Rick's Free Auto Repair Advice » Heater AC Blower

A/C doesn’t work and ABS light on

Rick — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:53:39 +0000

GM vehicles are known for faulty ignition switches. The problems are almost always intermittent. One common symptom is for the A/C to start blowing warm air or for the blower fan to stop (depending on which GM model we’re talking about), along with an ABS light. The problem is usually the ignition switch heating up and not providing power to the A/C clutch and the ABS computer. If you want to diagnose the problem, buy a wiring diagram for your vehicle form eautorepair.net or alldata.com (there are way to many GM models to list their wiring diagrams here) and test for power at the switched terminals when the problem happens. Or, just replace the ignition switch.

For more information on this repair or any others for your vehicle, buy an online subscription to either Alldatadiy.com or eautorepair.net. Click on this link to compare the two services: Compare Alldata and Eautorepair.

If you just need information for a single repair and want to save money,eautorepair offers a lower price 1-week subscription for only $11.99. Or, if you’ll be working on this vehicle in the future, you can buy a 1-year subscription (Alldatadiy.com for $26.99, or eautorepair.net $29.99)

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

AC Bypass Pulley Replaces AC compressor

Rick — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 03:12:05 +0000

So you’ve got an older vehicle and the AC compressor bit the dust. If you keep driving with the bum compressor eventually the compressor pulley bearing is going to bail on you. Sure, you can remove the compressor and search for a belt that’ll fit. Good Luck.

A much easier (and often cheaper) alternator is to remove the compressor and bolt on a bypass pulley. A bypass pulley is built to be an exact fit for where the compressor once sat. It’ll bolt right in place and use the same belt.

You can buy a bypass pulley here. Just enter in the year, make, and model, and engine.

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

A/C leak in Chevrolet Venture, Olds Silhouette, Pontiac Aztek, Pontiac Montana, and Buick Rendezvous

Rick — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:12:08 +0000

A/C leak in Chevrolet Venture, Olds Silhouette, Pontiac Aztek, Pontiac Montana, and Buick Rendezvous

Many owners of the 2001-02 GM minivans above are complaining of poor A/C operation. The cause is often a leak in the condenser (the finned unit in front of the conventional radiator). Due to poor design, the condenser cracks right near the lower right hand attaching bracket. The only solution is a new condenser (thanks GM). GM has issued a new improved part to solve future cracking problems. The part number is 10339103 (black), or 10339104 (unpainted). Replace the old unit with the new, but don’t install a bolt in the lower right attachment bracket—it stays blank.

Here’s an aftermarket version of the GM part

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

A/C Compressor Repair

Rick — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 04:10:03 +0000

Fixing an automotive A/C compressor isn’t rocket science. Most DIYers can handle replacing the clutch, coil, bearing, pulley, and even the front seal. You don’t have to discharge the system to replace the clutch, bearing, and pulley. But you do need a clutch puller/installation tool and a clutch plate holder. Since you probably don’t know what size puller tool you need, you may be better off buying a complete kit for less than $50. To remove the clutch, screw in the removal tool and hold the clutch with the holding tool. Then turn the nut on the removal tool. The clutch pulls right out exposing the coil and pulley. Always replace the coil and clutch together. If you want to replace the pulley bearing, you’ll need a pair of snap ring pliers to remove the retaining ring. Then pull the pulley off the shaft and replace the bearing. At that point you’re staring right at the main seal. If you find a lot of oil around the shaft, you’ve got a leaking main seal.
To replace the seal, first discharge the system. Then buy a new seal and a seal installation tool. The installation tool is a sleeve that fits over the shaft and protect the seal from installation damage. Oil the seal with compressor oil and then slide it into place, making sure you don’t knick the green rubber O ring. There you go, you’ve just rebuilt your A/C compressor.

