e46 heating

[CubanPete]

I have an issue with the heating on my car...

Hot air permanently blows to the windscreen (unless I turn off the climate unit completely. The other controls largely work, except I can't turn the unit off auto. Not great in the warm weather.

Anyone come across this or have any thoughts..?

Thanks

CP

[a1burns]

Common fault, look up e46 hedgehog resistor. Fairly easy job if you're flexible and know which end of a screwdriver to hold. Think I paid about £40 on ebay for the part a few years ago on my old 318 and it worked a treat.

[CubanPete]

I've had a look.

The fan still works and ramps up and down fine, the issue is not being able to turn off the hot air to the windscreen, does this still sound like the FSR or a stepper motor or the control...?

Thanks

CP

[Collectingbrass]

I'd change the resistor and the control unit (£10 - £20 on fleabay). I would also check the cabin / pollen filter has been changed recently.

[Gad-Westy]

I wouldn't be so quick to conclude that its the FSR. That effects fan speed only, do you have any control over fan speed? It sounds to me like you have other issues in that you cannot control the heat, which vents are blowing and cannot override auto, if I've read that all right?

[CubanPete]

The fan is fine.

I'm thinking it is the windscreen stepper motor or the control unit.

Is the motor a dash out job?

[Gad-Westy]

CubanPete said:

The fan is fine.

I'm thinking it is the windscreen stepper motor or the control unit.

Is the motor a dash out job?

Can't imagine it being the stepper motor. You wouldn't think that would affect the control of other aspects of the HVAC unit. Sounds more like the HVAC unit itself as you say. Do you know anyone else with an E46 so that you could temporarily swap units before forking out for a new one? It's not too bad a job swapping over.