Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 09:16:14 -0400
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Timothy J. Hannink" <hanninkt@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Radiator/Condensor fan
Mark Bowie wrote:
>
> After replacing a burst a/c hose on my '86 westy, I took it in to have th=
> e
> system charged. The shop discovered that the condensor fan is not coming
> on. They let the pressure go up to 400#, but the fan never came on.
> Does anyone have any suggestions on how to troubleshoot this electrical
> problem? The 30A fuse is intact, but that's as far as I got.
> The shop says it could cost as much as $200 for them to troubleshoot, a
> cost I would very much like to avoid.
>
> MTB
Hey Mark,
The easiest way to test the A/C Refrigerant High Pressure Switch is to
unplug the connector and jumper across the connector terminals. This
should energize the Radiator Cooling Fan Relay, 2nd Stage (Position 5 on
the fuse block). The contacts in this relay send 12V from Fuse S1 to the
Radiator Cooling Fan Resistor, terminal #1. This will cause the Radiator
Cooling Fan to operate at its second speed.
It sounds like your Radiator Cooling Fan isn't coming on at all when you
turn on the A/C like it should. When you turn on the A/C, the A/C Relay
should energize and send 12V from terminal 5/6 to the Radiator Cooling
Fan Resistor, terminal #2, and cause the Radiator Cooling Fan to operate
at its lowest speed.
If the Radiator Cooling Fan doesn't operate when the A/C is turned on,
the most likely cause is the Radiator Cooling Fan Resistor. It costs
between $35 & $40 at a VW Dealer. Before you run out and buy one, make
sure that you are getting 12 volts on terminal 5/6 of the A/C relay when
the system is operating. That 12V also supplys one side of the A/C
Refrigerant High Pressure Switch.
Has the Vanagon been running hotter than it normally does? This problem
could also be caused by a bad Radiator Cooling Fan Resistor.
Good luck and happy hunting.
--
Tim Hannink Winter Park, Florida hanninkt@ix.netcom.com
__ __
1991 VANAGON Carat \ \ / / Pastel White
\ \/ /
1975 TRANSPORTER __ \__/ __ Pastel White/
Station Wagon \ \ / \ / / Hawaiian Blue
\ \/ /\ \/ /
1973 412 Sedan \__/ \__/ School Bus Yellow