HVAC Issues
 

Has anyone ever had an issue with the HVAC control going bad? My AC randomly stopped working, I smacked it and started to work but quit shortly after that.

2003 3.0

Thanks

Nope. But if 'percussive maintenance' helped once, I'd start looking for bad solder joints on the board, and cycle the connectors on that module.

Several weeks ago mine started randomly cutting off completely in the middle of a drive. AC would be on and working and then all of a sudden the whole AC control module would go dead - no lights, no fan, no cold/hot air...nada. Just like you shut the whole thing down.

After a minute or so it would turn itself back on and work again fine - sometimes for days, sometimes for just a few minutes and repeat.

Couldn't find anyone having my exact issue here. Lots of "turns off but fan stays on = so you need a new FSR (final stage motor)" or "cut/damaged wires in the dash", or "blower motor" or "fuse" issues. But mine symptoms were very different from all of those similar complaints. Search some of those terms if it turns off but the fan keeps running.

Anyways, I pulled out my AC Control Module from the dash and cleaned the fan on the backside of it - was very dirty. Reattached all the wire harnesses and reinstalled.

Not sure if it was the fan or perhaps a loose connection (although all appeared to be inserted pretty tight) = but I haven't had a repeat in 2 weeks. Fingers crossed!

My next step was going to look for a used AC Control Module to swap.

Just an FYI in case using the term AC control module doesn't give you good results...that control module/panel is actually called the IHKA control module (if you have the auto system)...and is called the IHKR control module is you have the semi-automatic system where the control panel has dials instead of digital buttons. :)

Was wondering what "IHKR" meant myself. :thumbup:

Yeah...the IHKA is the "digital/automatic" control panel...and the IHKR is the "manually regulated" semi automatic control panel. Below is more info about the e39/e53 IHKR for those that are unfamiliar with it since it had a limited availability in the US market. BMW NA marketing only offered it on base models and only in certain model years:

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...HKR%20Info.jpg

I have a similar issue with my IHKR. Anyone got a used one for sale?
I want to have a back up before I dissect mine to resolder or replace the capacitors. At the LKQ these units are rare and the IHKA is one of the first things to get taken. On an e36 board someone did the capacitor replacement and got new life out of theirs. The dial components are not integrated into the electronics according to the photos so I don't know how serviceable this is going to be.