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Topic: Help with a/c blower  (Read 2756 times)

Offline davie914

  • Nashville
  • Joined: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 12

Help with a/c blower

« on: August 13, 2010, 10:59:49 AM »
Hello, Dave here in Nashville, I just bought a 1974 Super Beetle in Cookeville and I am in love with it. 

The car has the set up for the original dealer installed A/C with the exception of the compressor.  The under dash blower worked brilliantly until I cleaned the old brake fluid out of the front trunk after replacing a leaky cap.  I realize I disconeccted something but for the life of me can't trace the problem. 

All fuses replaced after this happened to no avail.  When I turn the blower on the fan under the car next to condenser works but nothing from the blower inside the car.  Any advice greatly appreciated.

Offline 74loaf

  • Hixson, TN
  • Joined: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 303

Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2010, 12:20:12 PM »
try tracing the electrical line from the switch to the blower.. make sure it looks hooked up good...  and see if you have power at the blower side. I dont know the circuit or I'd offer more help. Surely theres not much to the whole circuit... just have to get in there with a light and see.

Offline Zen

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  • LaFayette, GA
  • Joined: Dec 2001
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Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2010, 08:13:30 AM »
http://www.type2.com/ has a color coded wiring diagram for a 74-75 Super Beetle, but it probably won't be of much help to you this time . . . it doesn't show the air conditioning system.  I'm not familiar with the AC system, but I have done quite a bit of electrical troubleshooting (Drive an old bus like mine for 10 years and you'll get a lot of experiance at this kind of stuff!), so here's what I would do . . .

I'm lazy . . . I always look for obvious stuff first . . . look around the area you were working for any wires you may have knocked loose.  It kind'a sounds like you've already done that.

OK, now I'd think about what I know and figure out the most logical place to start troubleshooting.  So, what do I know? . . . I know the switch has power and is working since the other fan comes on. (that just eliminated everything between the battery and switch!  I'm pretty sure fan motor is good. It is possible the motor took a dive and you just "think" you did something to the wiring . . . possible, but not probably . . . so, for now, I'm assuming the fan is good.  So, the problem has to be either the wiring between the switch and the blower OR the blower's ground.

Now I'd start troubleshooting at the blower motor.  Using a continuity light, I'd see if I had power to the fan.  Yes - it's a bad ground (or fan motor), No - start tracing the wire back to the switch.

Offline davie914

  • Nashville
  • Joined: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 12

Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2010, 11:34:23 AM »
That is just brilliant, thanks a ton

Offline davie914

  • Nashville
  • Joined: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 12

Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2010, 11:58:38 AM »
Eureka!  I suppose that's why you're called Zen.  I twidled the ground to the blower and instant fan -- you are amazing - 2 second repair.  Looks to me like one of my numerous passengers including kids may have kicked the underside of the blower housing thus loosening the wire.  I am happy,  Dave

Offline Zen

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Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2010, 12:58:16 PM »
Over the years I've found that 75% of the time, if you have trouble with anything electrical on an old VW and it isn't blowing fuses, it's a bad ground.

Offline davie914

  • Nashville
  • Joined: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 12

Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #6 on: August 14, 2010, 04:10:15 PM »
One last thing do you know a good source to buy a compressor?  Thanks again for your advice,  Dave

Offline Zen

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Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2010, 12:03:39 AM »
International Conditioning Enterprizes (I.C.E.) in CA has complete AC kits for Beetles and Super Beetles -- http://www.iceac.com/index-1SuperBeetle.html#  I don't know if the compressor they sale with their kit would be a direct replacement for the original one or not.  It might be worth contacting them.

Also, one of our members had the AC in his 76 Westy repaired by a shop here in Chattanooga a few years back . . . can't remember who did it o for him, but it was blowing COLD air when they got through with it.   8)

Offline Anthony

  • In front of the computer
  • Joined: Dec 2001
  • Posts: 1136

Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2010, 12:07:36 PM »
It was Thermo-King. I'd say it very likely depends on the amount of sympathy the techs have for a one-off job like that, multiplied by the lack of business they have at that time.

Offline Ret.Bugtech

Re: Help with a/c blower

« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2010, 12:29:10 PM »
It was Thermo-King. I'd say it very likely depends on the amount of sympathy the techs have for a one-off job like that, multiplied by the lack of business they have at that time.
How true. I did it twice. The first and last time. I think I used up a whole box of  Band-Aids from all the sheet metal "Wacking" ;D

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