A/C Problem -Aux fan stops

[Siaren]

Hi all,
New to forum. Maybe y'all can help. For a couple of years now I've had a problem that the dealer in Stirling,VA couldn't figure out. Sometimes, not always, when I run the A/C the temp gauge starts to climb. The technicians said the auxillary fans stops or doesn't come on as it should. They know it's happening, but not why... They spent an hour (out of warranty) time trying to figure it out, I decided to stop paying for their ineptitude... Hell, I can put the top down, (but it does hit 90+ sometimes!)

Anyone have similar problem/fix?
-Chris

[celsdogg]

typically, the temp may raise a little bit when you run the a/c, but the fan should come on and stay on. not sure what it is, but maybe bring it to another dealer, or an independent bmw shop. . .

[Storamin]

if you take it to an independent shop, a lot of them will diagnose the problem for free. bmw dealerships will not.

[witeshark]

I guess the switch that turns the fan on may need checking. Welcome to the forums! and I hope it's sorted out soon

[c1apton]

There's a couple of possibilities: The actual temp sensor on side of radiator might have corrosion on it or some form of resistence causing it to stop sending correct signal OR it could be a bad electric fan motor (when it gets hot - rare but possible) OR (the most common prob - which you have to catch at the time it fails) is the the resistor mounted by the fan itself - it's exposed to alot of incoming crap and they get small hairline cracks. An option which I did was to put a manual switch on the dash so if I notice temp is starting to climb I switch it on to overide the relay & resistor - then I KNOW it's working.

[Siaren]

THANX all! I'm currently trying to reach a BMW mechanic here in MD that works out of his home in the eve's. Will let you know if he can find the problem!

[Numark318i]

We got a 2001 330ci that does that occasionally.
I guess check all the fan connections like said above.

good luck.

keep us updated if you could.

[celsdogg]

where are you in MD? in northern, around bmore. . .

[Siaren]

Yeah, about 10 miles west of Frederick. Talked to the mechanic I mentioned yesterday. He's going to take to his shop and see what shakes out. I should have an update (I HOPE ) by late next week.
Your profile says MAryland, where are you?

[celsdogg]

right outside baltimore. on rosemont ave in frederick there is an independent bmw mechanic there too. never been there, but always wondered how they were . . .

[Siaren]

Hi,
UPDATE TO A/C PROBLEM!

I got hooked up with a VOB tech and he solved my problem. (SEE original post above). It turns out he found an "undocumented enhancement" that was made to the A/C wiring. Apparently there is a fuse that is attached in line, on the harness. It's located somewhere under that dash,bundled up with the wiring around the steering column, not in the fuse box.... It must be documented SOMEWHERE or I don't think he would have found it. Why the 2 Bozo's in Stirling couldn't find it, I don't know.....

I guess everyone has figured out that the German engineers never intended us to have A/C and grudgingly added it on to the American models. That's apparent since they never backlit the little"snowflake" button.

I don't know if this fuse applies to all of the Z models....mine is a 2000 MRoadster and, I believe, the dash arrangement is quite different in the standard Z3's....

A final thought though too..... It's still spring! The top won't go back up until it hits 90+ 'round here and the A/C is ultimatly tested.
Regards,
Chris

[Dudesky]

That's odd . . on the E36 3 series, the "little snowflake" is backlit. Also on the standard 3 series, there are temp sensors that you can replace the stock one with to allow the fan to kick in at a lower temp.