Bad final resistor need help.

I replaced my old oem resistor with a aftermarket off eBay. After 8 months of use. It gave out and it burnt one of the wire. What should I do?

I attached pictures of what had happen. Thanks

We've covered this in the E39 forums as to which FSU's actually hold up over time (you can find it, as always, in the bestlinks under FSU):

See bold red below ...

- What is the canonical thread on the BMW FSU/FSR/Blower Motor Resistor (1) and what is the right brand FSR to purchase (1) (2) when your interior heating & air conditioning HVAC/IHKA blower motor goes haywire (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to repair your own final stage resistor including an autopsy & wiring diagram schematic (1) (2) and why a bad final stage unit will cause the battery to drain overnight (1) (2) (3) & how to isolate and replace the blower motor (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how not to replace the FSU (1)



BTW, it would be nice to see a photo of the LABEL on your bad FSU so we can add this information to the anecdotal database we've been maintaining.

First thing I would do is order a replacement resistor.
While waiting for that to come in, confirm you haven't blown any fuses and also confirm you have the correct size fuses installed. You want to make sure a bad/crap FSR isn't drawing too much current (which can over heat wires). I'm not suggesting this is what happened, because where that FSR lives is very cramped and I imagine doesn't whick away heat to well.
Next, with your existing female connector, do you think the lower middle connector is completely fried or do you think some sandpaper and needle pliers will clean it up and make it tight again? If you don't think it is savable, I would poke around realoem to see if you can locate which connector it is. (e.g. link but try some other subgroups too). OR, I have also found my dealer service parts guys pretty fluent in identifying the correct replacement parts. You could just go to them and tell them what you need. It should then just be a matter of crack open the old, replace pins where needed and install the new. I hope you have some wire slack on that harness though in case you have to cut off the old.

Originally Posted by bluebee

We've covered this in the E39 forums as to which FSU's actually hold up over time (you can find it, as always, in the bestlinks under FSU):

See bold red below ...

- What is the canonical thread on the BMW FSU/FSR/Blower Motor Resistor (1) and what is the right brand FSR to purchase (1) (2) when your interior heating & air conditioning HVAC/IHKA blower motor goes haywire (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to repair your own final stage resistor including an autopsy & wiring diagram schematic (1) (2) and why a bad final stage unit will cause the battery to drain overnight (1) (2) (3) & how to isolate and replace the blower motor (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how not to replace the FSU (1)



BTW, it would be nice to see a photo of the LABEL on your bad FSU so we can add this information to the anecdotal database we've been maintaining.

I'll be sure to take a picture of it. Thanks for the info.

Originally Posted by zQUEz

First thing I would do is order a replacement resistor.
While waiting for that to come in, confirm you haven't blown any fuses and also confirm you have the correct size fuses installed. You want to make sure a bad/crap FSR isn't drawing too much current (which can over heat wires). I'm not suggesting this is what happened, because where that FSR lives is very cramped and I imagine doesn't whick away heat to well.
Next, with your existing female connector, do you think the lower middle connector is completely fried or do you think some sandpaper and needle pliers will clean it up and make it tight again? If you don't think it is savable, I would poke around realoem to see if you can locate which connector it is. (e.g. link but try some other subgroups too). OR, I have also found my dealer service parts guys pretty fluent in identifying the correct replacement parts. You could just go to them and tell them what you need. It should then just be a matter of crack open the old, replace pins where needed and install the new. I hope you have some wire slack on that harness though in case you have to cut off the old.

Thanks for the help. I believe I need to trace the short.

Originally Posted by bluebee

We've covered this in the E39 forums as to which FSU's actually hold up over time (you can find it, as always, in the bestlinks under FSU):

See bold red below ...

