e36 automatic air conditioning controls

97' 328i sedan 50k miles

Recently the automatic air conditioning control system and blower fan
have been giving me problems. For example, this morning when I turned
the car on there was no power for the control system, I couldn't turn
the heat on, the air-conditioning, defroster, change the temperature,
adjust the fan speed; none of the buttons worked the fan wouldn't turn
on, there was no air supply and the screen to the control system was
blacked out, the whole system had no power. Five minutes later as I
was driving to work the automatic air conditioning control system
suddenly had power and the blower started pushing air through the
vents. I ruled out a blown fuse and assumed it was some type of
electrical short. The weird thing is after the whole system had power
the automatic air conditioning control system would short out or lock
out, and this time the fan would still be supplying air and the
control system would lock out into some safe mode. The control system
still had power but the led lights and the screen lights were dimmed
and locked into the original temperature settings befor the short.
I've driven long periods where the whole system worked fine, where the
whole system had no power and also when the whole system was locked
into the original temperature settings. ?? I guess my question is,
first if any one understands my problem, second, if any one knows what
my problem is or has any input on the matter, third, how could I gain
access to the back of the automatic air conditioning control panel to
see if there are any wires shorting out or crossing, fourth, if no one
knows what the specific problem is what should I do to have it
checked.

Thanks for taking the time to read my problem,