Fan blower stopped ??
 

I started driving today went to turn AC on and nothing no sound no air nothing? It seemed like it was acting a little funny recently kind of changing fab speed on it's own? I'm a new owner so I really didn't think much of it. I'm hoping I don't have to change out the blower motor???

Any ideas or self diagnostics I can check?

Its the big resistor - called the porcupine or something due to it having loads of spikes on. Above the pedals i think

if it is the final stage resistor it will be located behind the center console. access is granted throught the passenger side under the glovebox. easy fix, part cost about 100.00

I just ordered a new final stage resistor and im getting ready to put it in later during the week once it arrives. I am following this DIY: http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...placement.html
Do you have any helpful tips?? Can anyone confirm if I can do this without removing the glove box?

If your car is right hand drive, then you don't need to remove glove box.

More than likely it is the stage resistor...either way, it's not expensive.

It took me a longer time putting everything together again than removing everything. Getting the resistor out was just a bit tricky. BE PATIENT: that's my only advice.

I didn't have to remove the glove box on mine.

I had trouble getting the old resistor out because I was not pushing down on the little plastic tab at the bottom edge that holds it in place. As soon as I figured that out, it popped right out.

Ok, not taking the glove box out seems like it will cut down the disassembly reassembly time. Could you tell me your process when you did this. Did you remove the carpet on the footwell, remove the plastic cover under the glove box that has the interior light, then is there more plastic trim to remove? Once everything is removed should i be able to see the FSR or is it just kinda reaching up and pulling it out?

I followed this DIY:
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...placement.html

You will see the wire harness when you remove carpeted panel.

I had exactly the same problem and swapped out my Final Stage Resistor (FSR) and the fan still didn't work. I cleaned out the plug to the FSR and reconnected it and it worked. So before you spend money on a new FSR try checking the connection first. I put the original one back in and everything still works great

It is not in plane sight after you remove the carpet panel... right? Isn't it a little closer towards the front of the car and then up? Because I see the plug that is in plane sight after removing the carpet panel but according to the DIY that is not it. Do I need to remove any other trim besides the carpet and the plastic cover under the glovebox to get to the FSR? Thanks!

I thought it was plain to see. It was the only harness I saw under there. I didn't have to remove anything other than the carpeted panel.

When you look at the second picture in the DIY there is a plug in the bottom left corner. That is the only one i can see after removing the carpet panel. I will go out to the garage and take another look then maybe i will see it more clearly.

"In plain sight" is a relative term I guess.

It was "in plain sight" for me while I basically had my head under the glove box looking in there. Removal was done by touch because I could not stick my hand in there AND see what I was doing.

Hope that helps.

Stage #6 picture shows FSU harness plugged in.
Stage #7 picture shows FSU harness unplugged.

So between both pictures it will help you understand the location of FSU.

Thanks for the help. Did you remove the plastic cover under the glovebox that has an interior with the interior light?

Nope. I don't see any need to.

Mine just went out a couple days ago. I ordered this FSR from Ebay, it should do the trick. Does anybody know if there is a diference in FSR units on ebay? I mean some are $80 and the one I got was $38.
Thanks
Here is the one I got. Hope it fits in a 4.6is!!!!!
BMW E46 E39 X3 X5 BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR : eBay Motors (item 170471826261 end time May-11-10 18:16:58 PDT)

Wow I just changed mine with the help from this board and really it took about under 10 min... no kidding ... one screw to unbolt the carpet and reached in unkooked the electrical conector thing pulled out and reinsaled ... DONE ....
05 X5 3.0L

I am happy to hear it was so simple. I am waiting for mine to arrive and then off to the garage to install it!! So the carpet panel was the only thing you removed to get to it?

I have taken the carpet out and have started to look at everything before the FSR arrives (probably tomorrow). I have found the plug for the FSR. Do I press in on both sides (both sides not being top and bottom) and pull straight out?

This link shows the procedure on a right hand drive version. It has some clearer pictures of the FSR and the cable/plug. Procedure is pretty much the same as left hand drive but no glove box removal

BMW X5 • View topic - Final Stage Resister Removal UK Guide

Thanks for that additional DIY. I think that one has some good information that the other one is missing. Good detailed photos of how to remove the FSR!

