BMW fault code 0038

Automatic heating/air conditioning

In the automatic heating/air conditioning, code 0038 means different things depending on the version of the module in the car. Find your car below; the app shows the right one for yours.

Coolant temperature

Module versions: Automatic heating/air conditioning (IHKA38), Heating/air-conditioning regulation (IHKR38)

In: 3 Series (E46) 1998–2006, 7 Series (E38) 1994–2001, X5 (E53) 1999–2006, Z8 (E52) 2000–2003

free 0x38

Module versions: Automatic heating/air conditioning (IHKA38_2), Automatic heating/air conditioning (IHKA38_3)

In: 3 Series (E46) 1998–2006, 7 Series (E38) 1994–2001, X5 (E53) 1999–2006, Z8 (E52) 2000–2003

Reading and clearing it

Fault code 0038 is a BMW code, stored in the car's automatic heating/air conditioning, not a generic OBD2 code (P0xxx): a generic OBD2 reader only reaches the engine's emissions faults, so it won't show it. AutoLingo for BMW reads it with BMW's own diagnostic protocols, in plain English, with the details the module stored about it, and clears it after a repair. If a fault comes right back after it's cleared, the problem is still there.

The automatic heating/air conditioning is on: 3 Series (E36), Z3 (E36/7), 7 Series (E38), 5 Series (E39), 3 Series (E46), Z8 (E52), X5 (E53), X3 (E83), Z4 (E85), Z4 (E86)

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