Any a/c experts out there

[1999750il]

Hi racer
I certainly hear the clutch fan change speed but the aux doesnt show any sign of life
I had changed the clutch just a year ago
My next step is to verify the ground and 12 volts going to the harness with the engine and a/c running
If I see voltage then I will replace the fan within warranty
Hopefully it’s not a faulty pcm not sending as pwm signal to the fan
Too bad there is no way of easily testing for the pwm signal at the harness

[1999750il]

So I was able to test both power wires at the fan harness and they had battery voltage even with the ignition off
So that leaves the pwm signal from the pcm which I am unable to test for or a second bad fan motor from bmw
What are the chances of that!!!

[Auto Parts Guy]

Why not just use INPA to test the fan? The DME would also have stored codes if there is a problem with the e-fan. It would make troubleshooting much easier.

[1999750il]

I wish I had INPA....I know its a dealer level tool that would save me tons of time...but all I have is OBD2 scanners that probably arent enough to read HVAC codes in these cars.

[acspecialists]

Running INPA is as simple as loading the software and buying a 20 pin cable. If you own one of theses cars you will have to have it sooner or later.

[1999750il]

Hi ac
Thanks for the advice
I apologize for the novice question but is installing INPA as simple as paying a one time fee and downloading the software onto a laptop? I would feel very foolish not having done that years ago then. I have done lots of DIY and restorative work to my cars and having had INPA would have certainly made things a lot easier
I have also spent money buying basic scanners like AUTOENGINUITY software and have connecters for both the 16 obd port as well as the 20 pin under the hood.... but I don’t believe they have bi directionality or the ability to read HVAC codes
Please advise where you would suggest that I get this INPA software

Thanks so much
Rick

[Timm]

Yes, as simple as that (most times anyway), for less than 50 bucks you can be diagnosing everything (including the IHKA) - but only via the under-hood diagnostic connector.

[1999750il]

Hi Tim
I appreciate the reply
Do you suggest eBay for the download of INPA or some other website?
I know in the past dealer software required specific types of laptop and software to work properly
Would the INPA work on the latest windows operating system?
Thanks again for your help

[Timm]

INPA works on creaky old Win 98 machines! You need to find a vendor that supplies a one-touch installation for the version of Windows you are running - I have had it on all sorts of machines up to Win 8. On the latest version of windows

[Auto Parts Guy]

Here's the eBay cables I use. I use the black 20 pin (packman) adapter on my e39 & e36 but just the OBDII cable on the e53 & e83. Works on my windows 8 laptop and worked on my windows 98 laptop as well (only with serial cable). I just used it to diagnose a bad electric fan on my e39. Only slightly moved when i tried to activate in INPA and had the below codes.

0627192120.jpg

0619192035a.jpg

0619192036b.jpg

New fan fixed it
0626192145.jpg

I thought I had a bad fan in my e53 but INPA proved me wrong.


A friend of mine bought a cable on eBay about a year ago and it came with INPA. BMW still uses INPA and Ediabas toolset 32 today believe it or not.

[1999750il]

Hi auto parts guy
Thanks so much for the details I really appreciate it
I am unable to see if there are any error codes for the aux fan since I don’t have INPA but the fact that the compressor turns on and blows cold air when commanded on and the fact that I get constant 12 volts at the wiring harness to the fan makes me believe the issue is either the fan or the pcm not sending the pwm signal to start the fan
I’m assuming that since the a/c works well with the exception of the aux fan, the chances of the fault being the pcm is lower than it being another faulty fan
Since I bought the original bmw fan less than 2 years ago I decided to have replace it with another new unit
Hard to believe that I could have gotten 2 bad fans from BMW but I guess anything is possible

[rslifkin]

When you replace the aux fan, save some $$$ and buy one for a 99 - 03 E39 5 series. Other than 1 corner of the shroud being slightly different, it's the same fan but much cheaper.

[1999750il]

I heard about the 5 series unit being less expensive than the 7
I had purchased the original replacement in July 2017 so it’s still under the 2 year warranty so they are sending me another unit free of charge
I just hope the problem is actually within the fan and not the pcm