Auxiliarry fan
 

OK guys here is a strange one for you.

While in Ukraine, I did some maintenance work on the X5. The mechanics at the shop were great and the prices were great, so I took advantage of them and fix several things that needed to be fixed.

However, the electrician, next door, which the shop used for all things electrical, was a crook. He tried to get money out of things that weren't necessary, both from me and my son (he also has an X5).

Now, during one of my visits to the shop, he run a diagnostic on the car, and he told me that my aux fan is NOT working. That was strange because I've checked the car for errors a few days ago, and there was nothing in the memory (well, nothing that I didn't know, like the glow plug in cylinder 5 that needs to be replaced, but living in Greece, I do not think that it is necessary). Also, a couple of weeks ago, the car has been checked by BMW Bulgaria and the fan was not mentioned. So :

1. the fan went south between the previous time the car was checked and when he checked it.
2. The electrician was pulling my leg, with a temp error which never appeared before.
3. During the work that the mechanics did on my front suspension, they have disconnected something that controls the fan.
4. The fan is indeed not working (to be honest, I've never seen it working, but I am not sure when the bloody fan is supposed to work. Temps were not high enough to warranty its engagement). Temperature gauge never went above normal.

So I guess what I need to know is how can I check and make sure that the fan indeed is not OK. What other things I need to check before deciding that the fan is bad?

Also, what module should I check for errors, to see the exact error the electrician saw?

On U.S.A. trucks the aux fan comes on when the AC is on. A non working aux fan will not allow the AC to cool down the car in traffic and may not allow the AC to work at all. Drive the truck and turn on the ac is the ac working, have the truck idle with the ac on and note if the fan ever comes on or if the temperature for the ac starts to rise.

If you have software such as BMW 1.4 or carsoft 6.5 or inpa you can just run a scan. The scan will tell you if you have a bad aux. fan.

Will do, I have INPA, GT1, SSS, NCSExpert everything. I wish I knew how to use GT1, but I'll figure it out.

ΟΚ, here are the error codes I got by scannning the car with INPA:

0x41F1; Elektroluefter
Error code: 41 F1 32

0x4B22 Elektroluefter
Error code: 4B 22 24

I also checkd the thick wires for voltage, with the air condition in full power and it does have 13.6V or something similar. So I guess electricity is flowing to the fan. Before I decide that the fan is bad, anyone has any idea where is the thin wire coming from, to check that out? Just in case it has been ripped off, during the maintenance work I had on the car.

turn your airconditioner on

DME 100Hz

The thin wire is coming from the engine computer. It sends a pulse signal to turn on the fan and control the speed of the fan. The faster the pulse, the faster the fan speed.

WRONG !

Well, share your knowledge with us! Inquiring minds want to know. ;)

FYI: The DME is called the engine computer.

BMW Technology Guide : Digital Motor Electronics (DME)

I already did look at my last information

100Hz

What previous question are you answering?

Look guys, I am not a BMW expert, nor an electronics expert. So if it is possible, kindly provide some less cryptic information.

What is that 100Hz thing?

What I am trying to figure right now is, if it is possible that the mechanic who worked on my front suspension has somehow, somewhere, disconnected that thin wire, and my fan is not receiving a signal to start turning. Since I've verified that the fan receives 13.x Volts, the only thing that can prevent it from turning (I think) is the signal from the DME.

And yes, when I tried the fan, the car was hot (normal operating temperature) and I had switched the air con on, to full blast.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

John
Don't start a sentence when seeking help with "look guys"

Te speed of the signal does not change it comes from the DME or DDE whichever the case and has a frequency of 100Hz

So you need to be able to measure the frequency or put an oscilloscope on it.

Pity you are not in Australia because there is a man in Melbourne who is really knowledgable on this

I think it was well deserved and understated.

When you first start your X the ECM activates the electric aux fan for a short period regardless of engine temp, until diagnostics are complete and it shuts it off. The fan runs at a very low speed but it runs. The air conditioning does not necessarily trigger the fan to run. Even if it does it is not immediately after you turn on the AC.

If the fan does not come on, check the 50 amp fuse and check to see if it turns freely.

Do you,
last post I make arsehole

If the 50A fuse was blown, would the thick wire going to the fan carry 14V? I guess that precludes the fuse as the reason for the failure.

I'll have my son fire up the car, while I'll be watching the fan and get back to you.

As you understand, I try to be sure that it is the fan that is bad, before I come up with 500$ that the parts guy wants for it, in Ukraine (I don't even want to think of what BMW Greece would want for the fan)

Just a generalized opinion based on previous posts. I didn't single you out you just did that on your own.:goodluck:

I certainly endorse wanting to be sure before buying parts 100%.

I think the voltage check eliminates the fuse. I always check for voltage then pull the fuse to see if there is still voltage--don't look for logic. It always makes me feel like I won't be back checking for some reason I find out later.

You got a point there! You never know with those "smart" cars anymore!

If you have the right software, you can use it to command the fan to turn on to verify if it is still operable.

I have INPA, GT1, Progman, the works. How can I do this test?!?!

I don't have inpa, I have BMW scanner 1.4 and Carsoft 6.5. I am able to turn the fan on and energized the ac compressor through BMW Scanner 1.4.

Here's a video in which INPA is used to turn on the aux fan. So INPA is able to do this. Perhaps someone on this forum like Terminator or Twin Poppa can help you out.

Aux Cooling Fan on E65 w/ INPA test. - YouTube

OK, let me see what I can find in INPA. Time to fire up the Macbook in Windows XP again!