Overheated

[penet05]

I appreciate some input.
The AC started to become weak when the car was restarted after a short stop or when driving less than 30 mph. Two days ago I read the error codes.

1A2408: Electric fan, self diagnosis level3: Fan fault with motor function restriction

Today while I was in a traffic jam the car overheated, went into safe mode. After the red warning I drove maybe 300 feet with a speed of 30 mph and stopped it. After a few minutes I see coolant all over the underneath the car.

Any suggestions of where and how to start? I was thinking maybe putting some water and test to see if it is leaking first. Later, focus on the electric fan?

[tlow98]

Well, it sounds like it overheated bc the fan failed. Or you could have a coolant related issue.

What model is your car?

[penet05]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Well, it sounds like it overheated bc the fan failed. Or you could have a coolant related issue.

What model is your car?

It is a 2014 3.5 sdrive.
I checked the coolant a week ago and it was full, no leak till today.

[yupetc]

Replace the fan, easy job. You're lucky it's not the water pump at the moment.

[penet05]

Replaced the fan. Same issue. The car overheats when AC is on and the car is idling. I don't see the fan kicking in at all.

Codes:
1A2408: Electric fan, self diagnosis level 3: Fan fault with motor function restriction
1A2508: Electric fan, self diagnosis level 4: Serious Fan fault
801228: Power Management: Reduction of fan power

Any other suggestions?

[RED_Y_]

Check fuses?

[penet05]

I found one fuse under the glove box. 5Amp. It looked fine. My next plan is to test the Aux Fan relay in driver side engine compartment. Indeed replace it with used one. Any other fuses I am missing?

[yupetc]

Originally Posted by penet05

I found one fuse under the glove box. 5Amp. It looked fine. My next plan is to test the Aux Fan relay in driver side engine compartment. Indeed replace it with used one. Any other fuses I am missing?

Just replace the fan, it's old enough to warrant a new fan. Job is actually quite easy, too.

Those fault codes point to fan itself malfunctioning. If fuses are out, you'll get some other codes about fan's circuitry being open or so.

[penet05]

Originally Posted by yupetc

Just replace the fan, it's old enough to warrant a new fan. Job is actually quite easy, too.

Those fault codes point to fan itself malfunctioning. If fuses are out, you'll get some other codes about fan's circuitry being open or so.

Replaced the fan already and same problem…

[tlow98]

The fan definitely draws more than 5 amps. That’s the wrong fuse, I suspect.

[penet05]

Originally Posted by tlow98

The fan definitely draws more than 5 amps. That's the wrong fuse, I suspect.

I only found the electric fan cut-out relay fuse under the glovebox. I know the relay in the engine compartment is 125Amp. Beyond these two, any other fuse to check?

[Clifton]

Originally Posted by penet05

Replaced the fan. Same issue. The car overheats when AC is on and the car is idling. I don't see the fan kicking in at all.

Codes:
801228: Power Management: Reduction of fan power

Any other suggestions?

The last code points to your 12v systems. How old are your batteries?

Fault Code Description
This entry does not describe a fault in the refrigerant circuit but documents the fact that the blower output has been limited due to an inadequately charged 12 V vehicle electrical system.

As soon as the 12 V vehicle electrical system is sufficiently charged again, the restriction is automatically cancelled.

[yupetc]

Originally Posted by penet05

Replaced the fan already and same problem…

Clifton's diagnosis is more on the right alignment. This could be a power management issue especially if/when the battery can have some ghost draw when the car's parked and shut down. When the battery is below certain lower threshold, it'll limit your car's overall function.

[penet05]

Originally Posted by Clifton

The last code points to your 12v systems. How old are your batteries?

Fault Code Description
This entry does not describe a fault in the refrigerant circuit but documents the fact that the blower output has been limited due to an inadequately charged 12 V vehicle electrical system.

As soon as the 12 V vehicle electrical system is sufficiently charged again, the restriction is automatically cancelled.

Thanks for the suggestion. Battery was drained in the last few days because of non-start and continuous code reading, etc. The battery is a year old and I put into battery tender. It is healthy and that message is vanished. I am leaning towards the relay. If not, I may need to change the fan with an OEM one. Who knows maybe Rockauto one is defective also.

[penet05]

Originally Posted by penet05

Thanks for the suggestion. Battery was drained in the last few days because of non-start and continuous code reading, etc. The battery is a year old and I put into battery tender. It is healthy and that message is vanished. I am leaning towards the relay. If not, I may need to change the fan with an OEM one. Who knows maybe Rockauto one is defective also.

Final update: Relay arrived and installed. Fan started to work. No more overheating. Moral of the story: when suspicious on fan, it is also better to change the relay.

Thank you all for your inputs.

[tlow98]

Nice, glad to hear it’s working. Thanks for following up - always helpful for everyone

[spit]

Originally Posted by penet05

Final update: Relay arrived and installed. Fan started to work. No more overheating. Moral of the story: when suspicious on fan, it is also better to change the relay.

Thank you all for your inputs.

if you can, please give the part number

[penet05]

Originally Posted by spit

if you can, please give the part number

9198302

[james92se]

Originally Posted by penet05

9198302

penet05 hate to bump an old thread, but where exactly is this relay located? When I look up that part number it seems to indicate it's the starter relay - does the vehicle have several of these same relays?

Thanks

[stocktree]

Originally Posted by james92se

penet05 hate to bump an old thread, but where exactly is this relay located? When I look up that part number it seems to indicate it's the starter relay - does the vehicle have several of these same relays?

Thanks

.

[james92se]

Originally Posted by stocktree

.

Awesome, thank you! Looks like aftermarket on Rock Auto these are referred to as "accessory power relay" and Standard Motor Products makes a replacement part number RY1883. And the OE BMW part number is 61369198302.

Do you by chance know if there are any other relays/controllers/etc. that influence the fan?

[stocktree]

Originally Posted by james92se

Awesome, thank you! Looks like aftermarket on Rock Auto these are referred to as "accessory power relay" and Standard Motor Products makes a replacement part number RY1883. And the OE BMW part number is 61369198302.

Do you by chance know if there are any other relays/controllers/etc. that influence the fan?

Engine coolant temperature sensor. But if you're getting overheating message, then that's not the issue.