2012 F30 328i Waterpump failure leading to ECU failure

zizi8862 · 12-07-2020, 04:38 AM

Just wondering if other have encountered this issue or its a well known problem. Took my F30 back to the BMW dealers for some recall work. Was then my water pump failed which then possibly short circuited the ECU.

The car was then taken to a ECU specialist which couldn't point out to the specific cause for this problem. The Water pump still works but pumps at 100% and the ECU cannot communicate with the water pump. Car still drivable, I'm suspecting possibly something was caused by the recall but the dealers are denying that and refusing to accept responsibility.

Anyone else encountered this?

SeanFitz335 · 12-07-2020, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zizi8862

Just wondering if other have encountered this issue or its a well known problem. Took my F30 back to the BMW dealers for some recall work. Was then my water pump failed which then possibly short circuited the ECU.

The car was then taken to a ECU specialist which couldn't point out to the specific cause for this problem. The Water pump still works but pumps at 100% and the ECU cannot communicate with the water pump. Car still drivable, I'm suspecting possibly something was caused by the recall but the dealers are denying that and refusing to accept responsibility.

Anyone else encountered this?

Check for corrosion at the water pump connector. When my water pump went out it leaked just enough around the connector to corrode it. This threw all kinds of crazy codes from IBS, to sunroof control module, to steering wheel angle, etc. When the water pump was replaced they also replaced the connector harness and it cleared up the issues.

Wires · 12-07-2020, 07:31 PM

What sort of recall work did you have done? This sounds like more of a red herring, and not the cause of the failure.

zizi8862 · 12-09-2020, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanFitz335

Check for corrosion at the water pump connector. When my water pump went out it leaked just enough around the connector to corrode it. This threw all kinds of crazy codes from IBS, to sunroof control module, to steering wheel angle, etc. When the water pump was replaced they also replaced the connector harness and it cleared up the issues.

Interesting I'll bring that up with the dealer and get them to have a look. At the moment they want to replace the whole water pump and ecu as they said by plugging external connector they still can't get communication with the waterpump. I'm also very confused by why I need a new ecu

zizi8862 · 12-09-2020, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wires

What sort of recall work did you have done? This sounds like more of a red herring, and not the cause of the failure.

Main one was the replacement of the fuel tank as well as changing some corrosion protection of engine compartment. I just don't really believe that the chances can be thay likely some thing unrelated fails while it's in the dealers care.

Billfitz · 12-09-2020, 10:33 AM

I can't see how a bad water pump can damage the ECU. It's not like the ECU is cooled by the cooling system. No communication with the water pump, or anything else for that matter, is usually a wiring or connector problem.

Phoenix704 · 12-09-2020, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I can't see how a bad water pump can damage the ECU. It's not like the ECU is cooled by the cooling system. No communication with the water pump, or anything else for that matter, is usually a wiring or connector problem.

Would it be possible that a short in the water pump could feed back up to the ECU in some way?

Billfitz · 12-09-2020, 11:52 AM

Not likely. The ECU sends voltage to the pump. If that shorts out it should blow a fuse before causing damage. I had a similar issue with a emissions evaporation sensor. My scan said there was no sensor contact with the DME module, and no voltage present at the sensor. It turned out to be insulation on the wire between the sensor and DME had been chewed by a mouse. The exposed copper conductor corroded and eventually broke.

Wires · 12-14-2020, 07:08 PM

What do you mean by "water pump failure". If something happened that you had an unlikely short in the motor, then I suppose it's possible to blow out the ECU control circuit, but as Billfitz said, there should be a fuse in line which should have spared it before that happened.

Orion4 · 12-14-2020, 07:34 PM

What do you mean by "water pump failure"? You stated it running, but only at 100% correct?

12-07-2020, 04:38 AM	#1
zizi8862 New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: May 2015 Location: NZ iTrader: (0)	2012 F30 328i Waterpump failure leading to ECU failure Just wondering if other have encountered this issue or its a well known problem. Took my F30 back to the BMW dealers for some recall work. Was then my water pump failed which then possibly short circuited the ECU. The car was then taken to a ECU specialist which couldn't point out to the specific cause for this problem. The Water pump still works but pumps at 100% and the ECU cannot communicate with the water pump. Car still drivable, I'm suspecting possibly something was caused by the recall but the dealers are denying that and refusing to accept responsibility. Anyone else encountered this?
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12-07-2020, 07:31 PM	#3
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,876 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	What sort of recall work did you have done? This sounds like more of a red herring, and not the cause of the failure.
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12-09-2020, 10:33 AM	#6
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,079 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I can't see how a bad water pump can damage the ECU. It's not like the ECU is cooled by the cooling system. No communication with the water pump, or anything else for that matter, is usually a wiring or connector problem.
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12-09-2020, 11:52 AM	#8
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,079 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	Not likely. The ECU sends voltage to the pump. If that shorts out it should blow a fuse before causing damage. I had a similar issue with a emissions evaporation sensor. My scan said there was no sensor contact with the DME module, and no voltage present at the sensor. It turned out to be insulation on the wire between the sensor and DME had been chewed by a mouse. The exposed copper conductor corroded and eventually broke.
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12-14-2020, 07:08 PM	#9
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,876 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	What do you mean by "water pump failure". If something happened that you had an unlikely short in the motor, then I suppose it's possible to blow out the ECU control circuit, but as Billfitz said, there should be a fuse in line which should have spared it before that happened.
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12-14-2020, 07:34 PM	#10
Orion4 Lieutenant Colonel 481 Rep 1,572 Posts Drives: 2013 335i Sport Line Sedan Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, FL iTrader: (0)	What do you mean by "water pump failure"? You stated it running, but only at 100% correct?
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