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kbannon View Drop Down
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E39 525i Sport Individual

Joined: 09-October-2002
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    Posted: 24-June-2007 at 21:32
As per the subject really.
Went out today and the fan wouldn't work. Everything appeared to be normal but nothing was blowing.
On the return journey the fan eventually started but adjusting the fan settings would not affect the speed of air which seems to be pretty much full speed.
However, when I turned off the system air still appeared to be blowing and when I turned off the car and removed the key air kept blowing until I removed fuse #28.
According to http://www.540i6.com/finalstagereplacement.html it could be the FSU but would that explain the fan running with the ignition off? (please don't suggest that it might be an expensive module!)
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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BeemaBoy View Drop Down
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Points: 927 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeemaBoy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-June-2007 at 22:29

Hi Kbannon

When the fan stays running after you have removed the key from the ignition, can you turn on the AC or RECIRC system? I know it wont run properly without the engine, but do the lights become lite, indicating that those systems are switched on?

This happened to me on my E34...the exact same symptoms. The fan would stay running even after I turned the car off and locked it. This would eventally run my battery flat...so just watch out! The fan, would also stop blowing when I pulled fuse #28 out!

Turned out that the problem was that the wires leading to fuse #28 had melted to a 'live' feed inside the fusebox and was creating a steady supply of currrent, even when the ignition was switched off...

Only way I fixed this was to have an auto electrician put in a new fuse holder and re-wire the melted wires to it...problem solved...no more fan blowing!

Just a suggestion...

PS... I too replaced the FSU and it made no difference!

BB



Edited by BeemaBoy
87 E30 320I
95 E34 525I Auto, Executive Package, Arctic Silver
98 E38 740I Steptronic, Silver
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kbannon View Drop Down
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E39 525i Sport Individual

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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-June-2007 at 23:40
None of the buttons or lights on the climate control console operate when the key is out.
I'll check behind the fuse panel tomorrow for any issues.


Edited by kbannon
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Points: 927 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeemaBoy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2007 at 07:56

Originally posted by kbannon kbannon wrote:

None of the buttons or lights on the climate control console operate when the key is out.

Just to be sure, that is when the fan is switched on? I could shut the fan off in my E34 and that seemed to shut the system down. Just became really annoying doing that everytime I parked the car!!!

Very different cars the E34 and the E39, but hey, could be something similar?

BB
87 E30 320I
95 E34 525I Auto, Executive Package, Arctic Silver
98 E38 740I Steptronic, Silver
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E39 525i Sport Individual

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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2007 at 09:17
The fan seems to operate independently of the switches and ignition - it runs constantly (at one speed) even with the switches all turned off and/or with the ignition turned off.
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Points: 294 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote autofix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2007 at 09:23

Hi Killian,

Common symptom. replace the FSU, aka hedgehog, aka heater resistor.

regards

 

 
Kane Automotive
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E39 525i Sport Individual

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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2007 at 09:28
Cheers Alan - I know the FSU gives the single fan speed setting prob but does it also lead to the fan running when the power is off?
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Points: 294 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote autofix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2007 at 09:42

Hi Killian,

Yes, I have had a few like this.
Kane Automotive
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E39 525i Sport Individual

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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2007 at 09:53
Grand so - I'll pick one up today!
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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E39 525i Sport Individual

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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2007 at 18:15
Twas the FSU alright.
Thanks.
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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                               Glad to be of service

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Points: 1823 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mick525i Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25-June-2007 at 18:48

Mine was the same. Final stage resister.

Mick
Cheers
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E39 525i Sport Individual

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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04-August-2007 at 19:38
Well, its just my luck - the heater FSU is gone again!
Same symptoms and no fuses blown. 5 or 6 weeks isn't much of a lifetime for one!!!
Will have to dig out the receipt and take the new unit back and get a replacement one (fecked if Im paying for another!)
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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E39 525i Sport Individual

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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-August-2007 at 19:06
I opened the dash to check the hedgehog and it gets hot when the climate control system is on.
Does this indicate that it is still working and my fault lies elsewhere?
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Points: 294 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote autofix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07-August-2007 at 10:02

Originally posted by kbannon kbannon wrote:

I opened the dash to check the hedgehog and it gets hot when the climate control system is on.
Does this indicate that it is still working and my fault lies elsewhere?

Hi Killian,

No, the fact that it is hot proves nothing.

I have never seen a new one go faulty quite so quickly, but it could happen. Can you get another to swap just to test? 

I know it is not much use to you but fault codes and actuation tests are the quick way to go.

 
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E39 525i Sport Individual

Joined: 09-October-2002
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Points: 15508 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kbannon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07-August-2007 at 15:37
Well, the dealer was a pleasure to deal with and exchanged the unit.
The system still doesn't work!
Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor
Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE
1997 E39 523i
2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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Points: 4161 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fey! Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07-August-2007 at 18:50

Have you tried percussive maintainence?

It involves smacking the front of the unit with your hand - works from time to time!!!

Beware; I once knocked a radio through the dash of one of my previous cars using this repair system; radio worked afterward, but just wasn't sitting right in the dash for a while!!!
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