Ac not working, Checked Refrigerant, What else to do?

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

I'm sure you're right but i had to at least express what
I thought was a logical and practical course.
I guess I still can't get over why anyone would purchase
what can be described as a Luxury vehicle and expect to
get by with a cheap as you described it a "Pep Girl" fix. Oh well
Wishing the OP the best......

It is an assumption to draw any conclusion as to OPs financial wherewithal , DIY capability, ability to make an informed purchase decision or rational for a course of action, and, to characterize based on an assumption is illogical at best.

[upallnight]

[QUOTE=bcredliner;1076592]

Originally Posted by upallnight

There's a reason why BMW and other car makers went with using diagnostic software to trouble shoot problems in the automobiles these days. Cars are a lot more complex these days and the only way to fix them correctly is with the use of diagnostic software. The software and hardware are not that expensive any more.

Scanner 1 4 0 Diagnostic Tool Code Reader 4 BMW E38 E39 E46 E53 E83 E85 x3 x5 Z4 | eBay

You can get the software and the hardware for a little more than 17 bucks. Can't afford to spend 17 bucks on software and hardware, then you should consider other means of transportation.[/QUOTE

Alert the Media---Cars are a lot more complex than they used to be!

I'm not sure what you mean by--- the only correct way to fix them--- as this forum would not exist if the correct response to every new thread about symptoms of a problem was to read the codes. The vast majority of responses are to replace a particular part based on the symptoms or basic troubleshooting steps to find the root cause.

I agree that code reading/clearing software pricing is much less than it used to be and is also more user friendly. I wouldn't buy this one as it is a "cracked version" and it is likely that it will show only an abbreviated number of codes. I like the readers that read in depth codes, connect by bluetooth, in my case to my iPad and will also display realtime measurements of a running engine. And, most importantly are designed to be user friendly enough for the DIYer that isn't using it that frequently. They will cost more than $17.00 but will be a much greater value.

As you know codes can be misleading. An example if there is an air/fuel mixture problem there can be several codes thrown so there is often a need for basic troubleshooting to find the core issue. That was my only reason for asking for your input. In this case my guess is it is likely the testing side would be needed to determine the problem and if it can't be done with basic troubleshooting that means I would have to drag out the INPA suite, my dedicated windows computer and a bottle of valium.

In this case the OP is trying to fix his AC. He tried the cheap fix with an AC in a can repair from Pep Girl, but since that didn't work he is looking for another cheap fix to the AC. Many people including yourself had suggested that he bring it in. It is very obvious that he doesn't know anything about automotive AC system. I would never advise anyone on this forum to DIY if I felt that they lack the knowledge to perform the repairs, too many lawyers that will sue you because their client hurt himself while following your suggestion on how to fix their car.

The op can throw parts at the car but that get expensive very quickly. A replacement aux fan is 400 bucks plus labor to install. A typical compressor replacement is close to 1000 bucks.

Modern cars these day have systems that were never used in older cars. My Lotus has twin Weber side draft carbs and no 02 sensor to monitor the exhaust. That is as basic as you can get. My PORSCHE has fuel injection but no computer to control the injectors or the spark plugs. The BMW X5 has a computer to control the injectors and the spark plugs along with a MAF to determine the amount of air the engine is using plus 4 02 sensors to monitor the exhaust gas pre cat and post cat. If you don't think this is more complicated than earlier cars you must have received your license in the 90's.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

I'm sure you're right but i had to at least express what
I thought was a logical and practical course.
I guess I still can't get over why anyone would purchase
what can be described as a Luxury vehicle and expect to
get by with a cheap as you described it a "Pep Girl" fix. Oh well
Wishing the OP the best......

People are purchasing 16 years olds X5 because they have dropped in value that they are now Cheap enough for the minimum wage workers to buy one. A X5 that is not in top condition is even cheaper. They may be able to buy a Cheap X5, but they still can't afford to take it in for repairs so they resort to DIY even if they don't know anything about cars. Replacing the refrigerant because it is old tells me that they have no business diying an automotive ac system.

[shevin]

I bought a new fan, and I connected the cable to the plug, and I turned the AC and it still did not turn the fan on...do I need to wait more mintues till the AC a fan get turned on ? plus, I do get 13v voltage from the the socket.

[bcredliner]

When you first start the engine does the fan come on for 20-30 seconds?

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by upallnight

People are purchasing 16 years olds X5 because they have dropped in value that they are now Cheap enough for the minimum wage workers to buy one. A X5 that is not in top condition is even cheaper. They may be able to buy a Cheap X5, but they still can't afford to take it in for repairs so they resort to DIY even if they don't know anything about cars. Replacing the refrigerant because it is old tells me that they have no business diying an automotive ac system.

Alert the media was sarcasm--what it meant was that everyone knows of the increased complexity and a major focus of a forum is learning from others about that complexity and how to DIY within it.