- What is the canonical thread on the BMW FSU/FSR/Blower Motor Resistor (1) and what is the right brand FSR to purchase (1) (2) when your interior heating & air conditioning HVAC/IHKA blower motor goes haywire (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to repair your own final stage resistor including an autopsy & wiring diagram schematic (1) (2) and why a bad final stage unit will cause the battery to drain overnight (1) (2) (3) & how to isolate and replace the blower motor (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how not to replace the FSU (1)



BTW, it would be nice to see a photo of the LABEL on your bad FSU so we can add this information to the anecdotal database we've been maintaining.

the resistor that failed on me and gave me numerous issues is from ebay.

http://myworld.ebay.com/quarrymotusa...id=p4340.l2559

I bought the resistor from them for 30 dollars.

I am also wondering where you purchase your resistor and what kind did you get? I found a resistor in the recommended section, Sitronic for 60 dollars, and the Bosch for 90 dollars.

thanks

Originally Posted by veli510

the resistor that failed on me and gave me numerous issues is from ebay.

The thread I pointed you to gives plenty of anecdotal evidence of what FSUs to avoid, especially the ones on Ebay.

Originally Posted by veli510

I am also wondering where you purchase your resistor and what kind did you get?

Ummmm... er ... it's all quite detailed in the thread I referenced. A whole bunch of people listed what FSU we bought for how much from whom and how long it lasted. If I repeated all that here, I'd end up making a mistake because it's not fresh in my mind.

See also:
- What is the canonical thread on the BMW E39 FSU/FSR/Blower Motor Resistor (1) and what is the right brand FSR to purchase (1) (2) when your interior heating & air conditioning HVAC/IHKA blower motor goes haywire (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to repair your own final stage resistor including an autopsy & wiring diagram schematic (1) (2) and why a bad final stage unit will cause the battery to drain overnight (1) (2) (3) & how to isolate and replace the E39 blower motor (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how not to replace the FSU (1)

Originally Posted by bluebee

The thread I pointed you to gives plenty of anecdotal evidence of what FSUs to avoid, especially the ones on Ebay.



Ummmm... er ... it's all quite detailed in the thread I referenced. I mean, how much more information can you ask for? A whole bunch of people, including me, listed what FSU we bought for how much from whom and how long it lasted.

What more do you want?

If you 'really' need more information, see these threads:

- What is the canonical thread on the BMW E39 FSU/FSR/Blower Motor Resistor (1) and what is the right brand FSR to purchase (1) (2) when your interior heating & air conditioning HVAC/IHKA blower motor goes haywire (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) & how to repair your own final stage resistor including an autopsy & wiring diagram schematic (1) (2) and why a bad final stage unit will cause the battery to drain overnight (1) (2) (3) & how to isolate and replace the E39 blower motor (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) & how not to replace the FSU (1)

You asked what resistor I used that failed so i gave you a link since you stated earlier that you wanted to input it into the database. As for asking you what kind of brand you got for your replacement; I just wanted to know your input since I don't have a working computer at the moment so im using my phone. But thanks for the info. Appreciate it.

Originally Posted by veli510

I just wanted to know your input

Sorry for being snippy in my response. I've since deleted most of what I said. The only way I can answer your question is to go to the links that I suggested you read.

Going back to the thread to see what I bought & from whom:
- What is the right brand of FSU/FSR to buy?

It looks like, in post #39, I bought a German ACM FSR for my vehicle (has been working for years).
In post #34, it looks like I bought it from AutoHauzAZ (cheapest price at the time).
In post #46, we list the following (still debatable) recommendations:

Probably recommended:
- Sitronic/Bosch (made in Germany)
- ACM (made in Germany)
- Behr/Hella (made in Germany)

Probably not recommended:
- Behr/Hella (made in China)
- GKR/Valeo (made in France)
- Valeo/Sitronic
- GKR/Siemens (made in France)

Almost certainly not recommended:
- Meyle
- Uro
- GKR/Denso
- Power Pro
- Deutsche Parts/Hamburg Technic (sold on Ebay, made in China)

NOTE: Many FSUs are double branded; and very many are tri branded; some are even quad branded - so they are listed above in the order of who actually manufactured them.