E46 Air con problem

[BMW6161]

sounds like heater valve.

Bro, u are right. I dismantle the heater valve and blocked the hose since we never use "Hot air" in our country. Now my air-con work very well. save me $$$ and enjoy DIY.:top:

 

[BlackCat]

Another cooling system warming up!!!

Hope someone here with similar problems would offer some advise. Here goes... My E46 ride cooling system is giving me some problems lately.

1. First half hour of the drive, the air cond is OK except that its very very cold than usual [no change to the temp settings @ 25degC].
2. Air cond starts to smell a bit 'musky' after about 30 minutes
3. Air cond starts to feel warmer at this time
4. After about 45 mins, warm air is coming out of the aircond vents
5. By this time, I have to switch off the cooling system for about 10-15 minutes.
6. Then, start the aircond again - this time, after about 20 minutes or so, the whole cycle of 'musky' aircond smell starts all over again
7. This turning off and on of the aircond gets shorter after each cycle, my ending up with winding down the windows ala 'rag' top.

Would appreciate some 'diagnostic' insight from the 'cooling' gurus here to my predicament before visiting Naidu.

At the very least, I would have an idea of the 'whole situation'. A quick DIY might solve the problem [eg. "dismantling the heater valve and blocking the hose"], or a more nasty one awaits me...

 

[BMW6161]

Hope someone here with similar problems would offer some advise. Here goes... My E46 ride cooling system is giving me some problems lately.

1. First half hour of the drive, the air cond is OK except that its very very cold than usual [no change to the temp settings @ 25degC].
2. Air cond starts to smell a bit 'musky' after about 30 minutes
3. Air cond starts to feel warmer at this time
4. After about 45 mins, warm air is coming out of the aircond vents
5. By this time, I have to switch off the cooling system for about 10-15 minutes.
6. Then, start the aircond again - this time, after about 20 minutes or so, the whole cycle of 'musky' aircond smell starts all over again
7. This turning off and on of the aircond gets shorter after each cycle, my ending up with winding down the windows ala 'rag' top.

Would appreciate some 'diagnostic' insight from the 'cooling' gurus here to my predicament before visiting Naidu.

At the very least, I would have an idea of the 'whole situation'. A quick DIY might solve the problem [eg. "dismantling the heater valve and blocking the hose"], or a more nasty one awaits me...

Bro, first let us understand our E46 air-con and heater system.
E46 heater system is using hot water which warm up from our engine and control by heater valve located under the air filter box. if the heater valve is spoil (leak) then hot water will go throught to heater radiator which located under dashboard next to air-con cooling coil. At this time u would not get "cool air" any more. imagine if the heater radiator is hot and just near to cooling coil by then cool air will become hot. rite?
so, I taken out my heater valve whether is spoil or not since i dun want "Hot air" at all. Now no more hot water go into the radiator and just the cool air.
hope this can help who having same problem. enclosed image for yr reference

 

[BlackCat]

Bro,

First of all.. thank you for your response and the pic reference. Would you please let me know [based on the above diagram] what you did?

 

[BMW6161]

Bro,

First of all.. thank you for your response and the pic reference. Would you please let me know [based on the above diagram] what you did?

base on the diagram we don't have hose# 5 on our car.
1. cut hose# 4 added one valve in between to stop the hot water go into the radiator.
2. Disconnected hose# 1 & 3 from heater control valve and added one valve to join in one line, this to stop water out from engine block.
3. take out the heater control valve
4. should u lose some water. remember to top up before start up yr car.
remenber to closed the valve, if not u will feel "hot air" again....lol:top:

 

[BlackCat]

base on the diagram we don't have hose# 5 on our car.
1. cut hose# 4 added one valve in between to stop the hot water go into the radiator.
2. Disconnected hose# 1 & 3 from heater control valve and added one valve to join in one line, this to stop water out from engine block.
3. take out the heater control valve
4. should u lose some water. remember to top up before start up yr car.
remenber to closed the valve, if not u will feel "hot air" again....lol:top:

Thanks for the directions and tips bro.

 

[maze]

Guys,

I have the same problem too.. not very hot, but can feel that the driver side 2 aircond ducts blowing slightly warmer air compared to the passanger side air duct. Sometimes ok.

Just wondering why, half cold half warm.. if cooling coil problem, all ducts will be blowing hot air right?

Cheers.