Find Compressor Clutch Plate Removal Tools Here

A/C Compressor Clutch Plate Removal Tool

Find Compressor Clutch Parts Here

A/C Compressor Clutch

Find Compressor Pulley Bearings Here

A/C Compressor Pulley Bearings

Find Compressor Shaft Seals Here

A/C Compressor Shaft Seal

BMW Blower Motor Doesn’t Work

Rick — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 23:46:08 +0000

If you own a 2000-’03 BMW 525I you may have already experienced in inoperative blower motor. If yours has been running fine, consider yourself lucky and start saving money—it’s gonna fail. The motor itself is controlled by a component called the “final stage unit.” It’s located under the dash on the passenger side of the vehicle. The climate control head sends a variable voltage down to the final stage unit, telling the speed to run at. So start your diagnostics by checking voltage on the blue/red wire. Vary the fan speed on the controller head and look for changed voltage on that wire. If it doesn’t change, the control head is bad (you can get those rebuilt).
Next, check for battery power at the red/blue wire and ground at the brown wire. If that checks out, disconnect the connector from the final stage unit and jumper power and ground to the red/green and black/green. If the blower doesn’t kick in, swap the hot and ground and try again. If it still doesn’t run, the blower motor itself is bad. If the motor runs, the final stage unit is bad.

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

No instrument panel, HVAC controls dead, blower motor dead, flashers dead, GM vehicles

Rick — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 07:36:08 +0000

Bad ground TSB for GM vehicles

GM has issued a TSB #04-08-45-010 covering 2004-05 Buick Rainier, 2002-05 Chevrolet Trailblazer, 2002-05 GMC Envoy, and 2002-03 Oldsmobile Bravada.

The bad ground connection can cause the instrument panel lights to be inoperative, HVAC controls inoperative, blower motor inoperative, radio inoperative, flashers inoperative, and transfer case controls inoperative. The cause has been found to be a poor ground at a splice area G201 located on the right side of the front console area.

To fix the problem, you must remove the center floor console. Then remove the 4 screws that hold the instrument panel lower closeout carpet panel to the instrument panel. Next, remove the panel.

Remove the splice pack bolt. If the bolt is corroded, clean it with a wire brush. Remove any carpet that was trapped during assembly. Clean the ground surface with emery cloth. Reassemble the panel and console.

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

Hover your mouse over the REPAIR ARTICLES tab at the top of the page. The click on DIAGNOSTICS to search by SYMPTOM, TROUBLE CODE, or read TECH TIPS on how to diagnose a problem

Click on MAKE an MODEL to see all the articles I’ve written for your vehicle
Click on REPAIR TOPICS to read individual articles written for specific automotive systems

If you’ve had your car scanned and know the trouble code go to TROUBLE CODES

Here are some quick links to speed up your research

Click on the link below for speedy navigation:

ABS issues, how to bleed ABS brakes

Airbag issues or SRS light on

Alternator issues or how to test

Belt diagram or serpentine belt issues

Blower motor

Blower motor resistor

Brakes, brake issues, what kind of brake parts to buy, ABS issues

Car Alarms or Antitheft systems

Cooling system, Water pump, What type of coolant to use

Engine flush

Firing order, cylinder layout, finding #1 cylinder

MAF or MAP sensor

Oxygen sensors, How they work, How to change, How to test

PassLock or Passkey

Thermostat issues

Transmission flush

Serpentine belt diagrams

Window issues, power window motor, replace window regulator, glass adhesive

AC lights blinking on heater control Chrysler Minivans

Rick — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:41:44 +0000

If the battery is disconnected on Chrysler minivans, the blend and mode door actuator motors “forget” their position and must be recalibrated. Thankfully, you don’t need a scan tool to do this. Just follow these steps:

1. Start the engine and set the blower motor to high.
2. Set the mode position to PANEL.
3. Open all the A/C outlets and set temperature to COLD. Move both sliders if van is equipped with passenger controls.
4. Push and hold the REAR WASHER and the REAR WIPER buttons SIMULTANEOUSLY for 5 seconds. All the LEDs will light. The unit will start calibrating.
5. The calibration is done when just the rear wiper LED is flashing. To exit the calibration program, push the rear wiper button once. If the lights continue to flash, the program has detected a problem and you must refer to a trouble code chart

