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Car Forum / BMW Cars / April 20043 series (E36) air-con
I have a '96 328i which has air-con. Basically, the air-con button doesn't seem to have any effect. On or off, the air isn't any cooler or drier. I hear something happening behind the dash when I turn it on - but that's it, no other effect! Having been in a Citreon recently and tried the air-con in that, I realised how poorly mine was functioning! So, am I out of freeon (I believe this is the gas used - but please correct me if I'm wrong!)? Or do I need to replace the pollen filters? Or indeed, should I check something else? Any advice appreciated - I'm in totally new territory here! Many thanks in advance,  SignatureRH, Edinburgh > I have a '96 328i which has air-con. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Many thanks in advance, Out of or low on freon is a likely cause - there are different types of gas used depending on year (and location). Have the A/C checked by either a BMW shop or A/C specialist, they put gauges on the system to read the various pressures, and can diagnose. It only takes a very tiny leak for the coolant to escape rather quickly. When I had problems on my 328iC, I wound up having to carry it to BMW, the general shop diagnosed the problem, but recommended the dealer due to the extent. Mine was a bit under US $1,000 to fix - they had to replace some stuff. BTW, if it has been out of coolant for some time, it probably also has to be evacuated (vaccuum pumped) and have the drier changed - any mixture of water vapor with the coolant can cause corrosion. Jim I don't know if your car has one but close to the AC compressor might be a small cylinder, oriented vertically, with a hose connecting to the compressor and a small (1/4") circular piece of glass in the very top. Open the hood, turn on your car with the AC on full and listen/watch for the clutch of the compressor to engage. It should cycle about every 20 seconds or so. If you hear the clutch engage, look down into that glass "window" and check for fluid and bubbles flowing. If you do and there're lots of bubbles, you're low on refrigerant. If the clutch doesn't even engage, you're so low the pressure switch is preventing the compressor to run. You probably have refrigerant R-134 in your system. If so, you can buy a can and add it yourself. Otherwise go to a good AC place and have them verify the low pressure condition and add refrigerant. > > I have a '96 328i which has air-con. > > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > changed - any mixture of water vapor with the coolant can cause corrosion. > Jim Check the air temperature. Should be around 5?C > I have a '96 328i which has air-con. > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Many thanks in advance, > Check the air temperature. Should be around 5?C > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > > > Many thanks in advance, The problem was a snapped belt somewhere in the air-con system. The dealer (so kindly!) replaced it while they were fixing my engine! SignatureRH |
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