XM Air Con

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 24 Oct 2005, 19:12

My aircon unit is acting a bit strange. If you put the key in the ignition and turn it so that the warning lights come on (WITHOUT starting the engine), it always works without fail, so far so good.

Sometimes however, when the engine turns over it won't work after that, or even sometimes it will work but will then cut out randomly. I'm not overly concerned about the aircon itself as I don't use it, but since the normal heater and more importantly the front screen demister is tied into it, it can, as you imagine be a bit of an inconvenience.

Now, I had headlight problems which I've still to check out, and I've been told it could be faulty/dirty relays, could this be the same?

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 07 Nov 2005, 22:18

Oh, to elaborate if I have the ignition on before turning the engine I do hear the fan cutting in and everything starting okay, however it's when starting the engine the problems start. It's got even worse now that when this happens the headlights won't go on, it's sidelights only. Yet full headlights (not main beam) work okay with the engine off.

Sometimes it will work but it's getting irritating.

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 08 Nov 2005, 22:46

A number of other people have had similar problems with XM, and it's been the ignition switch. Aparently a weak point on many XM's.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 08 Nov 2005, 22:50

It IS strange, the aircon unit never fails to come on before the engine starts, and even when the ignition is 'turning over' it stays on, but sometimes when the engine is started itself is when it doesn't stay on.

The most irritating thing is, if the aircon doesn't work, neither does the main lights or screen demisters, which at this time of year is annoying.

Though strangely enough, it seems more reliable if I switch the main lights on then turn the ignition key.

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 21 Nov 2005, 22:52

fastandfurryous wrote:A number of other people have had similar problems with XM, and it's been the ignition switch. Aparently a weak point on many XM's.

Late reply I know, but is the ignition switch a hard thing to sort?

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 22 Nov 2005, 18:04

Last reply, I checked the auxiliary fusebox, number two fuse was in a sorry state

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dnicol/fuse1.jpg

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dnicol/fuse2.jpg

A replacement seems to have done the trick, full function to aircon, headlights and screen demister.

TooMany2cvs · Post by **TooMany2cvs** » 14 Dec 2005, 12:16

Jade Falcon wrote:Last reply, I checked the auxiliary fusebox, number two fuse was in a sorry state

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dnicol/fuse1.jpg

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~dnicol/fuse2.jpg

A replacement seems to have done the trick, full function to aircon, headlights and screen demister.

Have a bloody good look at the innards of that under-bonnet fusebox itself - it corrodes badly. I've had problems with the climate, ABS and starter inhibitor on mine, and the previous owner had cooling fan probs - all tracable to that bloody fusebox...

Jade Falcon · Post by **Jade Falcon** » 14 Dec 2005, 12:46

I can't really see the contact points there, but I've given it a spray of WD-40 then a good clean with a firm brush to try and sort things out. It seems that a 'cold start' will have the most problems now, sometimes not working the first time, but otherwise it seems ok.

The ABS light comes on occasionally, but I hear this was a common and ongoing problem with the entire XM series. I could take a pic of the fusebox, but since it seems to be plastic for the most part there isn't much to see.