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Thread: That little mysterious vent among the HVAC controls

  1. #1
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    Default That little mysterious vent among the HVAC controls

    That little one, about the size of a fingernail, between two of the HVAC dials. What is it?

    My car's aftermarket wood kit covers mine. Is that a problem?
    .


    Jay Lebo - Toronto, Canada
    1990 BMW 535i
    5-speed conversion
    Lightened flywheel
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  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by jaylebo
    That little one, about the size of a fingernail, between two of the HVAC dials. What is it?

    My car's aftermarket wood kit covers mine. Is that a problem?
    It's an opening for the interior temperature sensor - blocking it is not a good idea.
    BMW E34 528i, M52B28 + M50 manifold, Remus exhaust, ///M Parallel Spoke 18" rims

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Interceptor
    It's an opening for the interior temperature sensor - blocking it is not a good idea.
    What you suppose the consequences are of blocking it? My HVAC's never worked quite right. I wonder if this is why.

    Since the wood kit was installed by a previous owner, I didn't even know there was a vent there until I saw the pic of your new steering wheel, Interceptor! The vent's clearly visible in that pic.

    Before I go cutting up the wood kit, I'd like to know what I'm missing by having the vent blocked.
    Last edited by Jay 535i; 11-19-2005 at 02:00 PM.
    .


    Jay Lebo - Toronto, Canada
    1990 BMW 535i
    5-speed conversion
    Lightened flywheel
    Sachs Suspension Kit
    E.A.T. Chip

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by jaylebo
    What you suppose the consequences are of blocking it? My HVAC's never worked quite right. I wonder if this is why.

    Since the wood kit was installed by a previous owner, I didn't even know there was a vent there until I saw the pic of your new steering wheel, Interceptor! The vent's clearly visible in that pic.

    Before I go cutting up the wood kit, I'd like to know what I'm missing by having the vent blocked.
    By covering that vent you are blocking air flow so the temperature sensor cannot precisely determine the interior temperature which may lead to funny heating/cooling behaviour - for example overheating or overcooling, no matter what temp you set on the dials.
    BMW E34 528i, M52B28 + M50 manifold, Remus exhaust, ///M Parallel Spoke 18" rims

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Interceptor
    By covering that vent you are blocking air flow so the temperature sensor cannot precisely determine the interior temperature which may lead to funny heating/cooling behaviour - for example overheating or overcooling, no matter what temp you set on the dials.
    Hmm, that could be me.

    Alright -- getting out the Exacto knife...
    .


    Jay Lebo - Toronto, Canada
    1990 BMW 535i
    5-speed conversion
    Lightened flywheel
    Sachs Suspension Kit
    E.A.T. Chip

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by jaylebo
    Hmm, that could be me.

    Alright -- getting out the Exacto knife...
    Happy slicing I hope you get your HVAC back to normal
    BMW E34 528i, M52B28 + M50 manifold, Remus exhaust, ///M Parallel Spoke 18" rims

  7. #7
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    I believe the thermostats are over-rided when the drivers temperature dial is all the way in either direction, so you would probably have to do that if you wanted it to function reliably with a blocked temperature sensor.
    Lowered with blue h&r(?) springs, Bilsteins, tint, 19# design 3 injectors, Dual Magnaflow
    southwest WA

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alexlind123
    I believe the thermostats are over-rided when the drivers temperature dial is all the way in either direction, so you would probably have to do that if you wanted it to function reliably with a blocked temperature sensor.
    That's precisely what I'm having to do. Which is why I'm gonna unblock that thing.
    .


    Jay Lebo - Toronto, Canada
    1990 BMW 535i
    5-speed conversion
    Lightened flywheel
    Sachs Suspension Kit
    E.A.T. Chip

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