A/C Problems

[geez_its_bmw]

What`s going on you ask:

Have a 323i 2000 50k

When i turn on the a/c at 59 degrees it blows warm air
after a couple of minutes it WORKS than it blows warm air again

then i have to play with the temp arrows up/down button to kick it on
but it doesn`t always work

And the summer here in Chicago can be deadly

any tips
thanks

[cyberbullet]

Originally Posted by geez_its_bmw

What`s going on you ask:

Have a 323i 2000 50k

When i turn on the a/c at 59 degrees it blows warm air
after a couple of minutes it WORKS than it blows warm air again

then i have to play with the temp arrows up/down button to kick it on
but it doesn`t always work

And the summer here in Chicago can be deadly

any tips
thanks

Hey...
I have the same problem....& my car is at 45K. My car doesn't blow any Cold air at all. I am dropping it off to the dealer next Tuesday....
I live in Boston (so I know your pain)

I will definitely let you know what the "dealership" has to say!

Did you purchase the extended warranty?

[geez_its_bmw]

No i didn`t buy the warranty
from boston huh
you know my pain dying in heat without a/c OR neither baseball teams taking it all the way
ha ha

[geez_its_bmw]

yeah, let me know what they say at the dealer thanks

[collin]

Hey guys, i have a 1997 328i and my a/c was doing that same stuff...i took it in to the dealer and they just said that my head unit was bad...so a few days later and a few hundred dollars later, my a/c works again. I know the pain of not having an a/c... i live in central KS.
-collin-

[thisgirl]

87' 325i. Same prob. If I turn the temp knobs for a while sometimes I get cold air, sometimes not. Question? What's a head unit?
-steph

[jeffreyb4me]

for the '00 323i, the freon level may be low or the fuse for the electric radiator fan could be blown.

the heater control "head" problem is common only to later E36 models with push button only control panels & the unit pops right out from below the radio. the new one ussually needs to be recoded to change the temp readings from C to F but will function fine otherwise.

for the '87 E30, if the freon level is ok, the problem's likely a bad aux. fan resistor (no aux. fan & the a/c condenser gets too hot, the high pressure switch will shut the compressor off.

good luck to all.

[jeffreyb4me]

p.s. E30's don't have the "control head" E36's do.

[cyberbullet]

Originally Posted by jeffreyb4me

p.s. E30's don't have the "control head" E36's do.

Hi....
Well, I received my car back only to find out that I will have to return to the dealer in two weeks. They got the A/C to work, but only because they recharged it (you can do this too, the cost isn't too bad). BUT this means that, yup, you guessed it...there's a leek somewhere. They put in some ultraviolet material so when I run the A/C for the next few weeks they would find it. Some (maybe) obvious places to check might be warn out O-Rings.....or check the connections to the pipes.
I spoke directly with the Manager of Service.....to find out "why".

Good Luck,
Here's to riding cool!
Cyberbullet (ME)

[jeffreyb4me]

refridgerant dye is a good way for slow leaks in visible area's and a great way to get the tech. on to the next job, but there are components difficult to access visually even with a 'black llight' borescope which i use to pin point some oil leaks. Most leaks will show up with an electronic leak detector if used correctly. Expect to replace to rec./drier and a hose, but get a second opinion if it gets expensive! the dye & R134 will still be in the system, you did pay for it. best of luck ! jb