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Thread: 84 E30 Air Conditioning Problem

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Victorville, CA
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    5
    My Cars
    1984 BMW 318i

    84 E30 Air Conditioning Problem

    Hi All, just joined this site and new to the BMW world. Recently purchased an '84 318i and love it so far.
    Trying to troubleshoot non-working Air Conditioning. I know the system is charged and compressor is good because I can apply voltage directly and it kicks on and gets cold. Getting voltage out of the A/C power switch when pressed, but I don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions or know of a good troubleshooting chart for this. I'm assuming the compressor needs to cycle on and off so I can't just connect a toggle switch. Thanks! JP

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Las Vegas
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    15,428
    My Cars
    00 E38,01 E38,99 323 is
    I know the later cars like mine have a hi/lo pressure switch mounted on or near the receiver dryer. Make sure you have one if you are supposed to, and make sure it works.

    Edit: you said M30 (the engine) -- did you mean E30 (the body style)? So is this a stock 318 (with the M10 engine), or did it used to be a 318 but is now a 334 or 335 (with an M30? Also, I'm sure the Bentley manual would have some electrical troubleshooting info for the AC system. If it is a swapped car you'll need to know a lot more about what is in there.
    Last edited by strad; 04-23-2013 at 04:42 PM.
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Victorville, CA
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1984 BMW 318i
    Thanks strad. I did unplug that and jumped across the connections in the harness, but still nothing.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Oops, typo there. It's supposed to be E30, and yes it's a completely stock 318i

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Billings, MT
    Posts
    6,720
    My Cars
    2013 328i xDrive
    My e23 has an evaporator temp sensor to cycle the compressor on and off so the evaporator doesn't freeze. I assume the 318 has something similar. Make sure that is working. When the ac quit working in my e23, the evap temp sensor went out and wouldn't let the compressor turn on. It took me a while to track that sucker down lol.

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    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Victorville, CA
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    1984 BMW 318i
    Thanks, I'll check that out. Is that the one located under the dash above the glove compartment?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2004
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    Billings, MT
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    2013 328i xDrive
    Quote Originally Posted by JPsM30 View Post
    Thanks, I'll check that out. Is that the one located under the dash above the glove compartment?
    On my e23 it's accessed from the cowl under the blower motor. I'm not sure about the e30.

    Sent from my iPhone using BF.com
    -Chris
    My e30 build thread/color change here

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Victorville, CA
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    1984 BMW 318i
    Thanks for your help.
    I did trace it down to the evaporator temperature switch.
    Now to hunt down the part...

  8. #8
    323i E30's Avatar
    323i E30 is offline ⅂!ʈө !ƨ l!ʞө ɐ ʇөlөbµouө
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    Check RealOem for it and order it at the dealer.

    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...02&hg=64&fg=55

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