Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E53) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-23-2019, 04:51 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 18
OnewireAT1 is on a distinguished road
Cool X5 E53 Air Conditioning - all systems go but no cold air

I have a 2004 BMW X5 E53 with no cold air when A/C is turned on.

1. I have had the system vacuumed and refilled
result: a hint of cold for a few minutes but then just ambient 80 degree air

2. ODBII - no faults

3. Compressor clutch engages and condenser fan works

4. Low pressure line was high on 1st canned R134a gauge check

Question: how would I determine if the issue is the Expansion Valve?


*NOTE: I have not tested with PSI hi/lo gauges yet
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 07-23-2019, 06:06 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 10,818
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
Unfortunately the only way to diagnose is with high pressure and low pressure. You need to learn is the compressor doing anything. Is I working weakly etc.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-23-2019, 06:50 PM
upallnight's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Cook County
Posts: 7,280
upallnight is on a distinguished road
Get the system pressure tested and provide the info. After that we can tell you what is wrong with your system. Right now it just a Wild Ass Guess (WAG) on everyone part as to what could be wrong.
__________________
2006 Infiniti G35
2001 BMW 3.0I E53 X5 Build date 08/2000 SOLD
Lotus Europa 1970 Destroyed by fire
Lotus Europa 1970 S2 Renault Powered
Lotus Type 52 1970 Twincam Webers Powered
PORSCHE 911 Targa 1982 The Garage Queen
Audi Avant donated to Kars for Kids
BMW 525IT Sold
Audi 4000CS Quattro Sold
Jensen Healey Lotus Powered Sold
Opel 1900 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1971 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1968 Sold
Plymouth "Cuda" 340 Six pack SOLD
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-23-2019, 10:29 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 18
OnewireAT1 is on a distinguished road
2004 BMW X5 E53 A/C only warm air W/O WAG ;)

ok, Thank you all

I just took the readings below ..
IMHO..
1. Looks like the compressor is not doing anything ?
2. LOW and LOW = MAYBE low refrigerant still?
3. Maybe the EXPANSION VALVE is stuck?


@ My 71 Degrees F - My R-134a Temp Chart shows these numbers
Low 35-40 High 145-160

1_Engine Off { Low = 30 High = 31 }
3_AC ON Compressor ON { Low = 37 High =37 }

0
Name:  0_Lo_Hi_Attached.jpg
Views: 6940
Size:  127.1 KB
1
Name:  1_CarOff_L-30_H-31.jpg
Views: 2661
Size:  94.9 KB
2 - Here I set it to 67 AUTO but I'd had it at MAX for a few minutes as well
Name:  2_CarOn_AC-ON.jpg
Views: 2744
Size:  109.8 KB
3
Name:  3_CompresorON_L-38_H-38.jpg
Views: 2716
Size:  92.8 KB


Thank you again and in advance for your support and care here
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-23-2019, 11:06 PM
upallnight's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Cook County
Posts: 7,280
upallnight is on a distinguished road
Do you have the variable displacement compressor? With the engine off the charge appears to be low. With the compressor running, the low side shouldn't be higher than the static pressure with the engine off. Something is not right.
__________________
2006 Infiniti G35
2001 BMW 3.0I E53 X5 Build date 08/2000 SOLD
Lotus Europa 1970 Destroyed by fire
Lotus Europa 1970 S2 Renault Powered
Lotus Type 52 1970 Twincam Webers Powered
PORSCHE 911 Targa 1982 The Garage Queen
Audi Avant donated to Kars for Kids
BMW 525IT Sold
Audi 4000CS Quattro Sold
Jensen Healey Lotus Powered Sold
Opel 1900 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1971 Sold
Triumph Spitfire 1968 Sold
Plymouth "Cuda" 340 Six pack SOLD
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-23-2019, 11:10 PM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 10,818
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
You said the ac clutch kicked on?

When was the last time was working?

The pressure switch was unplugged on my car and made impossible to charge. Do you have scanner able to read the switch level and activate the ac clutch?

If pres switch fails open you can't charge.

It the clutch engages and no pressure usually the problem is in the clutch and often repairable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-23-2019, 11:43 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 18
OnewireAT1 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewwynn View Post
You said the ac clutch kicked on?

When was the last time was working?

The pressure switch was unplugged on my car and made impossible to charge. Do you have scanner able to read the switch level and activate the ac clutch?

If pres switch fails open you can't charge.

It the clutch engages and no pressure usually the problem is in the clutch and often repairable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I just bought the car 1 week ago.. The owner told me that he never used it but did not think it worked.

The Low side Pressure switch seems to work (electrically) when I unplug it :
1. Condenser Fan kicks ON
2. Clutch on Compressor disengages (OFF)
*Not sure when you say 'switch fails open'. My assertion without probing is that the switch (pressure) will close when enough pressure is in the low pressure line. Please advise if I am wrongly thinking here.

-Also - you got me wondering what is the flow when charging? Does it flow back through the compressor or back through the evaporator or am I thinking to hard on this track

-again - I do appreciate all of your support here.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 07-24-2019, 12:26 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 18
OnewireAT1 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by upallnight View Post
Do you have the variable displacement compressor? With the engine off the charge appears to be low. With the compressor running, the low side shouldn't be higher than the static pressure with the engine off. Something is not right.
humm good question:

I am not from down under and here is my part number:
64526918000
Air-conditioner compressor


When I looked at the unit it doesn't appear to have a control input that a variable would require but I am not 100%. When I went off reading about variable compressors it looks the control is internal ??

Also I went to aircondition.com and found this ..

"How can I tell if the expansion valve is bad?
This has to be our least favorite item to diagnose. We've had expansion valves quit working while on the road and show no signs of problem back in the shop. What's worse, an expansion valve can stick closed, stick open, or hang somehwere in between.

Of all the bad expansion valves seen over the years, I think those that stick closed are most common. Those are the easy ones. Gauges will show very low suction side pressure along with lower than normal high side pressure. The low side may even draw into a vacuum. That's a big clue. Those that appear to be stuck closed may have inlet screens clogged with ground up desiccant particles. This will look like beach sand packed into the inlet.

It's common for a defective expansion valve to stick closed, however, the expansion valve can also stick open. This is indicated by higher than normal low side pressure, and slightly higher than normal high side pressure. To some, this might appear as a weak compressor or slightly overcharged system."
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 07-24-2019, 01:24 AM
andrewwynn's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Racine, WI
Posts: 10,818
andrewwynn will become famous soon enough
So with compressor engaged and you inroduce freon to the low port does draw any in?

If the compressor is working the low side should drop dramatically when it kicks on. Initially this can actually cut off the compressor If the low side switch opens.

The low switch is not failed open if the fan kicks on when the plug is pulled.

Feels like the compressor clutch is not grabbing. There is a repair process for that issue. The solinoid is kicking on but not pushing the clutch hard enough to spin the compressor.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
__________________
2011 E70 • N55 (me)
2012 E70 • N63 (wife)
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-24-2019, 03:34 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 18
OnewireAT1 is on a distinguished road
So .. I received a comment with regards to me possibly having a variable compressor.. do you know how I can confirm or deny this based upon my P/N ?

If not then am I simply dealing with a weak or broken coil (for some reason I thought I saw a schematic with two coils for pulling in the clutch) ...


Sent from my iPhone using Xoutpost.com
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
a/c, air, air conditioning, e53, expansion valve

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:13 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.