E39 Air conditioning not blowing cold

62803 Views 29 Replies 12 Participants Last post by reza.fariza, Jun 7, 2018

BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · Dec 11, 2008

I believe I have have a self-inflicted Air Conditioning issue.

I noticed my air conditioner was only blowing warm air today when taking a ride for lunch. I set the temp on both passenger and drivers side to 60 degrees and only warm air with the fan on full blast. Usually it's very cold only on the first three or four lowest fan setting. The center vent dial is set to three blue dots. The light on my A/C button is lit green (on). I did have the system set to 90 degrees earlier as I was bleeding/burping the cooling system from a cooling system maintenance.

I suspect it is self inflicted as I just finished up the install for a electric fan and was in the relay box under the passenger carbon filter airbox last night. I was installing a pair of fan relays and wiring into the relay box for a SPAL two speed fan.

I swear I didn't screw something up in there, but I'm getting older and senile, so just maybe I jostled something or bumped a relay that has now failed.

I'll open it up when I get home to see if there is anything obvious, but am posting here to see if anyone else has had a similar experience. I searched for "Air Conditioning problem" and among all the feedback, I'm thinking I either disconnected or josteled a relay so it's now broke. I'll also check the fuse when I get back to the car.

Ah, I also checked the A/C compressor belt, it's on and spinning normally.

Will the OBD throw a code for an air conditioning failure?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

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540Levi

· #2 · Dec 12, 2008

mine is not working either... assumed it was the coolant, but its cold currently so i don't mind... anyone have any ideas??? :dunno:

BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 12, 2008

So, looking at the A/C compressor with the A/C switch off, then looking at it again with the switch on, it does not look like the A/C compressor clutch is engaging. Anyone have a similar problem and how troubleshoot this if it's the unit or a relay?

Thanks!

Ryan M

· #4 · Dec 12, 2008

When was the last time it was charged? That is the first thing you should check. Also, not to insult your intelligence, but make sure the dial on the vents is set to "blue" and not "red". It happens sometimes.

BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 12, 2008

Thanks! Charged? Don't know, have had the car for a month.

However, It blew icy cold 5 days ago before I did the cooling system update. Both temps were set to 60 degrees and the center vent is set to 3 blue dots.

As mentioned at the top of this thread, the last changes was the change was a cooling system retrofit and last night, wiring up the two speed fan with relays in the relay box.

Eliminating all electrical possibilities, I will check the refrigerant if I get that far in the troubleshooting process.

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Ryan M

· #6 · Dec 12, 2008

Sorry, by charged I meant refrigerant level. Charging is just a common term used in the field.

BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 12, 2008

Ryan M,

Yes, I figured that's what you meant. I'm thinking by it's recent performance, the system referegerant should be O.K. unless somewhere in the rad installation process, I breached a line and lost the refridgerant. I'll check it out this afternoon.

Also went through the Bentley manual and found the electrical schematics for the A/C system, but just trying to get a clue as to where to start. I'll start with the circuits that engage the compressor. Also try to find the fuses for the A/C. They are not present in the glove box location.

Thanks again!

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GST528I

· #8 · Dec 13, 2008

Any leak in the lines maybe?
Why dont you check the pressure on the pressure line?
But if it was working 5 days ago sounds like another issue

BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #9 · Dec 13, 2008

Yeah, I'm thinking that... Hope to get a chance to check it out today after some boat gearbox fun...

Luckly, I don't need the air con now, but will later in the year. Conincidental that it fails just after a mod. Funny how that happens...

I'll post again when I've located and checked the fuses for the A/C system. (Not 9 & 20 in the glove box, they weren't present. Maybe that's the prob. ) and locate the relay for the compressor.

Thanks for brainstorming here... I haven't had to troubleshoot A/C systems before.

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16valex

· #10 · Dec 13, 2008

"""" I was installing a pair of fan relays and wiring into the relay box for a SPAL two speed fan. """"

I bet you a cup of coffe that whatever the mod you did caused the AC not to engage. I don't know the exact change date, but for the AC compressor to kick ON, it has to see the aux fan.

flyboyy

· #11 · Dec 13, 2008

for the AC to work.... few things you need to look at... make sure... when you turn on your AC... with the green light on the snow flake... and go check out your... AC compressor..make sure the compressor clutch is engage... if its not enaged..then thats why.... also look at the AUX fan in the front bumper grill .... if that fan is not spinning... thats one reason why the compressor clutch will not engage and therefore your AC will not turn on... I had this problem during the summer..... and they found that the AUX fan connectors in the front... was molded...and my aux fan did not turn on cuz of bad connection and compressor clutch did not kick on..and NO AC......

so check those few things

1. is AUX FAN on.. when AC is turned on...?

