Rear Passenger Cell Blower vents

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi People...

A little curio...

The vents at the rear of the centre console that blow into the passenger seating area..

The knobs n buttons do nothing (hot & cold rotary knob) - just always blow COLD regardless of what the front vents are blowing out.

This is fine in the summer, but its damned cold right now.

I had Ideas of simply stuffing a rag into the pipe behind the little grills, but if it can be made to work properly, even better..

** additionally, the foot vents in the front of my X5 have never blown any air out, (hot or cold), regardless of how you try to achieve this from the controls..

Any one got any ideas on these, & before the passengers turn blue  :'(    )

[chrisn7]

Check the basics first. Is the coolant fully topped up? Set the temperature to the maximum for both driver and passenger to force the heater valves wide open and purge any trapped air. Put a hand on the heater valves to feel that they are operating - if the car has been run with plain water as coolant, the heater valves can corrode and seize in any position...

[X5-D-Sport]

Hi Chris,
All coolant is present, and all air will heat up to painfully hot in the driver/passenger areas, but it always come out at outside air temp for the rear passenger vents  :'(

It's been like it for 6 months since I 1st got the vehicle.

[davesavage257]

Had a similar thing on my e39 5 series, it was the temp controller wheel switch contacts in the rear vent.

Dave
2003 BMW X5 4.6iS Auto
2007 '57' Saab 9-3 Aero 2.0T Auto

[X5-D-Sport]

Thanks Dave,

I will ping the rear panel off some time and take a peep in there...

One thing comes to mind . . . . I replaced the centre console early last year for a wood/walnut one, and its just possible . . . or even "likely" that the switch wires were not re-connected on assembly !

I will check this out on a dry day soon

[chrisn7]

I think there will be a temp sensor there too - a probe with a circle round the sensor-make sure that is in place as well