Additional radiator cooling and the benefit of searching

[Diplomat]

Well, my bright idea was all right while it lasted.

I disconnected the line to the aircon clutch so that I could simply use the dashboard A/C switch to run the radiator fans manually when needed for extra radiator cooling in traffic jams etc.

yesterday morning I noticed that they weren't coming on. later on after I had stopped for lunch I checked them for operation without running the engine (just with the key turned to the everything on position) and they went on and off nicely via the switch.

Later in the afternoon they won't come on for love or money, which was a nuisance because I wanted to check voltages at the connectors.

The green tally light on the switch comes on when the heater fan is advanced beyond 'off' (1997 old controls). The fan fuse near the battery positive terminal is ok. I was not getting any voltages at the connectors for each fan. I was not getting any voltage on the lead to the aircon pump (disconnected or otherwise)when the A/C button is pressed and green.

Had a waggle around the back of the switch (just about reachable and identifiable). The wires out of the switch feel too thin to carry that order of current so I was thinking 'relay'. Initially I thought that the switch might be going intermittent. I can't be sure that the green light is a true indication that the switch is working rather than merely confirming that it has been pressed on.

I was congratulating myself on converting the A/C (which I never use) to 'Additional cooling' but that facility seemed to be shortlived!

Anyway, to cut a long story short,if I had come straight to the forum I would have found out about the brown connector on the gas container. That is now bridged and taped up and my 'Additional Cooling' is back up and running. I have also located, by ear, the relay (there's a lesson, why not spend some time finding out what other relays do while they are still clicking).

As I have disconnected the electromagnetic clutch, I won't be damaging theA/C pump and I won't be refilling the gas unless I move to Australia with the Bongo.

An earlier forum search would have saved me an hour of fiddling with connectors!


Frank