What could be the issue?

Question

I have a 2005 BMW X3 3.0i. It has 153,000 miles. I was pulling into my apartment complex when I heard a chime. I look down to see what the chime was about and the temperature gauge how moved to red and the coolant light came on. I quickly pulled into the nearest parking spot. While doing so, it had hesitated to go. Makes sense, I figured I just mention. Before the chime, it was running normally, didnt show any weird and unusual behavior before it had occurred. Upon parking my car, I had popped the hood and let it cool down. A guy who was a "mechanic" came out and asked what happened. I told him and he had responded with saying "we could try somethings." He asked if I had coolant and I said yes. I gave him the coolant and he had poured it, immediately upon pouring it, you could hear it running out from underneath the car. After that, he realized he didnt want to use the coolant as the liquid to determine where the water was coming out of. He got water instead. He found out the water was coming out directly underneath where you put the coolant in. He also, after doing so, gave me a bunch of possibilities. I had looked online aswell to get an idea. For a in the moment type thing, I wanted to get an idea as to what I could be looking at. Not to worried about price. I just want my baby fixed lol. I know ite hard to go off what I'm saying vs actually seeing the car, but I've tried my best to explain. Anything is helpful, thanks!

J R Spigot · Accepted Answer

If the water/coolant is coming fast out of the bottom most likely it is one of the coolant hoses which has split. It happens as the rubber gets old and brittle, Otherwise it's a leak in the radiator but that would have to be a big one for it to come out fast.
As long as you didn't run the engine a long time after the warning came on then you should be ok.

Mechanic for 50+ years

The Devil · Answer

If a mechanic couldn't tell if a hose burst, we can't do any better. By he way, you never pour coolant into a hot engine with the engine not running....well, you said you let it cool down, but not how long you let it cool down. You came in with no coolant in the engine and it so hot it was beginning to stall or seize, so cooling should take no less than 1/2 hour or more. Pouring coolant into a hot engine without it running can crack the cylinder head, adding another few thousand bux to the repair. My best guess is a lower radiator hose burst. My worst guess is he engine has galled cylinders and will forever be an oil-drinker and smoker. There could be one issue (yea) or several issue (booo). Fix the leak first, then see if nothing else goes wrong.

thebax2006 · Answer

Those motors are known for water pump failure.
If there is not a split radiator hose it's bound to be the water pump. 
Tow it to a good mechanic.

Anonymous · Answer

There is a coolant leak.  The likely culprit is a leaking radiator or lower radiator hose.

Dan · Answer

Everything about the cooling system in that car is bad, it's all cheap plastic. They have a cheap plastic neck on the radiator at the bottom with a plastic quick connect fitting that attaches the hose. The quick connect fitting has snapped and the lower rad hose has popped off. You're going to need a new hose, possibly a radiator if the plastic neck has broken.

? · Answer

Most likely the bottom hose has failed, though one would need to look at it to be sure. If it is that and you replace the hose, check the others too as they'll all likely be of the same age and likely to go the way of the first.  It's always better to replace 'em BEFORE they fail.

Anonymous · Answer

It's really not that hard. Your lower radiator hose has sprung a major leak. Call a mechanic and ask them to pick the car up and repair it. You don't want to try to drive it anywhere or even run the engine.

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What could be the issue?

7 Answers