Well, my FSR arrived today and I installed it, however the problem is not solved... The symptoms are heater fan is always on when the car is running or turned off. The hvac controls are non-functionable and the display screen is blank. Any ideas on what else this could be????

I think the ac control unit has possibly failed on my x5. I have pulled it out and checked all of the connections on the back and it is still not working. Does anyone know if there is a way to test and see if ac control unit is faulty??

Just replaced my FSR and no fan either. I dont have the problem of the fan staying on when the car is off I just dont have a fan period.

Can one of the techs chime in on this matter please.... I believe the ac control unit in my x5 has failed. I have replaced the FSR and the problems still exists. The heater fan stays on while the car is running or shut off. The display on the ac control unit is blank and non responsive to any input. I have checked the fuses for the ac and non of them are blown. Has anyone experienced symptoms like these with their X5??

I just experienced the same problem with mine and changed the FSR and nothing, still no air coming out. I ended having to change the blower motor... parts not to expensive, but the labor was very expensive. G/L!

Were you having the issues with the ac control unit as I am? The control unit is non-responsive and the display is blank. Or was it just no air blowing out the vents for you?

I have solved my problem! I replaced the ac control unit and now everything is working fine. The heater fan was running regardless of the engine being on or off. The display on the ac control unit was blank and non responsive. Replacing the ac control unit solved all these issues. I had originally replaced the FSR but that was not the issue. Good luck to anyone else with these symptoms.

I HAVE MINE AT MY LOCAL INDY SHOP NOW. WIFE HAS BEEN HAVING TH FLUCTUATIONS IN FAN SPEED OFF AND ON FOR SOME TIME AND I ADMIT I HAD NOTICED IT TO BUT PAID IT NO MIND. THE OTHER DAY IT ALL WENT OUT! NO AIR MOVING AT ALL IN THE VENTS BUT THE A/C CONTROL UNIT AND DISPLAY WERE STILL WORKING.

INDY SAYS HE NEEDS TO REPLACE BLOWER MOTOR AND THE BROUGHT UP THE RESISTOR PROBLEM TO ME AS WELL AND WILL REPLACE BOTH. LABOR IS RIGHT$$$$$.

I WISH I WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS POST PRIOR TO JUMPING TO THE SHOP BUT A/C AND ELECTRONICS ARE THE TWO THINGS I WON'T DO. HOWEVER THIS LOOKED PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. I HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE INDY FOR YEARS BUT YOU JUST NEVER KNOW... TRUST I GUESS AND I ALWAYS ASK FOR OLD PARTS.

It sounds like the resistor. If your indy is doing the work he should just replace the FSA (Final stage resistor) first. There is no reason to assume both blower motor and resistor have failed. Replace the resistor first regardless if you are doing the work or you indy is doing the work. It is cheap and takes a few minutes.

I am going to his shop this morning and wil see what the deal is. He says the blower motor is bad as well and a lot of times when the resistor is bad or you mix match (new blower old resistor or old blower with new resistor) the other goes bad.

I will see but I already committed to the work on his word and he started yesterday removing the dash.

I would have seen this post and my wife was not in such a panic I would have done the FSR at home first. We also have a 7 month old and he was sweating my wife said. Louisiana Heat!

Interested to hear the update on this.

I recently got the fan / motor replaced. The air is cools now, but the airflow will drop after about 15 mins from engine start. I have to manually increase the fan speed. So now I'm suspecting the FSR has gone bad (because of the "new blower old resistor" mix match?!)

Well picked up the X last night and so far so good. Cold, frigid A/C after blower/FSR change and evac and replenishment of the refrigerant. :thumbup:

I feel a little lighter in the wallet but what you going to do?

Thanks for the update. I bought the FSU this afternoon and will do the replacement this weekend. Hopefully it will fix the problem.

In this case, your a/c control is out. You need to replace it, go to ebay and get a used one, take a note on the part number, one is for cars equipped with aux. heat and one is for non aux heat (you may go to realoem to get the right part number). I had this problem before, I just bought a used one from ebay and installed it, everything went back.