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WHY AM I BLOWING FUSES (UP TO 30AMP) WHEN I TURN ON THE A/C (SNOWFLAKE) BUTTON ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY ON DASH, 1998 BMW 328i AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL (DIGITAL)? I BOUGHT A NEW DISPLAY CONTROL UNIT ALREADY NOW WHAT? THANKS JANET

Submitted: 90 days and 2 hours ago.

Category: BMW

Value: $18

Status: CLOSED

Year: 1998
Make: BMW
Model: 328I
Engine: 2.8L

Already Tried:
NEW CONDENSOR, NEW DIGITAL DISPLAY UNIT (IHK), A/C SYSTEM IS FULL OF COOLANT, EVERYTHING WORKS B U T....WHEN SNOWFLAKE BUTTON IS PUSHED ON, THE FUSE BLOWS. EVEN UP TO 30AMP. WHY WOULD IT CONTINUE TO BLOW FUSES?

Posted by Sam 89 days and 21 hours ago.

Info Request

Hello and welcome to Just Answer.

Does the compressor engage?

89 days and 21 hours ago.

Reply

SAM, YES AS I SAID, EVERYTHING WORKS (FOR ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS) THEN THE FUSE BLOWS. ?? IF THE FUSE DID NOT BLOW I WOULD HAVE COLD A/C. I HAVE NO LEAKS, THE COMPRESSOR,EVAPORATOR,DRIER, LINES, ETC ARE ALL GOOD. WOULD THE RESISTOR (NOT THE BLOWER MOTOR BECAUSE THAT WORKS WELL TOO) BE BAD? JANET

Posted by Sam 89 days and 21 hours ago.

Info Request

Which fuse number is blowing?

89 days and 20 hours ago.

Reply

FUSE THAT BLOWS IS # 23 ( LISTED AS AC FUSE, ALONG WITH OTHERS FOR AC IE:16,31,& 39.. ALSO 23 LISTED AS A FUSE FOR OTHER DEVICES IN CAR, IE: OBC CONTROL CHECK. THANKS, JANET

Posted by Sam 89 days and 20 hours ago.

Info Request

The fuse only blows after you turn on the AC? No other time?

89 days and 20 hours ago.

Reply

SAM, YES THAT IS CORRECT, O N L Y WHEN THE SNOWFLAKE BUTTON IS PUSHED ON FOR A/C IS WHEN THAT FUSE BLOWS, FROM A 5 AMP - 30 AMP~! JANET

Posted by Sam 89 days and 20 hours ago.

Answer

It has to be a faulty AC module. The module can be rebuilt by Module Master for $45, much cheaper than $800 for a new one.

89 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

SAM, THANKS, XXX...XX XXXX XXXXXX ONE OF THE THREE BEHIND GLOVE BOX? IF SO.....WHICH ONE? MY CAR HAS 1 WITH A GREEN,PURPLE, AND BLACK PLUG IN, 1 WITH 2 PLUG IN'S AND 1 WITH A LARGE WHITE PLUG IN? WHICH ONE WOULD THE A/C MODULE BE FOR MY CAR? THANKS, JANET, WILL PAY TONIGHT FOR YOUR TIME AND ADVICE, ALSO POSITIVE!!FEEDBACK.

Posted by Sam 89 days and 19 hours ago.

Answer

The AC module is the same as the control panel. There is no other module that controls AC function.

89 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

OH WOW, I JUST BOUGHT A REFURBISHED DIGITAL DASH DISPLAY UNIT (IHK), INSTALLED IT AND IT WORKS FINE. ALSO BOUGHT A USED "MODULE" WHICH I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT NEED. ?? THIS WORD MODULE MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT, IT IS BEING CALLED AN A/C "BRAIN"...........THERE ARE A FEW ON EBAY SO SOME CARS DO HAVE THEM. ARE YOU SAYING THAT MY 1998 328i DOESN'T HAVE ONE? AND NOW WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHY THE FUSE KEEPS BLOWING EITHER. THANKS, JANET

Posted by Sam 89 days and 19 hours ago.

Info Request

The only thing that controls the Heating and ac function is the control module which is integrated into the display.

Why was this replaced before?

Posted by Sam 89 days and 19 hours ago.

Info Request

Does the unit you replaced look like this?

