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#1
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Permanent Check Coolant Level message?
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2006 X5 4.8is LeMans Blue over black Style 168 rims Blackout grills and hood vents Aux jack |
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#2
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what about the low level sensor in the expansion tank ,did you check that? unless thats the sensor your talking about you checked.
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2003 bmw x5 3.0i ,219000km build date 2003-08-18 |
#3
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Quote:
The sensor is screwed in from the bottom and is probably in a "dry" well (if like the expansion tanks since the m60-m62tu engines. See #3 in the diagram below...and also check if the electrical harness (#6) is plugged in correctly to the sensor: For example, in the pic below of an e39's expansion tank split open...you can see the float (it's goldish-tan in the 1st pic) in its normal "full" location inside the tank...and the "level sensor" is sitting to the far right (just below the split-opened tank). Again, the level sensor screws up inside a dry well in the tank...which is near the bottom of the float mechanism inside the tank. You can also see a "staple" sitting on a circular magnet in the bottom part of the float. I believe magnetism is somehow used to communicate the level of fluid in the tank to the level sensor. As the fluid lever drops inside the tank, the float lowers closer to the level sensor...and when the low point is reached, the proximity of the bottom of the float to the level sensor triggers the warning (see the 2nd image below): (all images below: courtesy of Bluebee) In this last image below...you can see that the internal "float" is at the very bottom of its range as if the tank was empty...you can see that the bottom half which contains the magnet...is also surrounding the "dry well" that the level sensor is screwed into...thus my assumption that the magnet is how the coolant level sensor recognizes that the tank is not full. If for some reason your level sensor has gone bad...or the bottom half of your float is still down near the level sensor (are you sure your float is intact)...you need to check the coolant level sensor or its electrical harness.
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Last edited by Qsilver7; 03-03-2014 at 12:07 PM. |
#4
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Yes, the sensor I was referring to - that I replaced - is the level sensor in the expansion tank (#3 in diagram). I assumed that was the one creating the message about the "level" of coolant. Is there another sensor somewhere that might generate the same message wording? Is there a "level" sensor in the radiator itself or elsewhere? Is this an error code that must be cleared manually? Thanks again.
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2006 X5 4.8is LeMans Blue over black Style 168 rims Blackout grills and hood vents Aux jack |
#5
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Now I'm confused...is the red float bobbing up to the top of the expansion tank when you unscrew the lid (on a cold engine)?
Also, I edited (added) more info to my previous reply...go back and check that it all makes sense to you as to how the coolant level sensor & internal float communicate with each other. You should see the internal float stick up like in the pic below (again, this is an e39 expansion tank...I've only been on the e53 forum for a year and don't know if there's a DIY for the e53's expansion tank). If the float is not rising to the top...then it has broken and the base of it (where the magnet resides) is down near the sensor...so the sensor would think that the tank is low on fluid...again, this is if the float is not rising to the top:
__________________
Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
Last edited by Qsilver7; 03-03-2014 at 12:05 PM. |
#6
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Thanks for the great detail on the system operation. Yes, the float bobs up correctly when the cap is opened. Since the float comes assembled with the expansion tank, I assume it was built properly with its magnets. Likewise, I bought the new electronic sensor from a reputable dealer so I think all of these expansion-tank related components are new and working. I even tried putting the old sensor back and it didn't change anything. I am back with the new sensor and the message persists. It's driving me crazy. The system seems to be operating fine, level steady at full for weeks, so driving the car is not a problem. But that message is always there and chimes in when you start the car and when you shut if off. It also leads to complacency and could mask a real leak if ignored, which I'm doing. Maybe there is a software bit stuck in memory somewhere. This is such a simple thing in cars - "detect low level of a fluid" - and yet BMW makes a Rube Goldberg system to do it. Ridiculous.
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2006 X5 4.8is LeMans Blue over black Style 168 rims Blackout grills and hood vents Aux jack |
#7
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- Clear the codes / recycle and start the car
- rescan and do diagnostics - Also, check with a multimeter (resistance and voltage) sensor(s) and related components
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Build Date: 06/2004 2004 E53 3.0L 6 Cyl Engine Code: M54 AT: 5L40-E/GM5 (A5S 390R) http://s101.photobucket.com/user/lho...in/library/E53 2004 E46 M3 Coupe 3.2L 6 Cyl Engine Code: S54 MT: S6S 420G - 6 speed http://s101.photobucket.com/user/lho...in/library/E46 ---------------------------------- Build Date: 10/2008 2009 E90N 328xi Sedan 6 Cyl Engine code: N51 AT: GA6L45R/GM6 http://s101.photobucket.com/user/lho...in/library/E90 |
#8
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And there's still the possible battery nap. If you have NAV, make sure that the nav CPU goes to sleep 1st (power downs)...I would hate to put your Nav in peril over something simple:
__________________
Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.
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#9
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pull the sensor from the dry well... see if the message is still there or if it is gone... if it is gone, the magnet inside fell down... if the message is still there, the problem is with sensor or down the line to the LCM.
with sensor out, put a magnet to the glass of the sensor (once you pull it out, you will see the clear glass i am talking about)... see if the contacts react... if contacts react, trace issue further in wiring... |
#10
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Update – here’s the troubleshooting steps I did:
1. Pulled the sensor out of the well but still attached to the harness: message remained. 2. Condition #1 above, then put a magnet on the sensor: message went away. 3. Removed sensor from harness: message remained. 4. Inserted jumper wire into harness socket: message went away. Based on this, somehow my system seems to be in a mode where it is operating backward. In other words, normally as the float dropped due to a coolant loss, the magnet would come down to the vicinity of the sensor; the switch would close and the message would appear. I have the opposite – when a magnet is near, the switch closes and the system is happy – message goes away. How on earth did the system get so jacked from just a simple tank and sensor replacement and why can’t I clear this message via some standard procedure? Hopefully someone can shed some light, else I will just make the jumper wire permanent and avoid this headache. I check fluids often and I still have the temp gauge so I’m not too worried, but I hate to kludge things. Advice, comments very welcome! Thank you.
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2006 X5 4.8is LeMans Blue over black Style 168 rims Blackout grills and hood vents Aux jack |
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