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

Hover your mouse over the REPAIR ARTICLES tab at the top of the page. The click on DIAGNOSTICS to search by SYMPTOM, TROUBLE CODE, or read TECH TIPS on how to diagnose a problem

Click on MAKE an MODEL to see all the articles I’ve written for your vehicle
Click on REPAIR TOPICS to read individual articles written for specific automotive systems

If you’ve had your car scanned and know the trouble code go to TROUBLE CODES

Here are some quick links to speed up your research

Click on the link below for speedy navigation:

ABS issues, how to bleed ABS brakes

Airbag issues or SRS light on

Alternator issues or how to test

Belt diagram or serpentine belt issues

Blower motor

Blower motor resistor

Brakes, brake issues, what kind of brake parts to buy, ABS issues

Car Alarms or Antitheft systems

Cooling system, Water pump, What type of coolant to use

Engine flush

Firing order, cylinder layout, finding #1 cylinder

MAF or MAP sensor

Oxygen sensors, How they work, How to change, How to test

PassLock or Passkey

Thermostat issues

Transmission flush

Serpentine belt diagrams

Window issues, power window motor, replace window regulator, glass adhesive

Chrysler Heater A/C Control Calibration Routine

Rick — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:33:41 +0000

The blend and mode doors on late model Chrysler vehicles are driven by DC servo motors. If the motors get out of synchronization, the control head doesn’t know where they are. That can result in cold air when you command heat and vice versa. It can also screw up where the air blows.

Here’s how to perform a calibration routine on Caravan, Voyager, and Town and Country. It works on many other Chrysler products as well.

1. Turn Ignition switch to ON

2) Press both the POWER and RECIRCULATE buttons at the SAME time and HOLD for at least 5 seconds.

3) The POWER and RECIRCULATION lights will flash

4) Calibration should take about about 2 minutes to complete if you have heater control and about 20-seconds if you have Automatic Temp Control system.

5) If lights continue to flash AFTER 3 minutes (manual system) or 20-seconds (Auto system), the control unit has detected a failure. You need a scan tool to pull the trouble codes (Thanks Chrysler). If there’s a trouble code stored, the lights will CONTINUE to flash until the unit completes a successful calibration OR until the vehicle has driven 8 miles.

If your Chrysler vehicle doesn’t have this setup, contact me and I’ll look up the procedure for your particular vehicle.

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

Hover your mouse over the REPAIR ARTICLES tab at the top of the page. The click on DIAGNOSTICS to search by SYMPTOM, TROUBLE CODE, or read TECH TIPS on how to diagnose a problem

Click on MAKE an MODEL to see all the articles I’ve written for your vehicle
Click on REPAIR TOPICS to read individual articles written for specific automotive systems

If you’ve had your car scanned and know the trouble code go to TROUBLE CODES

Here are some quick links to speed up your research

Click on the link below for speedy navigation:

ABS issues, how to bleed ABS brakes

Airbag issues or SRS light on

Alternator issues or how to test

Belt diagram or serpentine belt issues

Blower motor

Blower motor resistor

Brakes, brake issues, what kind of brake parts to buy, ABS issues

Car Alarms or Antitheft systems

Cooling system, Water pump, What type of coolant to use

Engine flush

Firing order, cylinder layout, finding #1 cylinder

MAF or MAP sensor

Oxygen sensors, How they work, How to change, How to test

PassLock or Passkey

Thermostat issues

Transmission flush

Serpentine belt diagrams

Window issues, power window motor, replace window regulator, glass adhesive

Bravada Blazer no heat or little heat

Rick — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:51:38 +0000

Readers write to me asking where the heater temperature control valve is on their Chevrolet Blazer and Oldsmobile Bravada. BUT, GM’s term for that “valve” is really misleading. It’s not a valve at all.

