air conditioner electrical issue
griffon652
09-07-2011, 10:50 AM
I have a 1998 chevy malibu V6
The AC was not working from the minute I got it. So I replaced the AC control panel which was not working and also the compressor which was also not working. When I turned on the AC everything was working perfectly for 3 minutes and then the resistor for the blower motor short circuited. I replaced the resistor and within 3 minutes it did the same thing again.
So I thought the problem might be with the blowor motor, so I replaced that and same short circuit happened. I called in a mechanic to diagnose the short circuit and he said that the problem was that the Body Control Module was faulty and the wire harness from the BCM to the AC was causing the short circuit. He said the exact wire could not be found and suggested replaceing the whole wire harness for the BCM.
He told me that he was not skilled enough to do the job but replacing the bcm/wire harness would cost a minimum of $800 for labor/used parts anywhere I go. But he suggested that I jury rig the AC so it turns on independently of the BCM and the wire harness attached to it. He said this would bypass the short circuit because it is completely bypassing the BCM and the wire harness itself. He said it would be much cheaper(around $200). He also said that he couldnt do this job either which makes me inclined to belive him since hes not making any money from me with his suggestions.
I have never heard of this before. Does anyone know if this is actually something that can be done on a car? And if this is a possible solution to this problem? Thank you.
The AC was not working from the minute I got it. So I replaced the AC control panel which was not working and also the compressor which was also not working. When I turned on the AC everything was working perfectly for 3 minutes and then the resistor for the blower motor short circuited. I replaced the resistor and within 3 minutes it did the same thing again.
So I thought the problem might be with the blowor motor, so I replaced that and same short circuit happened. I called in a mechanic to diagnose the short circuit and he said that the problem was that the Body Control Module was faulty and the wire harness from the BCM to the AC was causing the short circuit. He said the exact wire could not be found and suggested replaceing the whole wire harness for the BCM.
He told me that he was not skilled enough to do the job but replacing the bcm/wire harness would cost a minimum of $800 for labor/used parts anywhere I go. But he suggested that I jury rig the AC so it turns on independently of the BCM and the wire harness attached to it. He said this would bypass the short circuit because it is completely bypassing the BCM and the wire harness itself. He said it would be much cheaper(around $200). He also said that he couldnt do this job either which makes me inclined to belive him since hes not making any money from me with his suggestions.
I have never heard of this before. Does anyone know if this is actually something that can be done on a car? And if this is a possible solution to this problem? Thank you.
brcidd
09-07-2011, 11:51 AM
Short circuits blow fuses...so which fuse is being blown? All circuits are protected by fuses! So if no fuse is blown, there is no short circuit, there may be an open circuit though. A competent tech will find the exact problem and fix it and not guess at it.....
Again, which fuse is being blown?
Again, which fuse is being blown?
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