Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:07:40 -0400
Reply-To: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: AC Blower Fan Speed
In-Reply-To: <3499DADA-0EAB-4A74-B44C-2532EC3ED8FD@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Finn, I got your voicemail earlier. I decided to respond to your post
on the list so others can be helped as well.
For the blower fan in the rear of the van, I have found that if you are
only getting the highest speed it could be either the switch (which you
have already traded out) or what I call the "evil number 13 relay" that
is in the rear of the van at the AC wiring. You will see three relays
there in a row and the "evil number 13 relay" is easy to see because it
has the number 13 on the top in big numbers. If you can swap this over
from your other van, that should show you if that is it.
If it isn't either of those I would say it is probably a wiring issue.
The thing is that there are actually two resistors, one on each side, in
the rear overhead AC evaporator housing to do the different fan speeds
of the rear blower fans. To have both of those resistors burn out at
the same time would be pretty much impossible I would think. I have
never had a person have those resistors go bad in all my years of
working on Vanagons. They just don't get used that much and when they
are used, nice cool, AC air is flowing over them the entire time they
are getting hot. They aren't like the front radiator fan resistor that
is hidden behind the front light and is working the most when the van is
sitting still at a light with no air going over it. Trust me swap out
that "evil number 13 relay" most likely that will solve it.
True story:
I had a guy call me a few years ago on a really hot day. He told me
that his AC in his 90 Vanagon had suddenly stopped working and that he
wanted to come to my shop and have me take a look at it. He said, "No
matter how long it takes, I will at least give you $250 to fix it". He
came here and I took the cover off, and swapped out that relay with a
new one I had here. Took about five minutes. Got the AC back on line
and blowing cold. The guy just looked at me for a moment then reached
in his pocket and gave me the $250. He said, "A deal is a deal."
Easiest $250 I ever made.
PS all of this information applies to on 86-91 Vanagon with factory rear
AC. If you have an earlier van, please disregard.
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
Phone: 856-327-4936
Fax: 856-327-2242
On 6/28/2012 2:11 PM, Finn Runyon wrote:
> Hi All,
> I have been quietly plugging along on lots of projects on the 87 Westy. What currently has me stumped is that I only have high speed (#4) on the air conditioning blower speed. I swapped out the switch from my 89 which works on all four speeds, but it does not work on the 87. I have scoured the Bentley but have not been able to identify a relay that may be bad. As always your help is much appreciated.
> Finn Runyon in Taos NM
> 87 Westy Pooh
> 89 Westy Roo
