Heater problem - United Bimmer Community

**Beema335** · 11-08-2010, 10:49 PM

Please Help!!!!! My wife has a 318ci E46 the heater has stopped blowing warm air it does not respond to the temp regulator it just blows cold air does anyone know what the problem might be.

Big Evil · 11-12-2010, 10:57 AM

Does the car overheat when sitting and idling? Have you checked the coolant level?

**Beema335** · 11-13-2010, 11:01 AM

No it does not overheat but did a few months ago when I was cought in trafic I turned he engine off before it caused any damage. The coolant is ok,I had the heater problem prior to the overheating.The heater used to work intermitently but now does not work at all.

regards
Beema335

**notallthere** · 11-14-2010, 08:28 PM

when was the last time you flushed the system. do you smell coolant in the car?

**Beema335** · 12-07-2010, 01:41 PM

Where to start!!! I tried bleeding the system no air bubbles came out of the bleeder I take it there was no air but no luck heater still not working.
I removed the valve to check the function all seemed ok the two pipes from the valve get hot I tested the function by turning the ingnition on and off ie the valve opens when key is turned on and closes when key is turned off.
Could it be the module itself thinking the car is warm therefore not diverting the hot air into the car?????? I'm bafffffffeled please somone help it was -8deg today not funny driving a cold car.

Big Evil · 12-07-2010, 05:37 PM

It's possible. Might be time for a scan.

**Beema335** · 12-08-2010, 04:45 AM

Thanx for the advice I had the car on the diagnostic computer it did not flag up any faults apart from cooling fan circut error and a oxagen sensor error I doubt any of them are linked to the heater or are they.

**Manolito** · 12-09-2010, 08:58 AM

I have seen several posts that sounded like the air mixing baffles in the dash were not working, but no one ever posts their resolutions so it is hard to know.

Make sure that the little fan in the climate control unit that is supposed to pull cabin air in past the temperature sensor in the control unit is still working. Some of those fans have failed on the older e36s and they are available as separate parts.

**Beema335** · 12-09-2010, 11:02 AM

Thanx for the advice,is the fan inside the module do I have to strip down the module to get to the fan.

**Manolito** · 12-09-2010, 11:52 PM

On my e36s, I can hear the fan running if the engine is not running but the heater is on with the fan on low. On my e46s, I have never noticed it, so it may be quieter. You could hold a lit cigarette near the air inlet on the front of the climate control and see if it sucks the smoke in through the air inlet.

**Beema335** · 12-14-2010, 06:52 AM

Thanks all for the assistance I am still struggling to solve this problem.
I have tried a cigarette infront of the little vent on the module and it does pull in the smoke so the fan is working. I have two more questions before I submit defeat
1 = can low gas in the air con cause heating problems with climate control, does the heat and cooling work together.
2 = If the sensor in the module reads open circuit will thi not bluff the system into thinking the car is allready warm. If both the questions are false I give up have to take the car in $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

**Beema335** · 12-14-2010, 07:24 AM

Hi there can the thermostat cause heater problem.

**diet** · 07-29-2011, 12:21 PM

thermonstat in the engine? jus curious to know

**diet** · 09-22-2011, 11:59 AM

I'm having the same problem except mine is just blowing out hot air and doesn't respond to the unit I have a feeling heater thermonstat has something to do with our problem

**diet** · 12-01-2011, 03:23 PM

hi beemer335 i had same problem not responding to what i asked but mine onli blue hot air. got it sorted tho about a month ago was the heater vavle was stuck open caused my problem. they sed it cud get stuck closed aswell which wud mean u wud onli get cold air which sounds like ur problem