View Full Image

89 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

THE UNIT I BOUGHT LOOKS SIMILAR TO YOUR PIC, IT IS THE WHOLE UNIT NOT JUST THE FACE PLATE AND I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE LIKE MOST OLD DIGITAL UNITS IT BEGAN TO GO ON AND OFF BY ITSELF, THEN GOT WORSE WHERE I COULDN'T CONTROL IT. EVENTUALLY IT JUST QUIT WORKING TOTALLY. IT IS TYPICAL FOR THESE TO "DIE". THE DASH CONTROLS ON THE UNIT WORK FINE, FAN SPEED, TEMP. CONTROL, REAR DEFROST, RECIRCULATE, ETC. MY PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN I PUSH THE SNOWFLAKE BUTTON THE FUSE BLOWS!! SAME AS I FIRST STATED. JANET

Posted by Sam 89 days and 19 hours ago.

Info Request

Try to unhook the compressor plug and then start the car and push the snowflake button. see if the fuse blows.

89 days and 19 hours ago.

Reply

THANKS, WE'LL TRY THAT FOR SURE, AND GET BACK TO YOU!! JANET

Answer

I'll be here.

Accepts:
Expert:	Sam
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	8/26/2009

BMW Master technician

BMW S.T.E.P. graduate, 10 years BMW dealership experience

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Question

WHY AM I BLOWING FUSES (UP TO 30AMP) WHEN I TURN ON THE A/C (SNOWFLAKE) BUTTON ON THE DIGITAL DISPLAY ON DASH, 1998 BMW 328i AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL (DIGITAL)? I BOUGHT A NEW DISPLAY CONTROL UNIT ALREADY NOW WHAT? THANKS JANET

Optional Information

Year: 1998Make: BMWModel: 328IEngine: 2.8L Already Tried: NEW CONDENSOR, NEW DIGITAL DISPLAY UNIT (IHK), A/C SYSTEM IS FULL OF COOLANT, EVERYTHING WORKS B U T....WHEN SNOWFLAKE BUTTON IS PUSHED ON, THE FUSE BLOWS. EVEN UP TO 30AMP. WHY WOULD IT CONTINUE TO BLOW FUSES?

Info Request

Hello and welcome to Just Answer. Does the compressor engage?

Reply

SAM, YES AS I SAID, EVERYTHING WORKS (FOR ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS) THEN THE FUSE BLOWS. ?? IF THE FUSE DID NOT BLOW I WOULD HAVE COLD A/C. I HAVE NO LEAKS, THE COMPRESSOR,EVAPORATOR,DRIER, LINES, ETC ARE ALL GOOD. WOULD THE RESISTOR (NOT THE BLOWER MOTOR BECAUSE THAT WORKS WELL TOO) BE BAD? JANET

Info Request

Which fuse number is blowing?

Reply

FUSE THAT BLOWS IS # 23 ( LISTED AS AC FUSE, ALONG WITH OTHERS FOR AC IE:16,31,& 39.. ALSO 23 LISTED AS A FUSE FOR OTHER DEVICES IN CAR, IE: OBC CONTROL CHECK. THANKS, JANET

Info Request

The fuse only blows after you turn on the AC? No other time?

Reply

SAM, YES THAT IS CORRECT, O N L Y WHEN THE SNOWFLAKE BUTTON IS PUSHED ON FOR A/C IS WHEN THAT FUSE BLOWS, FROM A 5 AMP - 30 AMP~! JANET

Answer

It has to be a faulty AC module. The module can be rebuilt by Module Master for $45, much cheaper than $800 for a new one.

Reply

Answer

The AC module is the same as the control panel. There is no other module that controls AC function.

Reply

Info Request

The only thing that controls the Heating and ac function is the control module which is integrated into the display. Why was this replaced before?

Info Request

Does the unit you replaced look like this? View Full Image

Reply

Info Request

Try to unhook the compressor plug and then start the car and push the snowflake button. see if the fuse blows.

Reply

THANKS, WE'LL TRY THAT FOR SURE, AND GET BACK TO YOU!! JANET

Answer

I'll be here.

Related BMW Questions

Year: 1998
Make: BMW
Model: 328I
Engine: 2.8L

Already Tried:
NEW CONDENSOR, NEW DIGITAL DISPLAY UNIT (IHK), A/C SYSTEM IS FULL OF COOLANT, EVERYTHING WORKS B U T....WHEN SNOWFLAKE BUTTON IS PUSHED ON, THE FUSE BLOWS. EVEN UP TO 30AMP. WHY WOULD IT CONTINUE TO BLOW FUSES?

Hello and welcome to Just Answer.

Does the compressor engage?

The only thing that controls the Heating and ac function is the control module which is integrated into the display.

Why was this replaced before?

Does the unit you replaced look like this?

View Full Image