BEAMERGUY4EVER
09-08-2006, 02:09 PM
There are a lot of posts online regarding failure of the final stage resistor in the e36 and e46 3-series. Most of the symptoms I have read about, however, are either not very intelligently described, or not very similar to what I am experiencing. This makes it difficult for me to compare my car's symptoms to their's in hope of finding a solution. My gut tells me the resistor is likely the issue, but can anyone analyze these symptoms and give me some more concrete advice?
The big doubt-causer in my research is that many people who have this issue claim thier climate control has a mind of its own, coming on and going off at unusual times and remaining on after the car is turned off. This vague description could describe a lot of different behaviors that may or may not be what I am experiencing. Here are my car's symptoms, carefully analyzed and carefully described, so you can give me better advice!
The unit does not just "come on" and "turn off" on its on. If I reduce the fan speed to zero manually, the unit turns off and stays off as it should. When it is on and running, it does not "turn off" by itself either. When the car is turned off, the system behaves normally and does not remain running as others have claimed.
Specifically, here is what my climate control unit is doing. Whether auto or manual, AC or no AC, no matter what function (defrost, recirc, etc) if the fan speed is supposed to be above 60% (as determined by the auto function, or input manually) the fan will run consistently at 60%, it will periodically surge to the proper speed for a matter of seconds, and then it will return to 60% speed. With any lower speeds the fan works perfectly, and responds to the changes from the CC unit immediately.
Basically anytime my fan is supposed to be running at high speeds, it only does so sporadically. There are some days, however, where it works perfectly normal throughout the entire day! Everything else with the unit works normal, the temp sensor is clean and accurate, no dimness of displays or loss of AC as described by others. I am stumped!
I do not know enough about the car to pinpoint why this unit would work perfectly in all circumstances except at higher fan speeds, and why this fault is so inconsistent. Please, any advice you have is greatly appreciated. If you need more clarification of the above symptoms, please ask, and I will give more detail.
The big doubt-causer in my research is that many people who have this issue claim thier climate control has a mind of its own, coming on and going off at unusual times and remaining on after the car is turned off. This vague description could describe a lot of different behaviors that may or may not be what I am experiencing. Here are my car's symptoms, carefully analyzed and carefully described, so you can give me better advice!
The unit does not just "come on" and "turn off" on its on. If I reduce the fan speed to zero manually, the unit turns off and stays off as it should. When it is on and running, it does not "turn off" by itself either. When the car is turned off, the system behaves normally and does not remain running as others have claimed.
Specifically, here is what my climate control unit is doing. Whether auto or manual, AC or no AC, no matter what function (defrost, recirc, etc) if the fan speed is supposed to be above 60% (as determined by the auto function, or input manually) the fan will run consistently at 60%, it will periodically surge to the proper speed for a matter of seconds, and then it will return to 60% speed. With any lower speeds the fan works perfectly, and responds to the changes from the CC unit immediately.
Basically anytime my fan is supposed to be running at high speeds, it only does so sporadically. There are some days, however, where it works perfectly normal throughout the entire day! Everything else with the unit works normal, the temp sensor is clean and accurate, no dimness of displays or loss of AC as described by others. I am stumped!
I do not know enough about the car to pinpoint why this unit would work perfectly in all circumstances except at higher fan speeds, and why this fault is so inconsistent. Please, any advice you have is greatly appreciated. If you need more clarification of the above symptoms, please ask, and I will give more detail.
