Oh Crap, the aircon's gone

[E30 Freak]

Howsit guys.

I need to intelligent BMW knowitalls to assist (My brain still in the wrapping).

My E36's climate control unit started going all crazy lately. The buttons to control fan speed, aircon etc. does not really work all the time. Sometimes it reponds, sometimes it does not & decides for me I need the aircon on at full blast.

The Makkie took it out & diagnosed the connection not good & maybe the motherboard on that thing is going. We wiggled it a bit & got it to work...temporarily

On top of that, there's a little fan on the unit to keep it cool. This thing was plugged out when we looked. But when we put it back it, it just goes on all the time.

It plugged out again so as not to chow the battery.

Do you guys know what the cause is & to who can I take it to fix it? Im in CT tho.

 

[freerider]

Final stage resistor would be my guess.

 

[Hellas]

Google Hedgehog resistor

 

[S///Mon]

Mine is doing the same thing! :cursin:

Goes on and off by itself! Normally when I start the car, the thing goes on automatically, now sometimes it goes on, then turns off after a few secs, then it doesnt turn on at all... then while driving, a sudden decrease in power is noticed, as the aircon is now on FULL BLAST!! You might think by pushing the buttons something would work... But in fact it's about as good as a cock flavored lolly pop...

Sometimes a "gentle" tap to the side of the console brings it right for a few days... but then back to its same old behavior!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
:wave:

---

Ta Hellas! :thumbsup:

 

[E30 Freak]

That sounds like my last trip to Saldanah. Car was fine all the way up, & just as we come home (while it was hot) the things goes all crazy again.

Plus b!tch slaps to the side of the console dont work either.

I am gonna drive this car off a cliff if it dont get fixed soon.

 

[Jandre]

Mine has a slightly different problem, only difference is that mine is constant.

If I start the car, the fan goes up to halfspeed. Adjusting it works perfectly - up and down. If however the fanspeed is at 75% or fullblast, you switch off, and later start up again, the fan will start where it last stopped, ie 75% or fullblast.

If however the fan is anything lower than halfspeed, and you switch off and restart, it will automatically go to halfspeed.

Weird. But like I said, it's constant and it keeps on working. My motto with the fan.. if it's not broken, don't fix it.

 

[E30 Freak]

Ok, I think I need a connection at SMG. They charged me R1388 for the resistor, but only after they wanted to sell me the whole panel for R3900.

Then they wanna talk about stripping the dash. I took that unit out last nite in like 2minutes.

Ok I think I need to get to the breakers & see if I can get it cheaper...but not sure if that si advisable.

---

Ai, what we go through for the love of Beemers. & I wanted to buy me another E30 to run around with...

But maybe that would be ok....just stuff to go wrong

 

[Hellas]

Good luck with the fix! Take some pics and post it if you come right!

 

[zaleonardz]

Sounds like resistor to me as well... easy fix man, instead of the cliff, just give it to me, I need a E36 in my life

 

[E30 Freak]

Na, the E36 gonna work on my nerves one last time & he getting a one-way ticket to Chapmans Peak Drive.


Anybody got a nice problem-free E30 for me???

LOL

 

[Nic_s]

Na, the E36 gonna work on my nerves one last time & he getting a one-way ticket to Chapmans Peak Drive.


Anybody got a nice problem-free E30 for me???

LOL

If only mine was problem free... :mmm:

 

[E30 Freak]

Sure it was once...in like 1989

 

[Bullzeye.za]

Have you taken it to anyone to get it looked at? Most service centers will be able to fix it up nice and fast for you.

 

[E30 Freak]

Howsit guys, I have a quick update. I went to scrap yard On Saturday & they had a hedgehog resistor. We swopped theirs fof mine & it still did it. Went on when I put the ignition on, but as soon as I start the car, the screen goes blank.

Then we tried their dashbaord unit they had & it worked 100%. So it was not the resistor, but the actual climate control unit on the dash.

AMEN!!!! I dont have to throw my baby off a cliff after all:woot:

 

[Hellas]

:thumbsup: Glad you got it. (I'll still offer you a bottle of Jack for your car... )

 

[Stiffler_PE]

I had that same prob on my old e36... there is a tiny 0.47 microfarad 50 volt tantalum capcitor that needs changing inside the Climate control unit itself. I changed that first and the weird " ghost in the machine " symptoms went away...my CC would go on and off as it felt and the buttons would work when they felt like it.
After the Cap change it was working from the point that the buttons responded and the unit was working and displaying corectly. I then changed final stage reisitor ( hedgehog resistor ) and AC was 100% and still is. GAve the car to my mom so i still get to see the car now and again. AC is good to go 4 years later.

All an easy DIY.. promise. Just trying to find the link for the DIY.

http://www.macadamizer.com/bmwfix.html

This exactly the procedure i used and all was 100%... the part was so cheap the guy at the eLectronics shop gave it to me LOL

Good Luck !:thumbsup:

 

[Gizmo]

I had that same prob on my old e36... there is a tiny 0.47 microfarad 50 volt tantalum capcitor that needs changing inside the Climate control unit itself. I changed that first and the weird " ghost in the machine " symptoms went away...my CC would go on and off as it felt and the buttons would work when they felt like it.
After the Cap change it was working from the point that the buttons responded and the unit was working and displaying corectly. I then changed final stage reisitor ( hedgehog resistor ) and AC was 100% and still is. GAve the car to my mom so i still get to see the car now and again. AC is good to go 4 years later.

All an easy DIY.. promise. Just trying to find the link for the DIY.

http://www.macadamizer.com/bmwfix.html

This exactly the procedure i used and all was 100%... the part was so cheap the guy at the eLectronics shop gave it to me LOL

Good Luck !:thumbsup:

I have repaired many of these E36 climate control modules over the years using this DIY. Worked every time. Plus it costs 10c to fix.

 

[E30 Freak]

Then I aint saying how much I paid just for a 2nd hand unit..

Dat just depressing!!!!!

On the upside, BRING ON THOSE HOT DAYS, MY A/C WORKS AGAIN.

It's alive...IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!