air conditioner BMW 318i 1996 E36 Workshop Manual

To
access
the
rear
window
blower
relay,
remove
the
glove
compariment
.
See
Fig
.
32
.

Fig
.
32
.
Rear
window
blower
relay
located
in
frontof
glove
compart-
ment
(arrow)
.

AIR
CONDITIONING

Thissection
covers
removal
and
installation
of
air
condition-

ing
refrigerant
components
.
A/C
testing
and
diagnosis,
refrig-

erantdischarge,
evacuatíon
and
recharge
are
not
covered

here
.

The
subassemblies
and
lines
of
the
air
conditionerare
filled

with
either
refrigerant
R12
(1992
cars)
or
R-134a
(1993
and

later
cars)
.
The
major
components
of
the
A/Csystem
are

shown
in
Fig
.
33
.

A/CSystem
Warnings
and
Cautions

WARNING
-

"
Always
be
careful
that
refrigerant
does
not
come
in
contact
with
your
skin
.
Always
wearhand
andeye
protection
(gloves
and
goggles)
when
work-

ing
around
the
AIC
system
.
If
refrigerant
does
come
in
contact
with
your
skin
oreyes
:
-Do
not
rub
skin
oreyes
;

-Immediately
flush
skin
oreyes
withcool
water
for
15
minutes
;
-Rush
to
a
doctor
orhospital
;
-Do
not
attempt
to
treat
yourself
.

"
Work
in
a
wefl
ventilated
area
.
Avoid
breathing
re-
frigerant
vapors
.
Exposure
may
irrítate
eyes,

nose,
and
throat
.
Switch
on
exhaustlventilation
systems
when
working
on
the
refrigerant
system
.

"
Do
not
expose
any
component
of
the
AIC
system
to
high
temperatures
(Above
80°Cl176°F)or

open
flames
.
Excessive
heat
will
cause
a
pres-

sureincrease
whichcould
burst
the
system
.

HEATING
AND
AIR
CONDITIONING



640-
1
1

0013015

WARNING
-

"
Keep
refrigerant
away
from
open
llames
.
Poison-
ous
gas
will
be
produced
if
it
bums
.
Do
not
smoke
near
refrigerant
gases
for
the
same
reason
.

"
The
AICsystem
is
filled
with
refrigerant
gas
which
is
under
pressure
.
Pressurized
refrigerant
in
the
presenceof
oxygen
may
forma
combusti-
ble
mixture
.
Never
introduce
compressed
air
finto
any
refrigerant
container
(full
or
empty),
capped
off
AIC
component,
or
piece
of
service
equip-
ment
.

"
Refrígerant
gases
are
heavier
than
air,
displace
oxygen
and
may
cause
suffocation
in
areas
of
poor
círculation,
for
example
under
a
car
.
Switch
on
exhaustlventilation
systems
when
working
on
the
refrigerant
system
.

"
State
and
local
governments
may
have
additional
requirements
regarding
air
conditioning
servic-
ing
.
Alwayscomply
with
state
and
local
laws
.

"
Electric
welding
near
refrigerant
hoses
causes
R-134a
to
decompose
.
Discharge
system
before
welding
.

CA
UTION
-

-As
of
January
1,
1992,
any
person
who
services
a
motor
vehicle
air
conditioner
must,
by
law,
be
properly
trained
and
certified,
and
use
approved
refrigerant
recycling
equipment
.
Technicians
must
complete
an
EPA-approved
recycling
course
to
be
certified
.

"
It
is
recommended
that
al¡
system
refrigerant
AIC
refrigerant
be
left
to
an
authorized
BMW
dealer
or
other
qualified
AIC
service
facility
.

"
Do
not
top
off
a
partially
charged
refrigerant
sys-
tem
.
Dischargesystem,evacuate
and
then
re-
charge
system
.

"
R-134a
and
R-12
refrigerants
and
refrigerant
oils
and
system
components,
including
hoses
and
sealing
O-rings,
are
NOT
compatible
.
Compo-
nent
damage
andlor
system
contamination
will

result
.

"
The
mixture
of
refrigerant
oil
(PAG
oil)
and
refrig-
erant
R-134a
attacks
some
metals
and
alloys
(for
example,copper)
and
breaks
down
certain
hose
materials
.
Use
only
hoses
and
lines
that
are
iden-
tified
with
a
green
mark
(stripe)
or
the
lettering
R-
134a"
.

"
Immediately
plug
open
connections
on
AIC
com-
ponents
to
prevent
dirt
and
moisture
contamina-
tion
.

"
Do
not
steam
clean
condensers
or
evaporators
.

Use
only
cold
water
or
compressed
air
.

AIR
CONDITIONING