AC Off button

Can not speak for everyone but my spider top has worked fine since I bought the car, 4 years ago. Hydraulic fluid for the top can be purchase at any decent auto parts store. I used CHF 11S to top off the system.

With the AC button pushed in the AC compressor should turn off. I don't know where you are located, but if the recirculation flap is open you may be getting cold air through the system from the outside, assuming it is cooler where you are located. The recirculation flap should close when you press the recirculation button (other round button on the AC panel). Check under the front hood to see if it is closed. Motor/shaft failure for the flap are common, leaving the flap open at all times.

 

The top is a project. Even when it is all working. My seat pots are not operating so I changed my system a bit. Mine runs the "emergency switch" from a three position switch installed in the ABS cut-off hole in the center console. I lower the windows and move the seats manually and them push the switch to hydraulically raise & lower the top. It was an easy, reversible mod. Some have switched to all manual.

As johnk mentioned, the convertible top[ fluid is off the shelf stuff. You can buy expensive Mercedes fluid if that makes you feel better

When the AC switch is pushed, the AC is stopped regardless of where the temp selector knob is placed.

Do you have a copy of the owners manual? If not, PM me and I'll send you a link to download it.

 

what I'm looking for to see if the flap is open or closed?
with the circulation button pushed in (meaning closed),
is the intake box under the hood supposed to close?

if you could offer a picture please showing open versus closed.

 

I can't recall if the car has to be running, but I would do it anyway to get all the electrics operating....

With the recirc flap in fresh air mode, the flap should be down and you will be able to see the fan inside the cavity. However, if the flap drive spindle is broken (common problem), the flap will probably be down too (it's quite heavy).

In recirc mode, the flap will be up (and you won't be able to see the fan).

Fresh air comes off the top of the bonnet, so the flap has to be down to allow fresh air into the system.

Cheers
Ian.

 

ok good.. personally I never tested/checked..

but I do know.. when I have the hood up.. I can see the fan down in the intake box..
I will test to see if it opens or closes.. but something tells me the common failure of flap pin is probably my case..

 

If the circulation flap boss is broken, Hill makes a brass one that will not shear. Stupid expensive for what it is, but it works. I have had it in my car for 5 years now:

348/355 Air Re-circulation boss - Ricambi America, Inc.

 

Somewhat related question-My recirc flap is stuck in the recirc position (up) and will not move. The rest of my A/C system works fine, but the recirc button does nothing because the motor has failed. I removed the motor, and the boss is fine and so is the hole it goes in. It's a snug fit with no distortion on either part. I cannot move the flap by hand or by sticking a screwdriver in the hole the motor boss goes in and attempting to turn it. I know the motor failure is common because of how it's designed (always running when in recirc mode). My question is what can cause the flap to get completely stuck in the up position where you can't move it by hand or turn the drive gear? Any ideas on what could be wrong and how to fix? I'm trying to avoid ripping half the car apart to determine what is broken/stuck so if anyone has any insight as to how this all comes apart, I would appreciate some guidance.

Thanks,

Brian

 

Shame they pulled that pump. Mine came complete and assembled with the 'thick' fluid essentially clogging the system. Took some effort to get that stuff out, and replace and bleed the system, but it works now. I think I used the same hydraulic fluid I used in my lift. Remember to lift the bow above your head prior to pushing the top rearwards.

 

Sounds bizarre. I know when my flap was down, it was very hard to move, but that's because it had skewed slightly sideways when the plastic drive spindle had broken and I think the pivot rod had come out of the hole on the windscreen side. I recall the pivot hole was plastic, so I don't think the flap could rust in place.

Does the flap look square in the hole? If you can move the flap gently forward/aft with a screwdriver (or something which doesn't scratch), it might drop down (with the motor removed).

 

The flap is definitely square. I thought that I would be able to move the flap if I removed the motor, but the flap won't move even with prying or trying to turn the gear with a screwdriver in the motor boss hole. I haven't attempted to disassemble the box where the blower motor is to try to figure out what is stuck because I'm not clear on how it all comes apart and don't want to pull half of the car apart especially when everything else on the hvac system works. Any guidance would be appreciate it.

 

well pleasantly surprised.. the recirculation flap on my car actually works..

until I actually checked/tested.. it was always down.. I could see the fan inside the box whenever I had hood open..

now I tested.. and the flap opens and closes..
but it only functions if the compressor is engaged..

if the compressor is not engaged.. the flap will remain in the last position it was set in.. even if you push in/out the recirculation button..

 

Good to know, although it doesn't quite make sense to me. If the airconditioning (compressor) was inoperative, wouldn't you want the option to open the vent to use fresh air?

 

yep just tested again, seems to only open/close if compressor is engaged.

as weird as only getting heat if compressor is engaged. which I find is ridiculous.