Cabin blower starts then stops after a few seconds after ignition

[tuckster]

Hi all-

I'm hoping some of you can help me with this. After starting my car (323i 2000), my cabin fan will blow for a few seconds (10 seconds or so) then stop after that no matter what I do with the controls. If I've driven it for 10-15 minutes, restarting the car will not turn on the fan at all for even that 10 seconds. I'm not quite sure what's going on.

I checked the fuses for the blower in my glove compartment, but it looks fine. I read other posts here and someone mentioned that it could be the resistor pack.

However, would that explain the fact that the cabin fan works the first few seconds?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Tuck

 

[Section_8]

Hi all-

I'm hoping some of you can help me with this. After starting my car (323i 2000), my cabin fan will blow for a few seconds (10 seconds or so) then stop after that no matter what I do with the controls. If I've driven it for 10-15 minutes, restarting the car will not turn on the fan at all for even that 10 seconds. I'm not quite sure what's going on.

I checked the fuses for the blower in my glove compartment, but it looks fine. I read other posts here and someone mentioned that it could be the resistor pack.

However, would that explain the fact that the cabin fan works the first few seconds?

Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

Tuck

Sounds like the common thermostat/AC problem in early E46's. I had the same thing fixed about a year ago myself. The fan works, then cuts off, then comes on some.. That's a sign it's about to die (The part had a WIERD name to it, basically what it's doing is controlling the airflow based on cabin temp. - but it's failing so it's just throwing fits with how much air it decides to release..). Towards the end of it's life - it just constantly fails.. No air at all after it clicks on and does it's job.

The good news is it's not your A/C unit, or the fan - basically a sensor of sorts. (With a wierd name, sorry I don't have enough coffee in me this morning to pull it out of my head!)

 

[tuckster]

Thanks for the the response. I'm looking for the climate control unit in my car now.

The thing is, the fan stops even if I turn off the "auto" mode and place it on manual. I figure in this configuration, it won't try to control the cabin fan based on the temperature.

The fan start only for a few seconds after ignition then stops afterwards in both modes.

 

[frolf]

mine blows and slows and blows and slows and won't do what the control module says, but my control module is fine (i have an e36) and it is the FINAL STAGE UNIT that is effing everything up. the part is about $120 and i'm a lazy sack of crap.

 

[tuckster]

After doing a bit more research, I think it might be the final stage unit. I took apart the my glove compartment after ordering the part I need. Everything is ready for it to go in. Hopefully that will solve my problem. We'll see in a couple of days.

 

[Section_8]

Yep that was the name, when it fails, it takes control even when you don't have it set to auto-climate, Sounds like you nailed it!

 

[tuckster]

Just changed the final stage unit and now climate control is behaving normally. Part costs 71 bucks from internet (www.pacificbmw.com) including shipping. About 2 hours of work if you want to be extra careful.