2. is AC compressor clutch spinning when AC is turned on ?

then u can go ahead with other troubleshooting methods....

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BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 13, 2008

16valex and Flyboyy, thanks! Going downstairs now to see if perhaps I messed with the wiring or such to that aux fan. Anyone know where the electrical leads are to the Aux Fan. Not apparent in Bentleys manual... Nice leads... Thanks again!

BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 14, 2008

Flyboyy, Was it the Aux fan connector on the Aux Fan itself or the switch that is on the Fan Shroud over the radiator? Can't see the Aux Fan connectors without taking the front grilll off. I'll do that tomorrow, as I head out to a Kings/Knicks game just now. BTW, I did have to transfer what Bentley describes as a Aux Fan Switch from the OEM fan Shroud to the Zionsville fan shroud. Upon inspection, the switch/connector was wet with some new coolant from the cooling system burping process I went through two days ago. If that is the aux fan switch, perhaps it did not like a coolant bath.

Thanks for this lead! Where is Gotham?

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redeye184

· #14 · Dec 14, 2008

when the air blows, check to see if a gas smell appears. If it does it might be the evaporator. Usually the right side starts not cooling.

16valex

· #15 · Dec 14, 2008

Protential good find

"""""the switch/connector was wet with some new coolant from the cooling system burping process I went through two days ago. If that is the aux fan switch, perhaps it did not like a coolant bath. """"""

Above find has high protential of solving your AC compressor Not to kick ON. I wish you luck man.

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flyboyy

· #16 · Dec 14, 2008

BlackBMWs said:
Flyboyy, Was it the Aux fan connector on the Aux Fan itself or the switch that is on the Fan Shroud over the radiator? Can't see the Aux Fan connectors without taking the front grilll off. I'll do that tomorrow, as I head out to a Kings/Knicks game just now. BTW, I did have to transfer what Bentley describes as a Aux Fan Switch from the OEM fan Shroud to the Zionsville fan shroud. Upon inspection, the switch/connector was wet with some new coolant from the cooling system burping process I went through two days ago. If that is the aux fan switch, perhaps it did not like a coolant bath.

Thanks for this lead! Where is Gotham?

the aux fan connector in my case, if you look at it from the front its the left side and its right beside the black kidney grill. if you look from the side, you can see it , as it is attached you will see the connector, ..it hooks onto a pastic hook or something.... when you get a chance go take a look... one of the wire on the connector was corroded and needed to be re-soldered on to get the connection back.. and PUFF aux fan kicked on and then compressor kicked on....and my AC was back in business..... good luck..

GOTHAM = NYC

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BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 14, 2008

16valex said:
"""""the switch/connector was wet with some new coolant from the cooling system burping process I went through two days ago. If that is the aux fan switch, perhaps it did not like a coolant bath. """"""

Above find has high protential of solving your AC compressor Not to kick ON. I wish you luck man.

Actually, I found this sensor is the AUC (Air Quality) nothing to do directly with the A/C. Still looking...

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BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #18 · Dec 14, 2008

flyboyy said:
the aux fan connector in my case, if you look at it from the front its the left side and its right beside the black kidney grill. if you look from the side, you can see it , as it is attached you will see the connector, ..it hooks onto a pastic hook or something.... when you get a chance go take a look... one of the wire on the connector was corroded and needed to be re-soldered on to get the connection back.. and PUFF aux fan kicked on and then compressor kicked on....and my AC was back in business..... good luck..

GOTHAM = NYC

Kewl... I'll be on it in about an hour... Thanks for the help. I'll post and take some pics if that turns out to be the case in my case...

Don't know if you're a Knicks fan, we (Kings) got pounded last night. Too bad they can't do that at MSG consistently...

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BlackBMWs

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 15, 2008

Redeye184, no gas smell present... Thanks!

jieg

· #20 · Dec 16, 2008

I have just the same problem, no cold air, compressor does not engage, auxiliary fan does not turn on; sucks!!! cuz even now in winter we get very hot days!

the aux fan conector "look" ok, but I am not sure the wires inside are in good shape

is this conector zone too hot as to burn the plastics around it?

is there a way to check that power is coming to the aux fan connector?, (a diagram so as to use the voltimeter, or would this be dangerous?? for the computer)

ivan

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