AC not blowing cold while standing stationary BMW E60 530D LCI

[bellabmw]

Does it happen to someone for AC not blowing cold while standing stationary ? When it starts to move then its okay it blows cold like every AIR Conditioner, just while staying in one place it does not blow cold.

[MarcoZandrini]

I bet you have a car with an automatic tranny. The fan clutch is shot. Replace it. Btw, the 32mm bolt that attaches the fan clutch to the water pump is a left hand thread!!!!

[bellabmw]

Yes its 530D automatic, when car moves it blows cold...when in place not cold...fan works because I have seen it rotating slowly or even when car engine gets hot.

[MarcoZandrini]

There's a test for the fan clutch. Basically you roll up a newspaper and use it to try to stop the fan. If it stops easily the fan clutch is shot. Also, our AC could be low on R134a refrigerant. But, I'm betting the fan clutch is kaput.

[bellabmw]

as far as I know 530D LCI e60 has no fan clutch...but anyway I will check further for it.

[MarcoZandrini]

Then perhaps it's low on R134a.

[bal4833]

Similar problem in my 1995 325i E36 with manual transmission. 45F air from vents at highway speed. As soon as I slow for a stop light, the vent temperature starts to climb. Engine coolant not going high, so I assume the belt driven fan and clutch are okay.

The Aux fan is not coming on. I have applied 12V at the relay socket for the high speed relay to the fan and the fan runs. Fan is only about 2 years old. Can't really determine how the refrigerant pressure switch is supposed to control the fan relays. Any suggestions prior to turning over to a shop to replace the pressure switch?

[MarcoZandrini]

The refrigerant pressure switch doesn't control the fan. It's purpose is to shut down the AC system when the pressure is low.

[Jan the Man]

They are all like that. When car is not moving, engine is not moving or moving slowly. And so the compressor does not compress as much.

[cheech1]

They are all like that. When car is not moving, engine is not moving or moving slowly. And so the compressor does not compress as much.

If "They are all like that", then why have all the BMW's that I have owned blown cold whether idling or going 90mph?

[MarcoZandrini]

They are all like that. When car is not moving, engine is not moving or moving slowly. And so the compressor does not compress as much.

I heartily disagree.

[BlackSpeed66]

Similar problem in my 1995 325i E36 with manual transmission. 45F air from vents at highway speed. As soon as I slow for a stop light, the vent temperature starts to climb. Engine coolant not going high, so I assume the belt driven fan and clutch are okay.

The Aux fan is not coming on. I have applied 12V at the relay socket for the high speed relay to the fan and the fan runs. Fan is only about 2 years old. Can't really determine how the refrigerant pressure switch is supposed to control the fan relays. Any suggestions prior to turning over to a shop to replace the pressure switch?

There's a good chance the resistor on the fan itself is the issue here. Try to check both high and low speed again jumping the terminals on the temp switch on the side of the radiator should be 3 wires i think). This was the issue on my '95 525iT - the fan is supposed to operate at low speed any time the AC is on. Fan switch was fine, relays/fuses were fine and the fan worked on 'high' but not 'low'. The resistor on my e34 was mounted on the front of the fan assy at about the 4:00 position - its only purpose is to allow the fan to operate at low speed. Heat, being a byproduct of resistance causes these things to get hot, and sometimes fail. I would check to make sure nothing is blocking airflow to it either, as if it can't cool itself adequately, it will burn out faster. They're about $60-$70 or so if i remember correctly. 2 wires to hook up, pretty easy.