Date:         Sat, 3 May 2003 02:21:34 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Great inventions of the world
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

In my opinion the greatest invention in the world is bread (taking a
near inedible object and turning it to a wonderful confection.) Others
may argue for beer, but that's a Fryday subject.....

Another great invention is Air Conditioning. So the GoldBricks AC's
fan(s) stop working during the winter (I do try to run my AC at least
every couple of weeks in winter to keep the oil throughout the
system....) So today (friday that is) I spent a few hours working on
it...

First thing I did was check the fuses. All good. Hmm. That's odd. Next
I check power. No power. Even to the AC switch (i.e that switch before
the relays). Hmm...

Okay, After a long search I finally determined that one of the wires on
the back of the fuse holder (on the left underside of the dash) had
come off. Finally figured out which connector was G3 and reconnected.
Still no power. Fuses good. Check the wire at the fuse block, and it
has power....

Look at the circuit diagram figure the next connector is a 4 pin
connector "in the air duct"...well in my Vanagon it is actually behind
the left D pillar (though the Bentley calls it the C pillar.) Okay, I
check and I've got 12 volts at the connector. Still no fans.

Wait a second...do I detect a bit of browning on that white connector?
Check that voltage with the connector TOGETHER...yah, 9 volts. That's
not right. Hmm connector is acting as a 23K ohm resistor. Not good. Get
out the fine (400 grit) sand paper and clean up the pin, then roll that
sand paper and insert it on the other side and clean out the socket.
Reconnect. Glory be, I've got AC fan(s) running.

PS. I still had to recharge the AC, but that's pretty trivial and only
took 15 minutes, not like the 2 hours to figure out the wiring problem.

Ah, the joys of a 17 year old vehicle. :)

Next episode will be the 12 year old vehicle's AC (Westy Syncro).