| Author | Message | ||
| Paul Jeffery (Peajay)
Junior Member Username: Peajay Post Number: 110 Registered: 4-2002 |
The comments about only cool air should come from the central vent are interesting. MY 328 seems to have a poor output from the middle vent and the two each side are not even as good as this one. However, the two fan control knobs on the console are in the off position, so if the outer vents are for the heating system, why do they flow air with the two fans off ?? I agree that the owners manual is rubbish on explaining the controls. | ||
| James Christian (Jimc)
Junior Member Username: Jimc Post Number: 63 Registered: 7-2002 |
V.Z.: For what it's worth, there is a thermal switch on that fan that commonly fails. Since the fan is tied to the AC switch in the car, many people simply jump the thermal switch and allow the fan to run constantly whenever the AC is turned on. I went ahead and replaced the switch when mine failed. The symptom was cool air would blow while driving, but the air was somewhat warmer when stopped (for obvious reasons.) This is one of the "simpler" fixes for AC problems! JC | ||
| Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member Username: Lens Post Number: 323 Registered: 3-2001 |
Just had my AC recharged during the major service. My mechanic also changed the receiver dryer, which he says is a procedure that is sometimes overlooked. | ||
| V.Z. (Ama328)
Junior Member Username: Ama328 Post Number: 226 Registered: 11-2002 |
probably not the fault here, but if one comes across ac not putting out the cold air, one possibility that i recently ran into was that there is a fan(near item #9 in the diagram below, i believe) in the right front corner of the car, kind of under the headlight. Access is through the front wheel well, a 'grate' to be removed. Anyway, took the car in to get a freon recharge, the guys couldn't get the right readings on the equipment, and after tracing circuitry, found that the fan motor for the ac expansion tank wasn't working, which was causing a heat buildup. Would have never noticed, except for not enuf cold air coming out. Think this is all correct, i didn't have time to have the fan removed, so just went on my way and have not yet gotten around to getting in there and actually scoping it out/fixing it. | ||
| Tod Whitmore (Tod)
New member Username: Tod Post Number: 7 Registered: 7-2003 |
I have noticed that problem too when i turn on my A/C blower, at times i will get small particles come flying out. Guess i better look at cleaning my ducts out too.... Dave, I drove my 328 around tonight and didn't notice any heat build up under the dash area. You may want to check your ducts under there, maybe one is leaking??? Another thing to check, see if your having any accessive current draw in your electrical system, that could be causing heat build up too, lets hope that isn't the problem... | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1496 Registered: 5-2001 |
Gotcha covered on that one James, Go down to the lower center vents. From behind, remove the paper/flexible hose and the rest of the fiberglass piece that plugs into the center vent. Now you will have access to look up the vent tube into the receiver/dryer/condenser. With a "grabber" tool (one of those cheap flexible ones with the four or five metal fingers) you can reach up and pull all the torn bits and peices out. While you are at it, straight back and to the left bottom (when looking up in there) is the drain hole that goes out the rubber hose under the front of the car. Run something down it to make sure it is clear. Mine was clogged up with foam and caused the water to back up into the foot wells. Surprisingly, my "grabber tool" was the perfect diameter to snake down the hole, and it was appropriately flexible as well. | ||
| Joel DeLuca (Trajan)
New member Username: Trajan Post Number: 4 Registered: 7-2003 |
JimC, The black stuff is the filters in the vents disintegrating with age. The ones in my 328 went south last year and now only occasionally does a piece come flying out. They are a pain in the ass to replace and dont do much so let them die and forget about them. But, the debris collects in the vents under the radio so clean them out fro time to time. | ||
| James Christian (Jimc)
Junior Member Username: Jimc Post Number: 62 Registered: 7-2002 |
Here is a funny one for everyone to think about: When I run the AC on my 328 full blast, I occasionally get hit with a few very small pieces of black foam insulation. It appears that there is some foam used to seal up the system here and there and it eventually goes bad. (You know, just like that wonderful foam covered air inlet tube between the right scallop and the airbox on later models!) Has anyone had this happen, and are the seals in a location that can be gotten to reasonably? It's not that it hurts anything, but it's kinda embarrassing! | ||
| Carmine Nicoletta (Ncarmine)
Junior Member Username: Ncarmine Post Number: 108 Registered: 6-2002 |
Here's a picture to go with Malcolm's words.  | ||
| Tillman Strahan (Tillman)
Member Username: Tillman Post Number: 848 Registered: 11-2001 |
