AC not cold, Elec Fan not Running, Compressor works

[x5turtle]

Hi all,

This is pertain to my 2004/06 production X5 3.0

After replacing the blown expansion tank and hoses, it seems that the AC not cold problem still persist.

So I have my brother start the car and the condenser electric fan in front of the radiator is not spinning. I haven't check the fuse yet, but the blade spins freely. AC is not cold, the compressor turns on and off, Freon level at 55 psi at 100F, which seems correct, and when compressor stops spinning it goes up to 70-90 psi, when the compressor kicks in the Low reads 55 psi. The compressor cycles and the high side aluminum tube feels very hot to the touch. I suppose the compressor is compacting the Freon. Do you guys think it is the fan problem which makes the AC not cold? What other test should I be doing or should I just order a new fan?

By the way, no fault code shows on dashboard regarding Fan not working. which puzzles me, I have notice the plug on he fan shroud is very hard snap back in, would that cause the problem?

Thanks!!

[upallnight]

The low side pressure reading is correct for that ambient temp but what is the high side reading? You need to know both in order to diagnosis the problem. There could be blockage which could cause the high side to go too high and that is why the compressor is cycling off. The fact that the aux fan is not spinning is another reason why the high side reading is climbing pass the high side limits.

Take the X on a highway or freeway where there is no stop and go traffic and see if the ac is working better. Get a thermometer in the vent and tell us what the lowest reading is.

A bad fan will not throw a fault code since it is not emission related. You can use BMW specific software to read a fan fault and command the fan to turn on.

[x5turtle]

Let me try that after I put my put my engine fan back in. Thanks for the advice. So at this point should I be ordering a new fan either way? Since it is not cycling when I start the car. Or should I wait till I take the temp of the AC before doing so?

[upallnight]

Fan is close to $400 - $500+ depending on the manufacturer. Plus 3-4 hours to remove and replace. Before shelling out that kind of money and time I would make sure it the fan and not something else.

If you want to DIY it you can purchase and install BMW Scanner 1.4 to use in your diagnostic of the [problem. Hopefully you're not an Analog guy living in a digital world like some other owner on this forum.

I would confirm that you have power to the fan, the fact that it is very hard to snap in could be that the wires got really hot one time and might had melted something. It's best to start with the easy stuff and go onto the harder stuff.

[x5turtle]

I have the bmw scanner..... but I think it required older version of window... which is going to be tough for me to find a computer with that old OS... but I guess in the favor of time, it is my only choice... Let me put the fan clutch back on and install that scanner

[upallnight]

XP is the os for BMW Scanner 1.4 and many of the other softwares like Carsoft 6.5, INPA.

[upallnight]

If the electric condenser fan is not coming on and the engine clutch fan is off and the car is not moving, that is the reason why the compressor is cycling on and off. There is no air movement across the condenser to cool the refrigerant so the pressure is building to the point that the hi pressure switch is kicking in.

That's like the joke with the frog.

Cut off 1 leg and ask the frog to jump, and he does.
Cut off 2 legs and as the frog to jump, and he does.
Cut off 3 legs and ask the frog to jump, and he does.
Cut off 4 legs and ask the frog to jump, and he doesn't and the conclusion is that when you cut off 4 legs of a frog, the frog is deaf.

[x5turtle]

Interesting analogy~~

I put everything back on and drove around town at night, a little freeway. Noticed the driver side AC is colder than the passenger side. The condenser fan is still not on, I am going to install the bmw scanner tool today and see if I can get some codes off it. What should I be looking for? Do you think its the heater core got stuck, which cause the left and right temperature difference?

[upallnight]

Sounds like you have the automatic temp console, so you have different temp for the driver and passenger. Check to see what temp the passenger side is set to. Also check to see if you have the mixing feature like the center vent for the passenger vent. The mixing feature has red and blue dots on a thumb wheel in the vent. I have the manual temp control on my X so I'm not that familiar with controls on an auto system.

[x5turtle]

Just did the code scan, Cooling fan Fault code can be cleared but shows again after I turn car off and rescan.

Also, it tells me that my solenold valve, secondary air, short circuit to negative or open circuit

Any ideas? AC is still cold...