etc., but the color of the hose looks like it can use a change (see the first pic). Is changing radiator hoses something I should look into at current 54k miles? Any other cooling system changes that might be needed at this point???


Any input would be appreciated.

[jayjay_dee]

wow, i need to check mine quick... good info there Faz...

[Weasel]

Faz, the leak there is just the temperature sensor o-ring. Unfortunately the o-ring is not available seperately at the dealer. We usually just change the sensor, quick snap out and in job. If you have access to an assortment of o-rings you can try to swap just the o-ring yourself. As for the hose, if the plastic part is turning a brownish color, then change it. If it is still a rich black you shouldn't need to worry about it.

As for the fan shroud, it wouldn't come off by itself, and if they did the belt/pulleys they would have taken it off. I'd call for the service manager and explain nicely what happened (they did the belts, you later check under the hood when topping off fluids) and they should be willing to comply.

[faz]

jayjay, I don't think you need to worry about it... I think this is a result of it not being installed properly to begin with.

Weasel, thanks for the info on the oring. I don't have access to variety of orings, but I should be able to find some at home hardware store if needed. I had an old 1983 Yamaha Venture 1200 motorcycle that I bought in recent years, and one of the drain plugs had an oring damaged. It was impossible to find the whole plug, but I could find an oring from home hardware store that fit it and worked nicely. I was worried about temperature rating of the oring, but it seemed to work for many months and a subsequent flush without any issues (and that bike particularly ran hot to begin with.) I will monitor the leak and if it continues, I will definitely replace the sensor and/or the hose.

The hose is brownish color, but I am not sure if it is just the detailing shine stuff that dealer had put on it that has changed color or if it is the hose itself. I will look at it closer and if needed, will replace it as well.

Weasel, I must say I enjoy reading your replies to everyone on this board; you are truly one of the best assets this board has to offer. Thanks for your help (to me and others).

I called the dealership earlier today and talked to the service adviser that I always take my cars to (both my wife's 3 series, and this X5.) He told me to bring it in and he will have his shop foreman look into it, and more than likely will take care of it. I will have them check the leak as well, since the leak was not there before (I monitored the coolant level for months without losing any) and is now there after this fan shroud movement. But apparently it could be the oring, so if that is the case, I will take care of it myself.

I will keep you all posted on the progress.

[faz]

Just came from the dealer... shop foreman looked at it and agreed it must not have been placed in correctly. They don't have the part in stock so they ordered it and asked me to come back on Tuesday to have it fixed.

I told them about the leak, he suggested the same sensor oring as the potential culprit. I told him my car is out of warranty and if that is the case I will more than likely have it fixed myself. (haven't lost any coolant in the last couple of days and no more sweat around that area after I pushed the fan shroud away from the hose).

Weasel, can you be kind enough and let us know what is involved in changing that sensor? does the hose have to come off? does the sensor bolt in/out, or does it 'snap' in and out with the hose in place (or with the hose off?)

From pelican parts, this is the picture for the sensor, and it seems like it doesn't have any threads on it to be screwed in:




Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Weasel]

That is the picture of the sensor. It is easy to change too. Just take the radiator cap off to release any pressure, put it back on to close the system to prevent loosing much coolant, unplug the wiring from the clip. (same style connector with the press in metal clamp as on the thermostat etc.) Then the tabs on either side of the plug need to be pinched in while you wiggle and pull. A small bit of coolant will come out, but not much with the cap on and tight. Just snap the new sensor in in the same direction/position and plug it back in. Easy as 1-2-pie!

[faz]

Thanks dude, you rock.

[avt007]

Great information. My wifes X5 just gave a low coolant message, and the only leak I can see is that switch. Should be too hard, apart from scraped knuckles, I hope.

[ArmyX5]

I am looking at your fan shroud and the same thing happened to me about a year ago. I didn't make too much of it because I had to deploy during that time. Know that I think about it, it was right after going to the dealer!

[faz]

Originally Posted by avt007

Great information. My wifes X5 just gave a low coolant message, and the only leak I can see is that switch. Should be too hard, apart from scraped knuckles, I hope.

It is literally a 2 minute job to replace that sensor with a new one.