Page 1 of 1

AC compressor and fan

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 1:33 am
by Busdriver
My interior climate control fan stopped working yesterday, never had any indication that it was near the end...
None of the settings 1-4 work.

My AC compressor has been making sound when turned to AC. No sound when AC is not engaged, but when engaged the compressor is making almost a bad bearing sound. Which I don't think should be the pulley bearing, does the clutch always make a loud sound??

I searched extensively for the first part, got some tips: check fuses,
check relay (silver and white under dash by steering column) then check relay at blower motor, then finally motor.
I don't have a digital multi meter yet, any suggestions for this apparatus? Any other places to start.

Thanks

Update - new questions

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 2:10 am
by Busdriver
So I checked the fuses for the Heater, there are 2 @ 15amps

Both were fried, so I removed both and replaced one with a new fuese. The blower started working again like previously. Then I moved the fuse to the other spot and same thing.
My questions:
Why are there two 15 fuses?
What happens if I just replace on new fuse?
Why were both fried?
Where should I look for the fault?
I haven't installed anything new besides brake pads a while ago.

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 3:52 am
by Legacy777
There's two fuses because the total draw is probably 30 amps, and you can use two 15 amp fuses instead of one 30 amp fuse.

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 4:58 am
by Busdriver
Yeah, the fuses did their job until I started the subster up and turned the fan on again...
Both fuses busted again!!

I should have just put one fuse in it worked then too!! now I don't have a replacement....
Any starters on if it is a short and where it could be??

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:23 am
by Legacy777
Do you have the fuse numbers?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:29 pm
by Busdriver
They are the two for the Heaters 15amp
on the fuse block diagram they are located in the top right (so front of car and closest to floor.
where do you get the numbers?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:10 pm
by Legacy777
Do you have your owner's manual? They will give a diagram of the fuse box and the numbers.

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:31 pm
by Busdriver
No owner manual
shouldn't it be the same as your 90 Josh?

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:39 pm
by vrg3

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:49 pm
by Busdriver
Perfect, Thanks vrg3!

the fuse numbers are 20 and 21
if that helps any...

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 10:14 pm
by Busdriver
any suggestions on the AC compressor noise, or dmm's??

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:01 pm
by vrg3
Maybe one of the compressor's bearings is going. Have you kept up with keeping the system charged properly?

Are you asking for a suggestion as to what DMM to buy? It all depends on how much you're gonna use it. If you just want a simple cost-effective one to use for basic stuff, maybe try this one:

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/c ... m=DMM-9202

All Electronics is cool.

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:23 pm
by Busdriver
Hey sweet thanks vrg3!

I like that dmm, it's reasonable too. I don't think I'll be using it a whole lot except for some repairs on my soobster
No I did not check the AC compressor bearing, is it inside the big tube or right behind the pulley?
I just got the wagon, so I don't know how the maintenace was, seems to be blowing pretty cold though!

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:31 pm
by vrg3
I don't think you really can access the compressor bearing. I was just guessing that maybe the system wasn't kept at full charge so maybe the compressor's been at least occasionally starved for lubricant.

If you want to try feeling for stuff, try turning the clutch clockwise with the engine off. It should turn smoothly and the resistance should rhythmically rise and fall as it turns.

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 11:48 pm
by Busdriver
I'll give it a try after work.
do I grab the whole pulley?
or just the front part with the crossmember looking brakets?

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:35 am
by vrg3
Just the front part with the crossmember looking brackets. If you grab the whole pulley you won't be able to turn it, since the belt couples it to the engine. :)

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:26 pm
by Busdriver
So I turned the front part after work it went smooth, but there was no regular slowing down...
Looking at it more closely with the engine running AC off the AC belt is smooth rolling, when AC is turned on the belt starts shackling a bit, I thought maybe that's what's making the noise, still have to take the shield off for further investigation...

Any ideas on the fuses getting blown, a short somewhere??

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 8:03 pm
by Legacy777
Those fuses go directly to the blower motor relay, and then to the motor.

I'd suggest trying to get a spare blower motor from a junkyard.

Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:01 am
by Busdriver
So you think something with the motor is wrong? when it works (fuses not blown) it works great!
how much would they be from a j yard?
NO other fix??

Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:59 am
by Legacy777
I don't see anything else tied to that circuit. It does route through the fan switch and such, so those things are a possibility, but I doubt it.

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:46 pm
by Busdriver
My buddy was playing with the fan controls and the fan started blowing at the according speeds today, haven't checked the fuses again, but they work....?