AC not working..

[etlsport]

well the AC is acting up again..

it comes on when i turn the key maybe 50% of the time.. 100% if i hold the key in ignition position for a second longer than necessary

BUT now the controls have started randomly losing power..

i dont even know how to test to see what could be causing this problem.. anyone have any ideas?

would it do any harm to bridge the relay with a straight piece of wire to see if the ac stays on that way? that would rule out the relay or at least that branch of wiring

[VehiGAZ]

would it do any harm to bridge the relay with a straight piece of wire to see if the ac stays on that way? that would rule out the relay or at least that branch of wiring

You can do that, but make sure you know which poles to bridge.

Are you fully charged with refrigerant? If you are borderline, that could possibly shut the A/C off (under-pressure protection switch).

Good luck!

[kobie]

I am by far no mechanic but I went through the same thing- my relay had been acting up for at least a year and a half. I'd say just replace the relay and be done with it. As hot as it is in TX at one point I was willing to pay whatever it cost (short of going to the dealer) to get the replacement.

[etlsport]

I am by far no mechanic but I went through the same thing- my relay had been acting up for at least a year and a half. I'd say just replace the relay and be done with it. As hot as it is in TX at one point I was willing to pay whatever it cost (short of going to the dealer) to get the replacement.

i did replace the relay.. ordered it from merlin.. 30 bucks.. made the problem worse lol

vehigaz, thanks for the lead.. i took out the relay and directly connected the 87a to the 30 terminal.. ac controls worked fine and the ac blew COLD... but after that i couldnt re-create the problem with the relay in place.. so could have just been a fluke

[etlsport]

drove down to MD last night.. all day i couldnt get the ac to stay on for more than 10 minutes at a time. so i removed the relay and just bypassed it with a wire, the ac worked perfectly all trip, except that when i stopped for gas the ac stayed on with the key out of the car i guess its possible that the new relay i ordered was bad, but im more leaning towards the fact that there is not enough voltage getting to the relay to activate it.. but i have no idea what would cause that

on a side note.. since i installed my high output alternator, the charging system indicator light has been on.. after about 40 miles of driving with the ac relay bypassed.. i noticed the light had turned itself off

[tom4bren]

Sounds like you fixed it till it was broke.

[etlsport]

Sounds like you fixed it till it was broke.

quite possible..


anyone have any ideas... here is what i know..

AC control panel will not power up at all when the car starts (ie no lights other than backlight, pressing buttons does nothing) if the ac does start with the car.. it will usually stop functioning within 5-10 minutes.. most often when i hit the gas

If i get out and remove the "heater" relay under the hood and replace it, the AC works fine, and blows cold... when I bypass the relay completely (connecting the 87 and 30 terminals with a wire) the ac works fine and blows cold when this relay is bypassed, the controls do not turn off with the ignition

If i get out and remove the "ST CUT" relay under the hood and replace it, the ac controls will turn on and function properly.. ac blows cold.. if i bypass that relay (87a to 30) the ac works fine and blows cold. it turns off with the ignition.. but will not turn back on unless i remove the wire and put it back in again

i have changed the AC fuse under the hood as well as the dome light fuse in the cabin as per the workshop manual.. still no luck... starting to run out of ideas