[BlackBMWs]

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!

 

[BlackBMWs]

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!

 

[BlackBMWs]

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.

 

[BlackBMWs]

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!

 

[BlackBMWs]

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.

 

[BlackBMWs]

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]

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?

 

[BlackBMWs]

"""""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...

 

[BlackBMWs]

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...

 

[BlackBMWs]

Redeye184, no gas smell present... Thanks!

 

[BlackBMWs]

Update: Electrical connectors look good at the front AC aux fan. I went back from my recent cooling system install to see if I left off any electrical connectors. all are intact. Any other electrical areas to check? If I get to pressure testing the system, I'll probably wait will it gets just a bit warmer...

Thanks!

 

[BlackBMWs]

Actually something just dawned upon me. Maybe the AC is not turning on cause it's too darn cold and the temp sensors are smarter than I am. I was thinking it would just blow cold if I set the temp low enough, but if the interior is colder than 60 degrees, perhaps it's smart enough to not turn on. That theory works for Auto, but if set to manual, would it override the ambient interior air temperature?

 

[BlackBMWs]

Off the top of my head I can't remember if the a/c compressor is near the top of the engine, but here goes -- one porblem that came up on my Contour (as well as some Saabs) was that the a/c clutch would give out. The way to check is to turn on the car, and turn on the air. If the clutch isn't turning, whack the a/c clutch with a screwdriver handle, or lightly with a hammer. If it starts to work, boom, there's your problem. It is available as a separate part from Ford, not sure if BMW sells the clutch separately, however.

On the bottom, passenger side. I'll give that a try later today. Thanks!

 

[BlackBMWs]

Self Inflicted -

Update: Using the feedback that a sensor or connector might have been loose, I looked for all connectors I may have come accross and found one I thought I had secured at the A/C Evaparator that I had disconnected trying to figure out how to get underneath to the Emissions Air pump. Anyway, I secured that connection and now I have icy A/C again. Nice to have it back even though I wont use it again for 5 months... Thanks all for the leads they helped my narrow down the problem..