There is no reason to be demeaning because you have a hangup with any type of owner. You have jumped to a judgment that you should not make regardless. If you have profiled a member as someone you don't think should own an X5, I think the most considerate course of action would be to reframe from being involved in the discussion. It is fine if you believe there is only one route to deal with the complexity. It is also fine if an OP ignores any or all advice. I believe there is always more than one way to get to success or failure.

By the way--How are you profiling someone that got their license in the 90s?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

Alert the media was sarcasm--what it meant was that everyone knows of the increased complexity and a major focus of a forum is learning from others about that complexity and how to DIY within it.

There is no reason to be demeaning because you have a hangup with any type of owner. You have jumped to a judgment that you should not make regardless. If you have profiled a member as someone you don't think should own an X5, I think the most considerate course of action would be to reframe from being involved in the discussion. It is fine if you believe there is only one route to deal with the complexity. It is also fine if an OP ignores any or all advice. I believe there is always more than one way to get to success or failure.

By the way--How are you profiling someone that got their license in the 90s?

Whose demeaning??? I have always stated on this board that if you don't know how to fix a car and don't have the resource to bring it in that a used X is probably not the right car for you. A lot of noob doesn't realize the cost of maintaining/fixing a Marque car. They assume it's German Engineered and should last forever, and if it does break it couldn't be more than what it cost to fix a Chevy or Toyota.

OP could have brought a different car with the same amount of money but a couple of model years younger and perhaps with a warranty. It may not have the Marque name BMW but at least it would have a working AC.

You may think that telling a noob that he should stick with the car is fine, but I normally tell them what they are in for and let them decide whether to keep or sell. A good example is this post in which I informed tdog05 that he probably needed to have the trans rebuilt. Other people told him to do a drain and filter replacement. A filter and drain is at least 800 bucks if he used ZF ATF instead of some cheap ATF found at Pep girl. Most likely he follow my advice and dumped the X because he is no longer posting on this board.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ml#post1026647

Now this OP has brought a replacement fan and the ac still doesn't worked. If he followed my advice about getting the X scan he might have saved the cost of a replacement fan. I provided him with a source to get a BMW specific software but you criticize it as being a hacked. Are you aware that P.A. Soft the developer of BMW Scanner 1.4 give out a working copy of their software on their website? They just require that you purchase the interface from them. I suppose your copy of INPA is a genuine copy and not a hacked copy. Unless you know for sure it was a hacked copy I would refrain from making comments on it.

Someone who doesn't know what a carb is or what points are is how I profile someone who started driving in the 90's.

[StephenVA]

OK guys, take a chill pill this morning. It appears that this Newbie is just getting started on automotive diagnostics and repairs on his X5 so don't jump in him with two feet. Slow and easy....
Bottom Line: A/C diagnostics and repairs are not simple "xx does not function add this" type of process. They will require some A/C functional knowledge and lots of BMW specific system knowledge as well as the diagnotic software/hardware to interrogate the vehicle's computers to understand what are the failed points. None are available in 30 secs and one post on the forum.

The majority of posters will recommend spending $100 on getting a BMW Indy shop to build you an estimate of what is required and then you can make an intelligent decision with fact points, not guesses from us on the forum.

Helpful?

[StephenVA]

I forgot to add that the days of a "Thermo Limiter" fuse replacement and a $1.00 can of Freon (R12) are long gone. A/C systems are complex and WAY TOO expensive for a "try this and then this" approach.
Beyond check fuses, is the fan turning on, check the fan relay, A/C switch light on, you will need BMW specific knowledge tools and testers.

[oldskewel]

This general point about how to properly take care of such a fine car comes up frequently, on this and other similar sites.

Whether you're a street sweeper or a hedge fund manager, if you just bought an early E53, you paid about $5k for a car. It is no longer the $60k+ luxury ride for which routine $2k dealer service bills are expected and readily accepted with the price of admission.

Many people on these lists are original owners with the high-value mindset. But many others are new ones who hopefully bought a great car at a bargain price and are hoping to keep it that way.

Fortunately for me, and others as it seems, I was first in this situation (buying a nice, older car at a good price, but needing to learn to fix it myself) back in the day when the cars were actually simpler than the space shuttle, and they could be figured out pretty easily.

Although the opinions are varying, it does seem to me that everyone posting here is genuinely trying to help, which is appreciated by many, I'm sure.

EDIT - and regarding the specific AC topic at hand, I've fixed almost everything on my cars, and doing AC work was the last thing I learned. So the OP is in a tough spot if he has limited auto experience and the AC is the first thing to need work. I've done minor AC repairs and maintenance on some of my cars, and started reading this thread to try to learn about my X5 before I need it. I can already see that BMW has made this system much more complicated than other AC systems. The basics are still the same of course, but things like a PWM fan and some sort of variable who knows what compressor - it's a deep end you're diving into.