BMW X3 2008 no cooling fan

timgman · 06-02-2021, 06:37 AM

Hello,
I'd like to see if it's possible that any of you can assist me in diagnosing a cooling fan issue with my daughters 2008 BMW x3

Here's my basic findings

The cooling fan never comes on
We have 12v at the connector
We have a solid ground (tested from fan plug to chassis)
AC does not start the fan
AC does work
The car over heats when not moving after a lonf period of time.
I get a 2EFE error code (fan start failure)
The third wire "black w green stripe" wire does NOT have continuity to the engine compartment fuze box terminal wire that (to me) looks the same color.
The wire has continuity to a Gree/white stripe wire next to it....
If I pull the temp sensor plug (located front of engine near ouil cooler), the fan still does not start.

I initially tested w/ another fan from a LCI x3 and that did not work.

I was surprised to see continuity to a green/white wire instead of the black/green wire.. in fact I was a bit confused.

I tried the test again to the gree/white wire after driving a short period and now there’s no continuity. Weird maybe I was wro???

FluxBMW · 10-27-2022, 05:56 PM

Have you ever found the issue for this problem? I am currently experiencing the same problem and I absolutely can't find what is the cause... Any informtation would be greatly appreciated Thanks

richardodn · 10-29-2022, 12:48 PM

Are you familiar with speed controlled Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) fans like you find in a computer case? It's basically the same thing here.
red/blue is hot at all times from fuse f37
brown is ground
black/green is a PWM speed controller run by the DME module

IIRC, the DME spins the fan briefly at startup and sets the trouble code if it doesn't detect a spin. Use a code reader to see if yours is set. If it is, replace the fan.

framesliderz · 11-16-2022, 04:01 PM

In my situation the issue was the small signal wire (not the large wires for positive and ground). On my 08 E83 3.0i model the signal wire is green. Anyway, where the wire enters the weather packing (rubber seal) at the motor end the wire suffered corrosion and broke the connection. Impossible to know unless you carefully took a utility blade and cut away the rubber to visibly inspect the solder joint. After resoldering and then smothering it with black liquid tape it came back to life. Good luck

06-02-2021, 06:37 AM	#1
timgman Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW X5 35i Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Central NY iTrader: (0)	BMW X3 2008 no cooling fan Hello, I'd like to see if it's possible that any of you can assist me in diagnosing a cooling fan issue with my daughters 2008 BMW x3 Here's my basic findings The cooling fan never comes on We have 12v at the connector We have a solid ground (tested from fan plug to chassis) AC does not start the fan AC does work The car over heats when not moving after a lonf period of time. I get a 2EFE error code (fan start failure) The third wire "black w green stripe" wire does NOT have continuity to the engine compartment fuze box terminal wire that (to me) looks the same color. The wire has continuity to a Gree/white stripe wire next to it.... If I pull the temp sensor plug (located front of engine near ouil cooler), the fan still does not start. I initially tested w/ another fan from a LCI x3 and that did not work. I was surprised to see continuity to a green/white wire instead of the black/green wire.. in fact I was a bit confused. I tried the test again to the gree/white wire after driving a short period and now there’s no continuity. Weird maybe I was wro??? Last edited by timgman; 06-02-2021 at 06:48 AM..
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10-27-2022, 05:56 PM	#2
FluxBMW Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW X3 3.0i AWD Join Date: Oct 2022 Location: Ottawa, Ontario iTrader: (0)	BMW X3 2008 no cooling fan HELP Have you ever found the issue for this problem? I am currently experiencing the same problem and I absolutely can't find what is the cause... Any informtation would be greatly appreciated Thanks
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10-29-2022, 12:48 PM	#3
richardodn First Lieutenant 160 Rep 350 Posts Drives: '12 X3 35iX/'20 440ix cabrio Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	Are you familiar with speed controlled Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) fans like you find in a computer case? It's basically the same thing here. red/blue is hot at all times from fuse f37 brown is ground black/green is a PWM speed controller run by the DME module IIRC, the DME spins the fan briefly at startup and sets the trouble code if it doesn't detect a spin. Use a code reader to see if yours is set. If it is, replace the fan. __________________ 1986 Delphin 528e - Roof rack equipped lumber hauler. 2008 Platinum-Beige X3 3.0si - Current project 2012 Alpine White X3 xDrive35i - My new snowmobile. 2020 Estoril Blue 440i xDrive cabrio w/MPPSK - This car is a blast to drive.
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11-16-2022, 04:01 PM	#4
framesliderz Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW X3 3.0i (E83) Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	In my situation the issue was the small signal wire (not the large wires for positive and ground). On my 08 E83 3.0i model the signal wire is green. Anyway, where the wire enters the weather packing (rubber seal) at the motor end the wire suffered corrosion and broke the connection. Impossible to know unless you carefully took a utility blade and cut away the rubber to visibly inspect the solder joint. After resoldering and then smothering it with black liquid tape it came back to life. Good luck
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