Blower Only Works on Setting 4 - BMW Forum

rfthomas · 01-11-2006, 01:53 PM

I have seen several others on the forum with this problem: Fan settings 1, 2, and 3 do not work.....only fan setting 4 (high) works. Those threads have helped, but I need just a little more.

To correct this problem, the dealer has now replaced my "Fan Final Stage Unit" twice. The problem has once again arisen. Now, the dealer states they must replace my blower to the tune of $800! I have decided to decline the service and try to fix the problem myself. The majority of advice out on the forum is that the problem lies in the "Blower Fan Resistor" and not the blower itself.

Question: Is the Blower Fan Resistor the same thing as the Fan Final Stage Unit? If so, do you think the problem does in fact reside in the blower motor? If not, I suppose I will try and replace the resistor to see if that solves the problem.

Thanks in advance for the help

kyle_baker · 01-11-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfthomas

I have seen several others on the forum with this problem: Fan settings 1, 2, and 3 do not work.....only fan setting 4 (high) works. Those threads have helped, but I need just a little more.

i'm having a similar problem except mine doesn't work in 1 or 2 but 3 and 4 both work. anyone?

e36surge · 01-11-2006, 08:38 PM

It's the resistor. Got this from another site. Changed mine in the fall and all the levels were back. I also cleaned my blower, the fan had a lot of dirt on it so I cleaned it all off. Not easy to get to.

Your blower resistor is probably kaput.
To replace it, remove the driver side underdash panel, crawl into the footwell and look above and to the right of the gas pedal for a device plugged into the side of the plenum connected to four wires. It is roughly trapezoidal in shape, and probably molded of white plastic. Disconnect the wiring plug, pull it out and go to the dealer for a replacement (~$40-50). The original on my car had an exposed coil design, while the new one had a heavier duty solid-state resistor.

Source: http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylo...MotorProb.html

I don't think they're the same thing. See link below on what the final stage unit looks like. If you scroll lower they also show you a pic of what the BLOWER RESISTOR looks like.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?p=3349096

I hope this helps.

drz · 01-12-2006, 06:15 PM

Yep. Blower resistor. Kyle, your symptom should have thesame fix.

kyle_baker · 01-12-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e36surge

It's the resistor. Got this from another site. Changed mine in the fall and all the levels were back. I also cleaned my blower, the fan had a lot of dirt on it so I cleaned it all off. Not easy to get to.

Your blower resistor is probably kaput.
To replace it, remove the driver side underdash panel, crawl into the footwell and look above and to the right of the gas pedal for a device plugged into the side of the plenum connected to four wires. It is roughly trapezoidal in shape, and probably molded of white plastic. Disconnect the wiring plug, pull it out and go to the dealer for a replacement (~$40-50). The original on my car had an exposed coil design, while the new one had a heavier duty solid-state resistor.

Source: http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylo...MotorProb.html

I don't think they're the same thing. See link below on what the final stage unit looks like. If you scroll lower they also show you a pic of what the BLOWER RESISTOR looks like.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?p=3349096

I hope this helps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drz

Yep. Blower resistor. Kyle, your symptom should have thesame fix.

thanx guys i'll check it out and see if i can fix it myself, hope i don't have to take it somewhere, lol, cash isn't flowing well these days (college

) later

tomctx · 01-12-2006, 09:02 PM

I thought the "resistor" problem only affected cars with the "rotary dials"? And the "final stage" problem on the electronic controls?????

used:

93 325i · 01-13-2006, 08:24 AM

^thats what i thought too.. OBDI had the resistor and OBDII had the final stage for electronic conrols. What year car do you have rfthomas?

kyle_baker · 01-13-2006, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 93 325i

^thats what i thought too.. OBDI had the resistor and OBDII had the final stage for electronic conrols. What year car do you have rfthomas?

so if we have obd1 we don't even have to worry about the final stage unit? good, that means this will be cheaper than i thought!

:

rfthomas · 01-17-2006, 06:49 PM

My 325i is a '94 and has rotary controls. Are you saying those morons at the dealer replaced the final stage unnecessarily? Well, I am going to order the resistor and swap it out. Good thing it is so cheap. It sure beats replacing the whole blower motor at ten times the price! Thanks for the help.....I'll post again with results.

tomctx · 01-17-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfthomas

My 325i is a '94 and has rotary controls. Are you saying those morons at the dealer replaced the final stage unnecessarily? Well, I am going to order the resistor and swap it out. Good thing it is so cheap. It sure beats replacing the whole blower motor at ten times the price! Thanks for the help.....I'll post again with results.

May just be a difference in terminology. I believe they used the name "final stage" for the "resistor pack". I think they are both circuit boards. Someone here that has used the "capacitor fix" should know more about it.