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Old Jun 21, 2009 | 11:21 AM
  #1  
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From: seymour tn
Default no power to hvac control

Hey guys! I've got a 97 coupe with no ac. The ac comes on and works perfectly when IT wants to and quits when IT wants to. I've checked fuses, relays, codes,grounds(the ones by the headlights), pulled the unit, took it apart and I can't find anything obvious. Can anyone offer any ideas? They would be so appreciated!! Thanks in advance.
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Old Jun 21, 2009 | 04:55 PM
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It's working now. I was able to track the source of the intermittent problem to the ignition switch(loose contact). Thanks to LoneStarFRC for helping me trace it.
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Old Jun 21, 2009 | 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by BBREWER
It's working now. I was able to track the source of the intermittent problem to the ignition switch(loose contact). Thanks to LoneStarFRC for helping me trace it.
Glad to help! A/C is especially important this time of year.
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 02:33 PM
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BBrewer,

I have a '97 with the exact same problem. What was the exact issue and fix?

Thanks!
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Damo97
BBrewer,

I have a '97 with the exact same problem. What was the exact issue and fix?

Thanks!
The ignition switch. Not the lock cylinder part, but the electrical switch section. He found that part of the switch housing was either loose or not snapped together properly, causing an intermittent open circuit internally. His problem was one that came and went. Fuse #18 was dead but gets it's power through one of the sets of contacts in the switch first.
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 04:24 PM
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Thank you - that is interesting to hear.

Since owning my '97 (going on 8 years now), periodically I will be driving, and my A/C will turn on. When it does turn on, it will always be in the Auto mode and at 23 Celsius. Or sometimes while driving with it on at say 20 Celsius, the A/C will shut off and the control unit will all of a sudden go completely black. Maybe a second later, the A/C will come back on and the control unit will light up again. However, when it does comes back on, it will be in Auto mode and at 23 Celsius!!! Additionally, sometimes the temperature readout will convert from Celsius units to Fahrenheit units. Took it to the dealer for this a few times, but unfortunately they could not duplicate the problem.

Does the above sound like it could be an ignition switch issue, or maybe even a loose wire or something in behind the A/C control unit?
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Damo97
Thank you - that is interesting to hear.

Since owning my '97 (going on 8 years now), periodically I will be driving, and my A/C will turn on. When it does turn on, it will always be in the Auto mode and at 23 Celsius. Or sometimes while driving with it on at say 20 Celsius, the A/C will shut off and the control unit will all of a sudden go completely black. Maybe a second later, the A/C will come back on and the control unit will light up again. However, when it does comes back on, it will be in Auto mode and at 23 Celsius!!! Additionally, sometimes the temperature readout will convert from Celsius units to Fahrenheit units. Took it to the dealer for this a few times, but unfortunately they could not duplicate the problem.

Does the above sound like it could be an ignition switch issue, or maybe even a loose wire or something in behind the A/C control unit?
Your apparent total power loss sounds similar to what BBREWER was experiencing. The primary power for the HVAC is a "switched" function that has to go through the switch first. BBREWER has the "Mexican" HVAC system (it's "manuel", like mine), and therefore much simpler (and more reliable) than the CJ2 system you have, but I think the power feeds for the two are essentially the same. That would be a good place to start, given the symptoms you describe.

Last edited by LoneStarFRC; Jun 23, 2009 at 09:27 AM. Reason: typo
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 05:05 PM
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I never knew the manual units had that problem too - I thought that it was only the dual zone versions! That is interesting!

As an aside: the last time the temperature display on the head unit switched on its own from Celsius to Fahrenheit, I just tapped on the corner of the temperature display window for the heck of it, and as soon as I did so, all the needles on the gauges of my instrument panel did the "full sweep". That is why I always wondered if there was some sort of loose wire issue happening as well.

Thanks for the info on the ignition switch - good to know. May be the next winter project.
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Damo97
I never knew the manual units had that problem too - I thought that it was only the dual zone versions! That is interesting!............
The problem he was having was not the HVAC unit at all, it was an ignition switch problem. Also, the C60 system experiences far fewer problems than the CJ2 as far as the controls and actuators, etc.

Last edited by LoneStarFRC; Jun 23, 2009 at 09:26 AM. Reason: typos; ugh
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Old Jun 22, 2009 | 07:27 PM
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From: seymour tn
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Damo97,
sorry I'm just now getting back to you...the ignition switch doesn't have to wait til winter.It's easy to pull and to have a look at it. LoneStarFRC really saved me from pulling my hair out! He knows these cars.
Anyway, there's a green plastic cover on the back of the switch. Under that cover is a couple of metal contacts. One of mine was loose...I squeezed the tabs on it, put it back together and it works great!!!
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Old Jun 23, 2009 | 05:38 PM
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Thanks for the response Bbrewer. How long did it take you to remove? Was the process as easy as replacing one of the gears in the headlight motors?
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