Help... Fan problem, final stage resistor?

BatKing · #1 02-16-2009, 01:17 AM

Hi,

My X is giving me problems just 3 months after the warranty expired. after the Power Steering hoses ripped, now the Fan seems acting.

It was raining like hell today, so I need to use the defrosting for the front window. the problem happens after I turn off the defrosting, the Fan seems still running on the highest level. and basically there is no Level control of my fan anymore. I turn it up and down, it seems same power. if I turn it off, the fan still running but not air blowing, it just sound like sucking air in.

now even turning off the X and lock her up, I can still hear the fan is running from outside. and it has been almost 20 mins after I lock her up and the fan still running.

Anyone know what is going on?

John Galt · #2 02-16-2009, 02:15 AM

Yes, it is almost certainly the final stage resistor. Replace it and you should be good to go. I had the exact same problem (fan running after car off), and this fixed it. It was an easy DIY, so if you are reasonably handy, go for it yourself.

Let us know how it works out!

BatKing · #3 02-16-2009, 02:27 AM

Thanks.

I took of the blower fuse (the most right side 50A one), the question is if its OK to drive with this fuse off? I need to drive the X to the dealer to get the fuse. (wife took the other car).

Weasel · #4 02-16-2009, 02:57 AM

Yes it is ok to drive with the fuse out, you just have no blower at that time... If you didn't pull it you'd have a dead battery so you did the right thing. But once you replace the final stage resistor with the help of great write-ups on this site you will be back in business. And you will see the changes between the old unit and the new one as the design was revised.

BatKing · #5 02-16-2009, 03:36 AM

Thanks.

geeze even a face lifted late 2004 (Aug) build still using the old design?

But the way, is this going to fix the Fan isse I observe lately?

1. with Fan on, on freeway speed during acceleration (gas padel of) or deceleration (gas padel off, during on/off time you can feel the changing break), there is a "whistler sound", but if the fan off, the sound is gone.

2. sometime the fan is making the power level up/down sound. like "hum........ hum......"

Weasel · #6 02-16-2009, 08:53 AM

Most likely yes, it will fix it.

BatKing · #7 02-21-2009, 05:14 PM

Got the FSR yesterday and replaced it today. I spend about 1 hour and more than 30 mins is trying to figure how to take off the glove box which turns out I don't really need to.

I got it from autohausaz. the old FSR looks identical to the new one but the new one just don't have the BMW sticker on it.

It seems the new design still no good with my X only have 40K miles on it and already gone bad.

Now I am just hoping the issue from my other thread will go away after replacing the FSR. After FSR being replaced, I tried to drive my X for 10 mins locally to reproduce the sound again. I heard it when I am back home but it was gone in 2 seconds. so I can't really tell. I will update the other tread if I hear it again.

Thanks for the DIY. it saves me over $200.