no a/c

[chappys4life]

I have a 1987 325 I just picked up last weekend and I am trying to figure out whats wrong with my a/c. If I turn the knob for air 1-4 there is no air movement at all. The air circulation button does light up when you press it in but with it and the a/c snowflake button sometimes it take 2-3 times of pressing it in before it stays.

I tried moving the sliders and just left the middle slider open to the right and various positions but nothing. If I do change the knob for temperature from cold to hot I do get heat but not really like blowing out hard but the heat is hot.

Where should I start checking things?

[Huff]

Is air coming from the vents at all? It sounds like you need a new AC/ circ switch. They tend to go bad...

[scottinAZ]

could have a blown blower motor resistor, or a shotty blower motor as well. this will keep air from flowing through the vents. the AC switches are notoriously sticky, if its lighting up, and will stay in (after some finagling) then it is most likely OK. check the clutch when the switch is activated to see if its spinning, or if its just hanging out doing nothing. could be just a bad fan problem

[chappys4life]

Is air coming from the vents at all? It sounds like you need a new AC/ circ switch. They tend to go bad...

No air at all.

could have a blown blower motor resistor, or a shotty blower motor as well. this will keep air from flowing through the vents. the AC switches are notoriously sticky, if its lighting up, and will stay in (after some finagling) then it is most likely OK. check the clutch when the switch is activated to see if its spinning, or if its just hanging out doing nothing. could be just a bad fan problem

When I turn the temp knob from cold to warm heat does blow out. It is lighting up and does eventually stay down. I will check the clutch tonight.

[jw 325ic]

First and foremost check the fuses. If you get no air at all, i.e. no blowing air/fan then its the blower motor or resistor.

[chappys4life]

I did just go through the fuses this weekend and all of them are fine. I have not checked the relays though

[chappys4life]

Okay checked into this some more. All fuses are good if i turn on the a/c it comes out faintly when on 3 and not too cold. Also when I turn on the a/c the fan in front of the radiator (aux fan right?) does not come on or even move.

[Huff]

Sounds like you may need a new blower motor.

As far as the aux fan, I would bypass the resistor (on the fan itself) and see if direct power will make it move... If not, sounds like that might be bad too.

[E30_fiend]

As stated before, the air not coming out of the vents makes me think the blower motor resistor is bad. They tend to go out. They have a very dated technology when it comes to how the blower motor is controlled.

As for the aux fan, it definitely should come on when you hit the ac button. They are also know to fail. Although, the ac should still work without the fan kicking on. The fan is meant to keep the motor cool when using the ac because of the extra draw. Its also a back up cooling fan if the motor gets too warm. I would do as said before and give it direct power. If the direct power does nothing then the fan is fried. My personal opinion is to replace it with an aftermarket slim fan. Not only are they cheaper than a new OE unit, they are more reliable and move a hell of a lot more air than the stock fan. Get a mounting kit with the new fan and mount it to the back of the radiator and you're set.

Let us know how it goes.


Taylor

[chappys4life]

I will look into the blower motor. If I turn the fan setting to 4 it does pop the fuse but if kept on 1-3 it works could that be a blower motor issue?

For the aux fan I see 2 resistors on realoem http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...73&hg=17&fg=10. There is one by bosch and magna which one would need replacing or are both used?

[Huff]

Yes, the brushes on your blower motor at DOA.

I would hook power directly to the fan before trying to replace the resistor. It could very well be dead too...

[KenC]

Earlier you said that there is no air coming out if the vents at all.

Now you say the blower works at speeds 1-3.

We can't help you without accurate information.