Temperature Gauge Cold & Heater Cold

OmahaJoe · #1 12-13-2010, 09:06 PM

I've owned my 2005 X5 3.0 for about 2 years now and have really enjoyed it. I have 60K on it now and I haven't had too many issues other than expected wear/tear.

Yesterday, I noticed the dash temperature gauge never gets above the blue marker at ANY point regardless of how hard I'm running it, whether I'm stopped, etc. It gets to the top of the cold line and stops. The heater is blowing out luke warm, but basically cold air. It's about 10 degrees in Omaha, NE right now so this really sucks. I tried re-circulate, auto, etc. on the climate control.....no help.

I just took it to my indy (who has been great) in late September for 60K Inspection I & II. Along with all the other I & II items, he performed the following:

"Flush cooling system, pressure test system, inspect hoses & heater control valve, check operation of thermostat & cooling fan"

Anyone have any thoughts? Should I be driving the X5? Should I even drive it to my indy?

Thanks in advance.

mywidebody02 · #2 12-13-2010, 09:16 PM

thermostat stuck open.

OmahaJoe · #3 12-13-2010, 09:32 PM

So would replacing the thermostat be the fix? Hard to think that in the two months since my 60K I & II Inspection this would go, but I suppose stranger things have happened. Any issues if I keep driving it? I would think it would just run colder than it's supposed to and that performance/mileage would be impacted.

mywidebody02 · #4 12-13-2010, 09:41 PM

im not a mechanic but thats what it sounds like. If the thermostat is stuck open then the coolant keeps circulating and never sits in the motor to warm up. Motor never gets hot and heat never comes on.

midwesterner · #5 12-23-2012, 02:58 AM

Hi everyone, I am having the exact same symptoms so I am guessing I need to replace my thermostat. I was wondering if I wait (drive a few hundred miles), will there be any fatal issues or problems for my engines longevity?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by OmahaJoe

So would replacing the thermostat be the fix? Hard to think that in the two months since my 60K I & II Inspection this would go, but I suppose stranger things have happened. Any issues if I keep driving it? I would think it would just run colder than it's supposed to and that performance/mileage would be impacted.

E55AMG2 · #6 12-13-2010, 09:39 PM

Either a thermostat, or a stuck heater valve.

Lookin4Trouble · #7 12-14-2010, 03:29 AM

Seconded. Almost definitely not heater valve unless it's that _as well_ - the engine temp is the dead giveaway that it is a stuck-open thermostat.

bgsquad · #8 12-18-2010, 12:37 PM

Today i just replaced my thermostat. It was stuck open, you can see the circular cover inside (pushed by spring) lifted instead of being sealed...

I had a temperature of 48-50Celcius (blue zone) now it's a healthy 85 Celcius (185 F) in dead center (it gets to dead center at 74 Celcius).

Besides, the fan clutch was always engaged, so he did some adjustment to the metallic tip (not sure what) and now it only engages at 85 when crawling in traffic ...

Everything is back to normal (Y)

SlickGT1 · #9 12-23-2012, 11:57 AM

No you will just burn a lot more fuel, as the car won't reach operating temp quick enough, and you will be colder in the car. Other than that, don't put this off. Not being at proper operating temp is not really good for the engine.

midwesterner · #10 12-23-2012, 12:04 PM

Thanks SlickGT, I intend to do the entire cooling system overhaul. Unfortunately, I am 250 miles from home visiting family. When I get home, I am going to use the opportunity to do some preventative maintenance. It sounds like I am not going to do any damage by waiting for a few hundred miles.

Thanks for the help!!