BMW E60 Heater Module/Control Repair

The Heater Control Module in several BMW models tend to blow components. Today we look at how to diagnose, inspect, and repair a blown component in the heater control module.

[@husamhanif1848]

Absolute legend. Thank you so much. God bless you

[@djbmw1]

You're very welcome! Glad I could help

[@moytech5960]

Hello there, great informational video I am having some crazy issues with my a/c control unit and I took everything apart and found that same chip burned, where can I get those chips, can you share the link, please, Thank You, Best Regards

[@djbmw1]

Thanks for watching! They are readily available from Aliexpress, eBay, and major electronics suppliers like Digikey and Mouser

[@Kaiser_Dino]

Thanks for the video, it helped me a lot. For my part I changed the part and after 2 months it burned again. I then replaced the entire module that I got from another car and it's the same thing, it burned after 1 month of use. Do you know the cause or do you have a solution please? Thanks a lot 🙏

[@djbmw1]

Thanks for watching the video! Do you have access to a good scan tool? I would suggest looking at the IHAK module with your scanner both before, and after changing the chip. It's possible that another component in the system is causing the chip to fail prematurely - however, the IHAK unit is relatively 'separated' from other components. I've worked on a few of these where other components were also failing and I could only find them when I tested the board on the bench and used an thermal camera to see which components were overheating.

[@Kaiser_Dino]

@djbmw1 thanks for your feedback 🙏🙏 I use the delphi scanner device. I don't know if he does this kind of test 🤔. Thanks a lot for all these informations. I will keep you informed of the evolution of the situation 🙏

[@sjcruiser]

AC always blows hot and cool air at the same time on my 2010 E60. Found the same chip burned in the controller. Mine was caused by a failed heater control valve (leaking shorts due to coolant seeping through), causing hot coolant to fully circulate in the dash heater core.

[@supresnica604]

Hi, I have problem with IHKA. After long road trip in summer like 3+ hours ihka throw error for solar sensor, fogging sensor and left temperature knob. After this errors all flow flaps goes to closed position and no air comes from air went. Blower working normal but air not coming in cabin. Is vnd830 solution or its only responsible for hot water valves? Thanks for replying.

[@djbmw1]

Vnd830 controls the heater valves. You'll need to open up your IHKA to see what might be causing the issue. First, do a visual inspection under microscope (or magnifying glass if you dont have access to a microscope). Look for burnt, damaged, or out of place components. For any IC's you can also check that the pins are solid and properly soldered to the pads. Next, I would grab a multimeter and test all of the capacitors to see if any are shorted to ground. If you a have a thermal camera you could also feed the unit power with a benchtop power supply and see what heats up.

[@smamas114]

My left button stucked to highest temperature,do you have any idea what is causing this ?

[@djbmw1]

You'll need to probe the board and see where the short is as thats likely the cause. If you have access to a voltage injector and thermal camera that can speed up the troubleshooting

[@Darkodare-ui5kf]

Hello sir can you help me i have same car and i have problem with ac up and down coming hot air in the middle cold air. I change the cooling valve original part from bmw. Sometimes working everything sometimes not working correctly. I check for foult codes don’t have nothing stored

[@djbmw1]

Did you use a proper scan tool that can access the climate control unit? A cheap scan tool can only tell you what CEL codes you have and typically doesnt provide further details. If you used a proper scan tool then it will provide additional insight. If it still shows nothing then you'll want to hook up AC gauges to you high and low side and check your AC pressures.

[@Darkodare-ui5kf]

@@djbmw1 Yes i have autel maxicom scan tool. i can scan climamodul and i look live data and look everything ok. Just one thing ist not ok. When engine from cold to 70-80 degrees coming, the solenoid valves for the heating starting slowly to open and water starting circulating trough the heating and coming hot up and down. In the middle comes ist very cold. AC compressor ist working very well. Sometimes when i pres buttun to automatic clima starting to working agein everything ok after couple minutes same story. Solenoid valve stays open and water keeps cycle no matter what i Make. When engine cooling down starting to work again solenoid valve

[@moytech5960]

Hi would VND 830E part # work or it has to be VND 830 specifically?

[@djbmw1]

You would have to look at the manufacturers datasheet and compare the chips to be 100% certain. Having said that, VND830E appears to be an obsolete chipset variety of the VND830,.. and, upon a very quick review of datasheets from Mouser, there are indeed some differences between the chips (though minimal). VND830 is readily available from aliexpress and ebay,... as well as several major electronics suppliers like digikey and mouser.

[@CynRacing]

What code did you have in the end?

[@djbmw1]

Theres a number of different codes that this can come up as, but they all relate to the IHKA unit. Please note that these are bmw specific codes, not general DTC codes that you get with a basic scanner.

[@TheAutumnWind_RN4L]

Do you have to recode the IHKA module when you put it back in?

[@djbmw1]

No - The IHKA module isnt coded or programmed when replacing the chip, or the entire unit (assuming the same model of unit is used for the replacement).

[@TheAutumnWind_RN4L]

@@djbmw1 thank you.

[@arthurjenkins6935]

"promosm"

[@jigger5000p]

hello sir, i got the 531i 2012year GT... problem is on ac the air out only some second.. after that no air,.. but the blower still working. thanks for help

[@djbmw1]

So the blower still runs but your vent flaps close? Does it do the same on the heat setting? If you have a good scan tool you can look at live data and monitor the vent flap positions to see if they close randomly.

[@jigger5000p]

yes sir, thanks for you replay.. i try DTC that trouble code is..inspection result AC2 (air conditioning - IHKA) exist and red writing is: 1.801031 Electric Auxiliary Heater,Rear left Short To ground or Open Circuit In signal Line.@@djbmw1

[@jigger5000p]

@@djbmw1 Hello sir now i try set heat 28.c the flap air a little high but not normal.. sometimes high sometimes low

[@djbmw1]

@@jigger5000p you should really use a scan tool with live data to see what the flaps are doing. You can also send a command to open and close the flaps with a good scan tool. Of the flaps dont open you can see if theres any faults with the actuator motor... or if the problem is with the IHAK unit itself. If you dont want to use a good scan tool, you could always swap in a used IHAK unit ($50 usd) to see if that fixes it. If it doesnt, then your flap actuator or wiring to the actuator is likely the issue.

[@jigger5000p]

@@djbmw1 Ok sir, thank you so much. Thank you for your help. I wish you a safe life.