 

[BMW6161]

Guys,

I have the same problem too.. not very hot, but can feel that the driver side 2 aircond ducts blowing slightly warmer air compared to the passanger side air duct. Sometimes ok.

Just wondering why, half cold half warm.. if cooling coil problem, all ducts will be blowing hot air right?

Cheers.

Bro,
U would not feel during the car is cool especially morning drive rite? the hot air only feel after half hour start rite? if yes mean yr heater control valve is leaking.
yr car is which year and E46 too?

 

[affan66]

fyi, if you remove the heater valve, the temp control means nothing as it will just go cold cold and cold. I did this for my E36 and it is super cold. Brrr...

For my E39, I removed the heater valve, and then tried a 2nd hand one for a week. Same issue. Re-installed my ole' heater valve and the aircond is fine now. I think this is because the heater valve was blocked. I was told by some resident experts that you need to play with the valve at least once a month. Turn on the heater function at full blast (during a cold day) for a few minutes and then turn it back to normal conditions (aircond). This will give the valve a full workout and function properly.

 

[BMW6161]

fyi, if you remove the heater valve, the temp control means nothing as it will just go cold cold and cold. I did this for my E36 and it is super cold. Brrr...

For my E39, I removed the heater valve, and then tried a 2nd hand one for a week. Same issue. Re-installed my ole' heater valve and the aircond is fine now. I think this is because the heater valve was blocked. I was told by some resident experts that you need to play with the valve at least once a month. Turn on the heater function at full blast (during a cold day) for a few minutes and then turn it back to normal conditions (aircond). This will give the valve a full workout and function properly.

Thanks bro,
I notice too.....by the way I still keep the heater valve just in case.
that's why we having same problem here because we did't use heater at all time.:top:

 

[nemo1]

Hi,

I have the same problem too, i'd like to remove the valve. Anyone from Penang have experience removing it?

base on the diagram we don't have hose# 5 on our car.
1. cut hose# 4 added one valve in between to stop the hot water go into the radiator.:

Which valve do I use to stop the hot water. Do I need to purchase the
valve?

From looking at the diagram posted, its not very hard to understand but I can't find it in my car. Please help

Thanks

 

[Ayaan]

Hi mate

I have the same problem too.. Just wondering why, half cold half warm.. if cooling coil problem, all ducts will be blowing hot? Did you find it out ?if you did could you please tell me as I have already spent loads of money with different garages but still not sorted. I will appreciate mate THANKS

 

[wanfalah]

hi all..
smell from outside comes thru the air con vent.
What's wrong?

 

[king82]

hi wan, guess your air cond vent is not able to close properly. If you do not intend to have outside air coming in anymore, maybe you could ask your mechanic to close/ seal the vent with sponge. Not really sure how to describe it to you. It has been mentioned before in the forum. Maybe you can do a search...

 

[Tune M]

Hi guys.

I just get E46 325, planning to replace sport rim, need to now what is the correct rim size for E46 325.
pls advice.

 

[SkyEvo]

Hi guys.

I just get E46 325, planning to replace sport rim, need to now what is the correct rim size for E46 325.
pls advice.

I guess you are in the wrong thread bro..you should instead ask question here ....

http://www.bmwclubmalaysia.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=23

 

[chetz]

hello to every senior member here,

i would to seek for ur help,

currently, my car E46 325 air con got problem here,
the driver side and one of the center side coming out hot air while the other working very well..

so...when driving that time, i gotta shut off the air for the driver seat ( hot la)

i have been one nearby workshop for this problem
but mechanic said should be leaking ,he need about 2k plus for fixing and changing the cooling coil...and he ask me to take out the heater valve as well
so he ask me leave the car for few days..
but i reject alreadi..coz need to use the car..
somemore not very confident with him


so..have any brother encounter this problem

my e46 also having the same prob.. just recently..
where did u fix urs bro?

was told it the heater sensor/coil..
advised by foreman to remove the coil...
i wonder although mine is the CKD model also have heater??

 

[king82]

hi bro chetz...do you live in kl/ pj? if you do, i would suggest you to go to Naidu's at Jalan Gasing.He should be able to help you correctly identify the culprit and fix it at a reasonable price (of course you could try to negotiate a bit with him la)...
try going on weekdays as he'll most probably be busy during Saturday...cheers

 

[NewbieJ]

What si Naidu's shop name pls??!! :wink:

 

[king82]

name...it's ES Auto Aircond Service...beside KWSP PJ building...