Paul, Grab the pdf of the 308GT4 technical manual and then the 328 update. Almost all the troubleshooting guides are in the GT4 tech manual, and it will walk you through how to troubleshoot the AC. Just watch for things that have been changed, such as line routing and the control changes. | ||
| Paul Jeffery (Peajay)
Junior Member Username: Peajay Post Number: 108 Registered: 4-2002 |
My 328 GTS also seems to have a pretty poor cooling output, does anyone have a procedure for checking/troubleshooting ? is it in one of the manuals, becasue I haven't seen it. I have to admit I haven't even come across all the a/c bits under there yet, except for the compressor of course. Any tips for obvious things to check before I spend my hard earned cash ?? | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1479 Registered: 5-2001 |
No, the heat I am describing is definitely from under the dash. Near the steering column, the components are actually a bit warm from the heat. The metal panels under there are even warm to the touch. The problem I have is I am unable to find the opening where the warm air is coming in from. I did find one small hole and plugged that. Small improvement.... | ||
| Tod Whitmore (Tod)
New member Username: Tod Post Number: 6 Registered: 7-2003 |
I will check for heat from under my dash. There could be a couple posibilities, when i'm driving with the top off and windows down, if i put my hand up just above the window, i can feel hot air, thats on a cool day too. I think this is the hot air travelling through the radiator up the hood. Also, with the top off, posibly while driving there could be a negative pressure inside the car?? Causing the warm/hot air from the radiator to enter the car??? Just a thought... I did notice the inside of the car stayed a little cooler with the top on and windows up, and thats with the A/C not working....... | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1477 Registered: 5-2001 |
Sure why not? BTW, after I had my heating system all fixed up (heater valve repaired, diverter flap repaired), I STILL get some heat coming up from the driver's side under the dash. Cannot for the life of me, figure out the source...but coming from somewhere under there. There was a previous thread, and at least two others chimed in with the same problem and were unable to find the exact source. | ||
| Tod Whitmore (Tod)
New member Username: Tod Post Number: 5 Registered: 7-2003 |
It helps to read.... Thanks everyone, i've had my 328 now for about a month and the owners manual didn't realy explain those rocker switchs too well. I would just push them and watch the pretty LEDs light up and down... HAH! Now i know what they are for.... My A/C need to be re-charged, the previous own had this car in storage for a few years and all the freon leaked out. I haven't been in a hurry though to do that, because it's been nice out and i always drive with the top off.... Even though, i have noticed the heat flow from the radiator follows the contour of the car, up the windshield and enters in the car behind the seats over my head, so i run the vent open to kind of circulate the air inside the car... Maybe i'll take it in and get the A/C checked??? | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 2206 Registered: 7-2001 |
This sounds like a good fix for my car's A/C, close the two outer vents. In summer it will just let in outside air. Time to get out the duct tape and close those vents! Thanks Malcolm! | ||
| Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member Username: Lens Post Number: 322 Registered: 3-2001 |
Dave, It was very hot yesterday, so the "fresh" air coming in felt like it was heated air. | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1461 Registered: 5-2001 |
Since you are getting "warm" air, you may also have a problem with the heater valve too as Malcolm mentioned. This is assuming everything is turned off.. | ||
| dave handa (Davehanda)
Intermediate Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 1460 Registered: 5-2001 |
I had a similar problem, and my mechanic had to repair the passenger side air diverted door. This is the thing directed by the yellow indicator lights, directs air to the upper or lower vents, or can be closed. | ||
| Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member Username: Lens Post Number: 321 Registered: 3-2001 |
Thanks very much Malcolm! I suspected that only the center vent delivered conditioned air. I'll check the other two to make sure the temperature settings were equal. | ||
| Malcolm West (Ferrari_uk_tech)
New member Username: Ferrari_uk_tech Post Number: 21 Registered: 7-2003 |
The three circular dash vents work as follows, the centre vent provides air conditioned air, whilst the vents each side of it give warm or fresh air from outside controled by the switches on the centre consol. The switches control a motor which in turn operates a heater valve, so if you have different ranges of heat from the outer vents it could be either the switch, valve or motor - don't forget there are two of everything. | ||
| Leonardo Soccolich (Lens)
Member Username: Lens Post Number: 320 Registered: 3-2001 |
I have three different temperatures of air blowing from the three circular dash vents when the AC is on: the center is the coldest, the right a little less so, and the left one blows warm air. What's going on here? |