Air conditioner problem

[jayrh68]

OK, I have searched through at various air conditioning problems but nothing seems to pertain my issues. First off I bought this 2007 X5 4.8 without maybe knowing its complete history with @64k miles on it. I have found pieces of serpentine belt leading me to believe it has kicked that off at one time. I have put about 30k miles on it since and has been very reliable, however i have no AC. I have it set on cool in the Idrive as well as intensive but no cool air at all. It does seem to have a charge, over charge actually so I bled it off. Now I am having trouble determining if the clutch is actually kicking in or not, there is not significant "click", but watching the RPMs, there is some change when switching to MAX AC. I seem absolutely no change at all in the pressure, and yes I only have the pressure gauge on a can of recharge, but it seems to indicate properly. Searches for fuse or relay locations seem to dead end on me. I am leaning more toward the compressor may be good and clutches in energizing but not actuating the compressor. The remnants of the belt make me wonder if this thing got hot and for some reason that only the BMW rocket scientist would locked out the signal to the AC and needs some kind of reset. Would really like some insight incase anyone knows more about this system. Thanks

[Mujahid]

Hi all, I have a similar problem (magnetic air-con compressor clutch does not engage) - what could be the issue....presure switch?, heater valves? - This is what I see in the Bentley Manual, not much more help than that. How does one test these components. I have a Carsoft diagnostic tool but it does not pick up any faults on the aircon. I also have an Electronic TIS which doesnt help much either.
Any tips from you guy's, perhaps what should the pressure in the system be?
thanks again all.

[ShantF1]

You guys are making it hard. Is the blower motor working..... The X5 hoses have been known for dislocating from time to time.... Best advise.... Take it in to a independent service shop... Screw BMW's warranty.... The only thing they put on their service sheets is "unable to duplicate problem".... Do some research and find a good shop... Ps. Turn your ac up all the way... Turn off any radio or headlight... When the car is idling.... Turn the ac on and see if there is any rpm difference.

[Mujahid]

Blower fan is working, there are no loose pipes. The magnetic clutch on the compressor does not engage, so what are thw interlocks for this to happen?

[ShantF1]

I don't know why that would happen... On my 2009 x5 48i the differential seal gave up on 400 mi.... I wish the x5 was built in Germany.... Sorry buddy

[minesapasty]

Having owned my 2007 e70 3.0d since February, the A/C hasn't been something that I have had the need to use, and it was "brass monkey" weather when I took it for the test drive, so even though I did ask if the A/C worked, I never actually tried it, I was more worried about warming the car interior than cooling it down.
Anyway, now that the weather is getting warmer the A/C doesn't seem to do anything, so I took it into the local garage that I use, that also do A/C systems. They plugged it into a machine that checked the system for leaks and all was well, it needed topping up with quite a lot of gas, but it wasn't totally empty, and held "1" on the vacuum check. Once filled, the machine started checking if the system was working, at this stage the test failed, the mechanic seems to think that the clutch on the compressor isn't operating. Anyhow, it it is going back in, early doors next Saturday. They mentioned that it could just be something as simple a failed fuse that is stopping the clutch from engaging, but it may also be the compressor itself.
I have had a look in the owners manual to see if I can see which fuse or fuses may be involved, but cannot find a list of fuses at all, does anyone have that sort of information?

[ard]

Www.newtis.info

IMO the 'fuse' story is wishful murmuring in your ear...just to make it easier on you. I'm guessing a new compressor. Price them online, so you are prepared.

[minesapasty]

Thank you for the link to the technical info, most appreciated.

I agree with you, I also think that the fault being a fuse is wishful thinking, fuses don't tend to blow just for the fun of it, they are there to protect their circuit, so if a fuse has popped, there is likely to be an underlying fault that will need finding and repairing.

[minesapasty]

OK, so I have just got back from having the A/C rechecked. The system hasn't lost any pressure over the week since it was put onto the machine and regassed etc, so the mechanic connected up his diagnostic box of wizardry and the following was the outcome.

Fault Code E723 No message (condensation sensor). OX2DI Receiver Integrated Automatic Heating Aircon system Transmitter Roof Function Centre

We, (well I was watching :-) ) removed the cover away from behind the rear view mirror and found a sensor, he then removed the cover of the sensor very carefully and there was a circuit board (this is now more my territory), which we are guessing is a combination of the auto light sensor and the A/C.

Baring in mind that he is not a BMW specialist, but he is a qualified A/C engineer, I went there because they have proven to me over the years that they are a genuine company. I have now come home to see what I can find out, while he can get on earning some money with the queue of customers that were drinking all of the free coffee in the waiting room, and I could do some investigating and hopefully get an answer to my question.

Before I go and part with some of my hard earned, has anyone experienced an issue with this sensor before? Do they fail, or like other sensor type faults, is there something else that we should be looking at that could cause this fault? I could just order the new sensor from BMW, but knowing them and their pricing strategy, I would hate to hand over an arm and a leg, only to find that the fault was a penny washer.

Something else that I have noticed since getting back home, the green light on the snow flake button has started to flash, even after turning off the control panel by reducing the fan speed to lower than low, before, it was either on or off before, I am guessing the flashing light is because of trying to cancel the error code, the system is now showing that there is a fault.

[Black-Forest]

Just pulled the same code from our 07’. How did you make out with the repair?