Yesterday I got my A/C system charged and it does put out a satisfying amount of cold air. HOWEVER, I perceive a problem since the right hand (passenger) fan does not come on automatically when I turn on the A/C thermostat (blue) knob and fan (yellow) knob. It's supposed to, isn't it? Is there also a condenser fan (ie., a 3rd fan) on the front right hand corner of the car? If so, it doesn't kick in either. On the other hand, both radiator fans do come on whenever the engine temperature rises to the predetermined temperature--whatever that is. So the fans, both, do certainly work. A clue as to why the pass side fan doesn't come on, and/or the third fan if there's one, may be because the last red bar on the LED console indicator will not go off no matter what I do to completely turn off the heater. My rationale, then, is that the A/C won't turn on because it thinks the heater is still on? 1) How do I succeed in turning the heater completely off--ie., how do I get the red light to go off? 2)How do I get the pass side fan and/or the condenser fan to turn on when the A/C is operating? I sure can use your advice and expertise on this one. Ricardo
Only one fan comes on with the AC. You can re-wire it to make both fans come on. I've considered doing just that, but never gotten around to it.
Thanks Sean. So, the right hand fan is, in fact, supposed to come on automatically when the A/C is switched on? Regardless of outside temperature? I've checked the pertinent fuses and they're all OK. Tomorrow I'll try new relays and see what the results are. For now I'm using the A/C only on the open road or when moving to insure that I get enough air through the condenser up front. I shut it off when stationary. One more thing. Is there a vent mode in these cars (328) to let in fresh air into the cabin, or are the lowered windows the only alternative to A/C?
On my car ('77 GTB) you just move the lever back to open the lower vents, leaving the temperature lever on blue (cold). Putting it to red turns on the heat. However, after a while the radiator gets hot and all I get is warm air in the cabin anyway so I usually don't use it. I just open the windows if it's nice outside. The biggest problem, IMO, with the AC is not the lack of cooling, but the placement of the vents. Everything is in the middle. The lower vents need to be out by the doors. As it it, my right side is usually comfortable, while my left is pretty warm.
I have an '83 Mondial QV. The Condenser Fan supposed to run whenever the A/C is ON. It is controlled via a relay. Your Owner's Manual should tell you where that relay is located. On the Mondial QVs it is located in the infamous transparent fuse block box in the front compartment driver's side. I don't know where it is on the 348. Locate and remove that relay. You can test it on the bench as follows: First identify the two terminals that go to the relay coil using an Volt-Ohmmeter (VOM) or DVM or some sort of continuity tester that measures resistance. Apply 12 volts across the coil terminals and if the relay is good you will hear and feel it click-in. Then use the continuity tester to determine if the contacts the other terminals are closing. Alternatively, you could find another identical relay and try substituting that one to see if the fan goes ON. If you know which terminals are the contacts, then remove the relay and jumper the socket receptables directly with a paper clip - but be sure you know what you doing and be careful not to short anything out! If the fan motor still does not work, measure the voltage from the jumper to ground. There should be 12 volts there. If there is, then the problem is the fan motor or wiring to the fan motor. If no 12 volts, then apply 12 volts using a jumper lead directly to the battery. If the fan runs, then the problem is in the control circuit that is part of the A/C box. It helps to have a wiring diagram, but most of the ones I have seen are too detailed to follow.
His fan is working. He just wanted to know if only one or both are supposed to work. It's wired for only one to work when the AC is on.
from what I understand both fans work when up to (engine warmed up/operating) temperature. when the AC is actuated, the passenger side fan does not work, again it only works when the engine temp. is up & they turn on according to the temp. switch on the radiator. Right? So the question is should the right side fan work when the AC is on, regardless of the engine temp?
I'm not sure this is going to help but... There are actually three fans in the front of the car, two on the radiator and one tucked into the passenger side wheel well in front of the wheel. The condenser fan for the A/C is the one in that you really cannot see until you take the vented plate off that is in front of the wheel. There is a switch on the condenser input that controls this fan- it frequently is not working, or needs cleaning- it controls the operation of the condenser fan itself. My understanding is that the two radiator fans are wired in parallel and come on together when the thermo switch in the radiator gets to a certain temperature. The condenser fan is controlled by the A/C and should be on pretty much all the time the A/C is on. (As dictated by the switch on the condenser.) I know some have tried wiring the radiator fans in parallel with the condenser fan to turn them on when the A/C is turned on, but I haven't personally tried this. I hope this helps!! Cheers, dce
Ric, I finally had some free time, looked at my car & realized that there are 3 fans as indicated by "dce". Funny how one learns "new" things about these cars. I haven't started it & ran the AC but will do so tonite & let you know. I know just from prior experience that my radiator fans didn't kick on until it was up to operating temperature. Now I too will check the condenser fan for its operation, when the AC is actuated I know from my 308 ownership that the right side radiator fan did run when the AC was operating, so learning about the 328 from this thread (thanks dce) was very insightful.
DCE, Thank you. I thought from my readings that there was a 3rd fan dedicated to the A/C. Mine does not come on automatically when the A/C is switched on. Any ideas as to what I should check other than the designated relay and fuse in the cabin panel? Where exactly is the switch you reference, that is in the "condenser input"? How do I locate it? Is it available or can I take it apart and clean it? I very much appreciate your help. Ric
Allo, All that follows is based on the idea that the pressure switch on the evaporator is working, that the compressor comes on as advertised, that there is pressure in the system, and that basically the only problem you are having is that the condenser fan will not run. If you remove the panel in front of the wheel- (It's easier if you remove the wheel.) you will see the switch atached to the inlet pipe to the condenser. (I think- I'm going from memory here.) When I last looked at mine it was corroded but still functional- I cleaned it and it was happy after that. The relay for the condenser fan is under the dash panel, not on the passenger floor plate itself- those two are for the A/C compressor and for the blower motor. Thus if it is the relay it should be easy to swap one of the heater relays and see if that does the trick. Alternatively you can turn on the system and short the plug that the thermo switch is attached to and see if the fan comes on then- that would be a pretty good way of testing the switch I think. Lastly check the voltage at the fan plug itself- if there is +12v and no fan then you know your answer!! Good Luck!! dce
Ric, I drove my car last nite, & when I first started it up & turned on the AC, the condenser fan was not operating. I shut the AC off, drove it, then turned the AC on. The condenser fan was working. My Assumption is that its operation is triggered by a need to cool the condenser/contents passing through it. Try running yours, & after its warmed up, check the operation of the condenser fan...heck drive over to Helm's place & ask him if the condenser fan is thermal operated....
It is thermal- that's what the switch attached to the bottom of the condenser is for. Once the system is up to temp it usually never goes off, but you do have to get it to that point first. Cheers, dce
