Fan stopped working? 2002 x5 4.6is

[EDG08]

So the fan stopped working when i started the x5 today. I turned it on and off a couple of times and nothing. When i was about 10 minutes into my drive it made a squeeking sound and started up, then a couple of seconds later it made a squeeking sound again but kept going. It worked like a charm the rest of the way home. I turned it on and off again when i was home and started no problems. What could be causing this? the sqeeking sounded like a belt or something that was stuck but was trying to get going.
Any help guys?
Thanks

[m5james]

Just like on your leak coolant thread....stop driving the damn thing till you FIX it. FYI, I've replaced the non-VANOS motor in my 740iL which was around 11k because the previous owner was a cheapskate and had some shody shop do the headgasket repairs after he overheated the car. Did you used to own a black 98 740iL, cause you're going down the same path this guy did.

[EDG08]

lol M5,
NO never owned a 740, I feel comfortable driving it because after i added 8 cups of water the light has not come on and the level has not changed (about a week) you dont think the fan stopped working because of the coolant do you. Anyway im getting the fluid changed (has been about 4 years since the last) and also an oil change next week.
Thanks M5 for the help!
EDG

[m5james]

I hope you've been using distilled water and bleeding the system when you add these 8 cups of water. If you don't bleed the system, sure it may have fluid in it, but the waterpump is just splashing around and not pushing the water everywhere it needs to go if there are air bubbles present in the system.

There are 3 different motors/fans that circulate coolant through the system. 1st being the 3 stage aux fan, which usually runs when the A/C is on, sitting in traffic on hot days, etc.

2nd is the mechanical fan attached to the motor which contains a waxy like substance. It shouldn't spin freely (hence why it sounds like an airplane taking off till like 3k rpms) unless it's failed completely due to the stuff leaking out. Some seize, which is really bad (sounds like an airplane all the time) and can damage the hood, radiator, hoses etc from the centrifugal force of the fan blades breaking off and destroying everything in their path (i've seen pics, not pretty).

3rd is the little motor that feeds the heater diverter valve, which controls the drivers/passenger side heater. There isn't really a way to tell it's failed unless you pull it from the car and test it in your hands.

[ComradeSR]

My '01 X5 had the same symptoms. My bet is the fan blower unit. Mine began with a squeak or churping noise intermittantly and finally stopped working about 2 years later.

[EDG08]

Comrade,
how much does that cost (new blower unit)? i was hopeing it was a FSR, those are pretty cheap and easy to install.
Thanks

[EDG08]

M5, how do you bleed the system? i just added the distilled water were you would add the coolant (black box with the red bobber in it).
Thanks for the help M5

[faz]

Originally Posted by EDG08

M5, how do you bleed the system? i just added the distilled water were you would add the coolant (black box with the red bobber in it).
Thanks for the help M5

I am not trying to be a smart ass here, but I suggest you try and use the search functionality. You will see a lot of related threads, and you can read through them, and even though some may not apply to your case, some other ones may indeed help you look for things that can help you find your problem.

Here is a search result on 'bleeding coolant':
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...lant-tank.html

[ComradeSR]

Fan blower unit is only a couple hundred bucks. Install is an 8 hour job.

[m5james]

Hey, I just realized this thread was in regards to the heater fan, not the engine fan. my bad Mine has started to chirp once in a while also. I'm going replace the filters and see if there is a way I can mist WD40 or white lithium grease onto the motor if it's visible after removing the filters.