1995 840Ci Air Conditioning stopped cooling

[8isit]

Friends,

My 1995 840Ci was blowing ice cold air for years and didn't show any sign of slowing until just last overnight it doesn't blow cold anymore. The only thing that i did was i took off the air vent unit on the dash to repair couple of cracks and glue back the retaining clips. I had to disconnect the light bulb and the power connection going into the vent unit see in the attached pictures.

Could the gas release just all of a sudden like that without any symptoms?

Could the electrical disconnection have caused the gas to escape?

Could this be a fuse or relay issue? I checked the three fuses mentioned in the fuse box for Air Conditioning are all fine.

What else should I check before i take it in for the mechanic to check the freon.

Any insight would be appreciate it.

Thanks All
8isit

[Mike Sanchez]

I have the same problem on my 1989 750IL BMW, I charged it with 3 cans of and it leaked out in a four days then i tightened a loose refrigerant charging fitting one full turn and charged another can in it but that leaked out over week time.

[XAlt]

I have the same problem on my 1989 750IL BMW, I charged it with 3 cans of and it leaked out in a four days then i tightened a loose refrigerant charging fitting one full turn and charged another can in it but that leaked out over week time.

You're using R12 right?


OP, sounds like IHKA (blend door?) closed the vent on you.

[spikec]

Over the years I've replaced a leaky condenser (part# 64531392941) and the compressor (part#64528385908). Neither is a cheap fix but at some point both will need to be replaced. I think I bought my compressor on Amazon for half of what BMW sells it for.

[ORL]

OP, sounds like IHKA (blend door?) closed the vent on you.

+1, because:

Could the gas release just all of a sudden like that without any symptoms? Could the electrical disconnection have caused the gas to escape?

Leaking "all of a sudden", you'd hear a hiss. Leaking slowly but surely? Well, in theory, you could have pounded enough on the dash to have jostled an about-to-fail evaporator (or connector). But that does seem less likely than screwing up the flaps or connectors. Try checking the side and floor vents to see if they are cold. No, an electrical disconnection cannot cause the gas to escape.

Over the years I've replaced a leaky condenser (part#64531392941) and the compressor (part#64528385908). Neither is a cheap fix but at some point both will need to be replaced. I think I bought my compressor on Amazon for half of what BMW sells it for.

This seems to be the year for 1995 840's to fail? One of mine did about 6 months ago, and the other is showing symptoms. But 22 years on an AC compressor is pretty good! I decided to go back to BMW, pay the premium, and hope for another 20-year run. (On the other hand, my new residential Trane compressors only last a quarter as long as their GE counterparts, made at the very same plant in Tyler, TX during the 1970s. (whole assembly I mean; yes the component is just a Tecumseh or a Copeland nowadays))