What did I do?!?!?! - BMW Forum

Stoph900 · 09-15-2011, 03:51 PM

Hi Folks, Back in Bimmerland after a 2 year break...
just bought myself a 98 520i as a runabout, handbrake ratchet not working so needing fixing... so thats centre console out

Went ok, including removal of heater control/climate control unit... ratchet fixed and all back together, however as soon as I plugged the climate module in a fan started up somewhere deep in the dash.. and its not fussy whether the ignition is on or not?? I can vary temp and fan speed with the buttons but it wasnt like this before...it doesnt seem to be a fan that produces airflow through the vents?? but all I have done is disconnect things then plug them back in.. have had to disconnect heater controller as battery going to be flat by morning if I dont... any suggestions?? Have I confused the 'brains' somehow and if so how can I re-educate them? Thanks in anticipation...

Stoph..

brettski · 09-16-2011, 05:40 AM

Did you disconnect the battery before your started working on the console?

Is it possible that you have mixed up two similar connectors?

Jack Dabsy · 09-16-2011, 02:10 PM

TBH you cannot mix connections in the console as they are all different, BUT as Brett mentioned, you should have disconnected the battery while you were sorting it out...
Try disconnecting the battery again for an hour or so... HTH

Stoph900 · 09-16-2011, 02:26 PM

Hmmm.. was thinking maybe should have disconnected the battery

Thought about it but havent seen a radio code anywhere so was trying to avoid that potential problem!
Have to have a fiddle with handbrake shoes tomorrow... looks like a LOOOONNG time since this handbrake worked properly... will disconnect the battery whilst I sort the brakes, hopefully thats a bit of a system reboot

Reasonably sure all connected ok as said above all the plugs are different and there werent that many so should be ok...
Fingers crossed.....

Stoph..

Jack Dabsy · 09-16-2011, 02:49 PM

Yeah, fingers crossed here too mate... If the head unit needs a code then 9 times out of 10 it could be written on the back of the unit !! Otherwise, cross everything else too LOL

Stoph900 · 09-19-2011, 09:56 AM

Sooooo.... The brakes are sorted and whilst doing them disconnected the battery for an hour.... reconnected climate unit and then reconnected battery... On a positive note the handbrake now works!! However, heater blower/fan still running permanently even without the key in! I can control the speed and direction with the buttons but going down to 'zero' on speed control... display goes blank but fan keeps a whirring away... any more ideas???

Jack Dabsy · 09-19-2011, 02:10 PM

Could be ANOTHER case of the dreaded "Hedgehog" resistor in the blower that may have shorted... Me wishes Columbo was nearby to help solve this...
Definately a wiring/resistor fault LOL