The hot coolant comes into the heater box and into the heater core. The blower motor blows air through the heater core. GM uses a temperature door to regulate how much heat gets into the passenger compartment. Most manufacturers call this a “BLEND” door because it blends hot air from the heater core with outside air to get you the right temperature air.

In this vehicle, that door is opened and closed by an electric actuator motor that sits on top of the heater assembly. That’s where all the confusion comes in. GM calls that motor a heater temperature control valve, making you think that it’s a plumbing style valve. It’s not. It’s just an electric motor that opens and closes the blend door.

The other “motors” on the heater assembly are vacuum operated motors that open and close “MODE” doors. They open and close the recirculated air damper, and move the air from the heat/vent/defrost positions.

To test the electric BLEND motor, use a digital multimeter and attach the red probe to the light blue wire at the connector. Connect the black probe to ground. Turn the ignition to RUN and measure voltage at the blue wire as you change the heat setting from hot to cold. The voltage should change from 1 to 12 volts. Then place the red probe on the brown wire. Leave the black probe at ground. You should see battery voltage on this wire. Next, leave the red probe on the brown wire and move the black probe to the black/white wire. You should see battery voltage.

Blazer Bravada heater control wiring diagram

What you’ve just checked is the varying voltage coming from the control to command the motor to open and close (the blue wire), battery power coming to the motor (the brown wire), and ground (the black/white wire).

If you get those readings, then the control unit is working fine. If you don’t, then you either have a broken wire to the brown wire, a bad ground or a problem at the control head.

If all those readings check out, remove the electric motor and move the linkage by hand. If the door opens and closes smoothly, you’ve got a bad electric motor. If the door binds, you’ll have to repair that.

99% of the time, it’s a bad electric motor. I’d bet money that the blend door is closed and that’s why you’re not getting heat.

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

Hover your mouse over the REPAIR ARTICLES tab at the top of the page. The click on DIAGNOSTICS to search by SYMPTOM, TROUBLE CODE, or read TECH TIPS on how to diagnose a problem

Click on MAKE an MODEL to see all the articles I’ve written for your vehicle
Click on REPAIR TOPICS to read individual articles written for specific automotive systems

If you’ve had your car scanned and know the trouble code go to TROUBLE CODES

Here are some quick links to speed up your research

Click on the link below for speedy navigation:

ABS issues, how to bleed ABS brakes

Airbag issues or SRS light on

Alternator issues or how to test

Belt diagram or serpentine belt issues

Blower motor

Blower motor resistor

Brakes, brake issues, what kind of brake parts to buy, ABS issues

Car Alarms or Antitheft systems

Cooling system, Water pump, What type of coolant to use

Engine flush

Firing order, cylinder layout, finding #1 cylinder

MAF or MAP sensor

Oxygen sensors, How they work, How to change, How to test

PassLock or Passkey

Thermostat issues

Transmission flush

Serpentine belt diagrams

Window issues, power window motor, replace window regulator, glass adhesive

Nippondenso air conditioning compressor 10PA17

Rick — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:45:13 +0000

Alldatadiy.com

eautorepair.net

Both Alldata and Eautorepair offer professional grade shop manuals at a price you can afford. Check them out!.

Hover your mouse over the REPAIR ARTICLES tab at the top of the page. The click on DIAGNOSTICS to search by SYMPTOM, TROUBLE CODE, or read TECH TIPS on how to diagnose a problem

Click on MAKE an MODEL to see all the articles I’ve written for your vehicle
Click on REPAIR TOPICS to read individual articles written for specific automotive systems

If you’ve had your car scanned and know the trouble code go to TROUBLE CODES

Here are some quick links to speed up your research

Click on the link below for speedy navigation:

ABS issues, how to bleed ABS brakes

Airbag issues or SRS light on

Alternator issues or how to test

Belt diagram or serpentine belt issues

Blower motor

Blower motor resistor

Brakes, brake issues, what kind of brake parts to buy, ABS issues

Car Alarms or Antitheft systems

Cooling system, Water pump, What type of coolant to use