My 89 TR's aircon/fan has stopped working, no fan speed or lights on the centre console. Only hot air coming out. The fault seems intermitant as the other day it was working fine. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!
Most likely a "burned" terminal in the k connector -- try a search on "TR white connectors" for prior threads/where to check.
Steve, That was really useful, thank you. I spent ages trying to type in various word strings into the search engine!!! Simon
Does that mean that we can add you to those of us who have reported the +12V AC power connection in the k connector looking like this: Image Unavailable, Please Login or have you not yet investigated?
Thanks for the help. I can report problem now solved, the car went ot my local mechanic who normally repairs less exotic cars but loves Ferraris. He spent a long time disconntecting the fuse board and putting them all back in order ensuring that the connections were good, re soldering etc. Car is back, AC is in great order, problem solved!! Price? £160/$115 which included dimantling the rear bonnet catches as they needed adjusted. He couldn't understand why i smiling so much!
Can you please be more specific ? What did the mechanic find ? How or what was soldered .... Maybe any pictures ?
Steve, I was reading this thread and saw your pic and decided to take a look at the white connectors in my own car out of curiosity (i.e. I wasn't trying to diagnose anything in particular). I noticed that two of the connectors (see attached pic) showed burnt out sections. I notice that the first white connector (top left as you face the fuse box) has the same burnt out wire as shown in your pic. Assuming your pic was from your own car, what symptoms did you experience as a result of that bunt our connector? You've got me a little worried now! Thanks, Dan ps - mine is a 1990 Testarossa (UK RHD car)
When that AC power terminal finally lets go, your AC will stop working completely (e.g., no blower fan at any speed, no compressor clutch engagement, no nothing). Your other two "crispy" connections are for the water radiator fans. The fuel pump connections are at about the same level on the "likely to get frazzled" list as the water radiator fan connections, followed by the AC condensor fan and oil radiator fan connections. With regard to these major components, all TR version are wired the same so this diagram might help you know where to keep a watch. Do a search on "TR white connectors" for a look into your future Image Unavailable, Please Login
Many thanks for the diagram Steve (should prove a big help). Will do a search on the other posts. Any idea what makes the connectors 'likely to get frazzled' or is it just a feature of TRs and down to luck your luck?! Also, are the frazzled connectors themselves the only symptom or are there other knock on effects to worry about!
The main factor is just the high current levels in those circuits together with F using a wimpy/small contact area connector so the I^2*R heating is relatively huge (for such a small volume) even if the contact resistance is only something like ~50 milliOhms -- so the temp goes way up, which accelerates oxidizing/weakening the contacts, which increases the resistance more, which causes even more I^2*R heating in a vicious death spiral until failure.
Actually Steve, one has to look further up the food chain for the 'main factor'. There are a host of results steming from a poorly under designed circuit system. Dealing with connectors and solder joints amounts to ignoring base causes. It might well delay the inevidible but keeping the smoke in the box requires a deeper approach. As all of the load circuits/components age, they draw more current yet are provided with less as Steve speaks of, thus the China Syndrome. I have been plotting the current draws of these circuits for the better part of 20 years now as they age, since we first started seeing failures of these boxes/circuits..... they have aged gracefully but they do show some wrinkles now.
Last fall I had my right radiator fan stop working while sitting in traffic on my way to an event. Know exactly when it happened as we smelled the melted insulation. I did a quick fix witha remote relay. Then my AC stopped working. When I pulled the connector is was indded melted fully and the pin came off with the connector. Again a remote relay fixed it but I had had enough. Mr. Helms did my box this spring. Very nice professional refit and easy installation - not to mention a very nice conversation one day in his shop. I now do not have to worry about the China syndrome in my TR on any of the heavy load circuits. Curtis
