Help! Heating isn't working and engine fan is going beserk!

[monkeys heed]

I've got a R52 Mini Cooper and the heating was working fine until the weathers started to get colder! Now it takes an age to warm up and clear my steamed up windscreen, etc. Also yesterday my car was sat in the cold for around 7hours then I drove it for around 4 miles in traffic, by the time I'd arrived at my destination the heating was slightly warm and when I got out of the car the engine fan was on and going beserk.

Is there something wrong with my thermostat? The dial displays my car as being warm (dial is in the middle).

Any help, recommendations, welcome.

Cheers in advance

[Donz]

have you checked your coolent level?

[adam_Randell]

^^ echo Donz

your heating is an auxiliary to your coolant (not exactly sure how it works) but hence it takes a while to warm up i.e. while your engine warms up

[minimattsback]

It may have an air lock in the heating system and may need bleeding...What way is your fan going berserk!!!!

[monkeys heed]

Cheers for all the replies.

I checked the coolant when I got in my car to drive home and it was really low, so as I only had a bottle of water in the car, I stuck a bit of that in it. Then whilst driving home the temp gauge raced up to top and the red light came on, then it dropped to 3/4 then I stopped shortly afterwards and the fan was going beserk/making a right racket!

Gonna go check on it in 5 mins when it's had time to cool down. Never had any bother with this up until now, is it a common thing or common for this time of year?

[M.O.S]

Is it auto ac or normal?

[monkeys heed]

Not sure what you mean, it's got ac but i've not used that since July.

The coolant tank when I went to check on it at around 7pm was still full of the water I'd put in but the engine was still warm after my short journey home from work. I'm gonna check the coolant in the morning to see if it's still in the same position. Just hoping I don't have to pay a visit to the local mini garage

[M.O.S]

is it climate control (digital display) or the standard a/c - 3 turny knob things?

[DaFlake]

A couple of things that could be a problem but first, I recommend that you get it checked ASAP and not drive it all around. If your car overheats, it could cause serious problems.

1. Could be a bad thermostat.
2. Could be a failing fan assembly. (guessed due to the "racket" it was making).
3. Could be a leak in another area and your car was overheating
4. Could be a combination of things.

As you can see, it is all a guess. I highly recommend you get the car in to be looked at.

[monkeys heed]

Cheers for all the info, I've decided to book it into a BMW garage (not a chain one!) to have a look at it, I'd rather be safe than sorry!

[Lynch76]

How did u get on with your heating?

[drozd]

it could be due to the resistor blowing it controls the fan, the engine fan has 2 speeds if the resistor blows the fan goes onto full speed it then makes a noise like a helicopter.

Low Speed Fan Resistor - we need solution - North American Motoring

this is an old thread the info might be still be useful