Please help..my rear heater blow cold air

[uhenry1]

Hello all, my 2001 X5 3.0 with 210K, the rear heater blow cold air come out either I turn the heat or cold and also if the blower motor is turn off still the cold air is coming through but the front heater is working fine. Could someone please help me or anyone who had the same problem with rear heater blower cold.



Thanks Henry

[cn90]

Remove the REAR vent and check the flap operation.

[upallnight]

Make sure the stratified air thumbwheel (right side of vent) is pointing to the red and not blue.

[uhenry1]

Thanks you, air thumb-wheel is pointing red. I will check it out this coming weekend between work, Xmas Holiday and only time is weekend. Thanks you Henry

[uhenry1]

update..I remove the REAR vent and check the flap operation working fine but still cool air instead of hot air. Please advise.


Thanks Henry

[Qsilver7]

Okay...the stratified air dial on the rear vent is dialed toward the red dot...how about the one on the center vent up front on the dash? It needs to be turned to toward the red dot, too.

And how do you have the IHKA control panel set? Are you using the AUTO air distribution buttons...or have you selected specific air direction (floor/dash vents/defrost-windshield vents)? I believe the rear console vent can be manipulated by using the air circulation button that goes to the dash vents. Try turning off AUTO (if it's selected) and direct all the air to the floor or defrost vents (or both) and see if that stops cold air from flowing out of the rear console vent when the blower is off.

If cold air is still coming from the rear vent when the rear vent blower is turned off (this is for those that actually have the rear blower option...some X5 don't...I wonder if the actuator that opens/closes the flap for that air duct is not working properly. Have you had any work done up around the front of the vehicle that could have disturbed the air duct?

As mentioned in the owners manual...when you have the rear blower option...when the dial is turned to OFF...no air should come from the vent (see text highlighted in blue):

Just an FYI....for those that do NOT have the rear climate control option (no blower in rear vent)...in winter, you need to turn the dial to close the vent off if you don't want cold air to come out of it. This is what your rear vent looks like...the dial on the left only opens/closes the vent...there is no dial to turn a fan on/off like pictured above in CN90's post:

Make sure air duct #1 (see diagram below) is fully connected on the end toward the blower where the clip (#6) secures it:




Or make sure that the flap actuator (#4 in diagram below) isn't stuck open and not closing when the rear blower is turned off:

You can see in the illustration below (although its a BMW sedan & not the SAV)...the stratified air operates on the dash vents and the rear center console vent. If you select the floor air distribution, then all the air goes to the front foot wells and the airducts beneath the front seats will send air to the rear passenger. The upper air direction button will send air to the windshield (regulated defrost)...and the middle button will send air to the dash vents (and rear center console vent). The AUTO button will distribute air among all the vents...but the dash vents & rear center console vent (if optioned) can still "temper" the air warmer/cooler that comes from those specific vents.

[/CENTER]

[upallnight]

Thanks for the info on turning off the vent for the rear passenger. Don't sit in the rear and the only thing the kids fool around with are the cup holders nd the power jack.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by upallnight

Thanks for the info on turning off the vent for the rear passenger. Don't sit in the rear and the only thing the kids fool around with are the cup holders nd the power jack.

No problem...yeah, if you don't have the rear climate option...if that vent is open, you will get fresh air from outside (in the winter that means it will be cold air)...or if you turn on the AC in the summer, cooled air from the HVAC's AC will flow through that vent.

We don't want your children turning into little ice pops back there...so if you close it, they'll get warmed air through the floor vents below the front seats.

[uhenry1]

Updated: couple years back I did replace myself front blower motor and could have distributed the air duct. If that the case I am happy with it and will close the rear duct so no cold air for the kids and reopen for the summer time. Thanks you for all your help and this is the best forum. I still do had blower motor procedure if anyone need it and please email me.

Thanks.
Henry