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Worst case, your A/C compressor clutch may be seized in the engaged
position. Apart from that, make sure that the A/C dial on the
dash is turned _all_of_the_way_ off. Note that the beginning
of the blue zone is the fully off position, not the end of the
red zone (which is "fully on"). Some people may be deceived
that red=warm. Next, undo the two fasteners on each side of and
two bolts on the bottom of the center console, remove the ash tray,
and pull the console forward to access the back of the A/C dial.
Remove all of the wires going to the dial and see if that stops
the compressor from running. If it does, then your A/C switch
is defective. (Don't try to remove the white pipe going to the
dial - that pipe is an alcohol-filled heat pipe coming from the
A/C evaporator which enables the A/C switch to sense temperature).
If the A/C compressor runs with the dial disconnected, remove the
center console by disconnecting all of the wires from the various
switches and removing the A/C switch, still attached to its pipe.
Trace wires from the A/C switch to find the A/C relay, and see if
the relay is stuck closed by testing across the contacts with a
multimeter when no power is applied to the coil. Hopefully, a
pin diagram is printed on top of the relay.
Other problems may include frayed wires in the wiring harness
shorting to something. If nothing else works, you can try
disconnecting the wires from the A/C receiver/dryer, which is
a cylindrical object behind the right headlamp, to see if the
compressor stops running. The safety switch on the rec/dryer is
the final link in the "chain" of devices before the compressor
clutch coil. Disconnecting the wiring to it should pretty much
insure that no power is going to the compressor. To make doubly
sure, test for +12V at the wire going to the compressor. If no
voltage is present and the compressor still runs, you have a
seized compressor clutch which must be replaced. A kit that
allows you to bypass the A/C compressor and still run the power
steering pump is available from IPD if you aren't too particular
about having working A/C.
-b.
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