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blower motor/AC/heat [message #310811] Wed, 23 November 2016 16:23 Go to next message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
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when I went on the ill fated maiden voyage, I had the AC on and running. In removing all sorts of jiggery pokery from the engine that the PO installed, I'm fairly certain that I removed some crucial unknown wire that allowed the system to work, because now it's not blowing. at all. No heat either.

The only thing I get is a thumping sound behind the passenger side of the dash when I put on the hi setting. from what i understand, the hi setting comes from a different system than the others? How does that work?

I'm 90% certain that one of the switches that the PO installed had something to do with the hi setting on the AC, and that's the only way I had it running because, well....Texas.

I did notice that when I had it on yesterday while running the coach just to warm it up and keep things moving, the AC compressor got cold. so something is working, perhaps just the blower motor is not?





1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX

[Updated on: Wed, 23 November 2016 16:24]

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Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310817 is a reply to message #310811] Wed, 23 November 2016 16:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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Atom Ant wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 16:23
when I went on the ill fated maiden voyage, I had the AC on and running. In removing all sorts of jiggery pokery from the engine that the PO installed, I'm fairly certain that I removed some crucial unknown wire that allowed the system to work, because now it's not blowing. at all. No heat either.

The only thing I get is a thumping sound behind the passenger side of the dash when I put on the hi setting. from what i understand, the hi setting comes from a different system than the others? How does that work?

I'm 90% certain that one of the switches that the PO installed had something to do with the hi setting on the AC, and that's the only way I had it running because, well....Texas.

I did notice that when I had it on yesterday while running the coach just to warm it up and keep things moving, the AC compressor got cold. so something is working, perhaps just the blower motor is not?
Seems to me the only thing that can thump is the fan.

My guess is there is not enough power getting to the blower motor on any setting except high, and when it gets enough power, it beats against a rodent nest. If the compressor is getting cold, the blower motor fuse is OK. You will probably need to take the motor out/off anyway to untangle the fodder in the blower box.

And check the wiring diagrams at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/hvac-dash-and-blower-control/p58076-78-hvac-control.html or at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/electrical/p50601-high-speed-dash-fan-circuit-path.html depending on which dash fan control you have (low/medlow/med/hi or off/lo/med/high).
Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310818 is a reply to message #310817] Wed, 23 November 2016 17:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
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A Hamilto wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 16:59
Atom Ant wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 16:23
when I went on the ill fated maiden voyage, I had the AC on and running. In removing all sorts of jiggery pokery from the engine that the PO installed, I'm fairly certain that I removed some crucial unknown wire that allowed the system to work, because now it's not blowing. at all. No heat either.

The only thing I get is a thumping sound behind the passenger side of the dash when I put on the hi setting. from what i understand, the hi setting comes from a different system than the others? How does that work?

I'm 90% certain that one of the switches that the PO installed had something to do with the hi setting on the AC, and that's the only way I had it running because, well....Texas.

I did notice that when I had it on yesterday while running the coach just to warm it up and keep things moving, the AC compressor got cold. so something is working, perhaps just the blower motor is not?
Seems to me the only thing that can thump is the fan.

My guess is there is not enough power getting to the blower motor on any setting except high, and when it gets enough power, it beats against a rodent nest. If the compressor is getting cold, the blower motor fuse is OK. You will probably need to take the motor out/off anyway to untangle the fodder in the blower box.

And check the wiring diagrams at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/hvac-dash-and-blower-control/p58076-78-hvac-control.html or at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/electrical/p50601-high-speed-dash-fan-circuit-path.html depending on which dash fan control you have (low/medlow/med/hi or off/lo/med/high).



Rodents nest? Really? That seems odd. You think it's that and not the wiring?


1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX
Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310819 is a reply to message #310811] Wed, 23 November 2016 17:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
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1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX

[Updated on: Wed, 23 November 2016 17:11]

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Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310822 is a reply to message #310819] Wed, 23 November 2016 17:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Atom Ant wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 18:11

I think he is trying to catch up with JimK. Smile
Matt

Answers to the post that has writing in it.

There are only three things that can "thump" in and about the right side dashboard. The fan would be my first guess, too. If the compressor is running and you aren't getting any cool air out, then the fan would be a good place to start. It is not hard to remove and yes, little animals like to make a home in GMCs. (I think they know that they will be around longer than Winyboxos.) If the thumps was real regular, that is almost a given. If the thump was slow and irregular, then it might be one of the HVAC doors opening and closing as it tried to do what the control wanted and there is a vacuum leak so it sets up an oscillation.

Good luck

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310830 is a reply to message #310822] Wed, 23 November 2016 18:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
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Matt Colie wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 17:41
Atom Ant wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 18:11

I think he is trying to catch up with JimK. Smile
Matt

Answers to the post that has writing in it.

There are only three things that can "thump" in and about the right side dashboard. The fan would be my first guess, too. If the compressor is running and you aren't getting any cool air out, then the fan would be a good place to start. It is not hard to remove and yes, little animals like to make a home in GMCs. (I think they know that they will be around longer than Winyboxos.) If the thumps was real regular, that is almost a given. If the thump was slow and irregular, then it might be one of the HVAC doors opening and closing as it tried to do what the control wanted and there is a vacuum leak so it sets up an oscillation.

Good luck

Matt


The thump is a single sound, as a reaction to setting the switch to the hi setting.


1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX
Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310832 is a reply to message #310830] Wed, 23 November 2016 18:43 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tphipps is currently offline  tphipps   United States
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High speed position trips a relay that allows the fan to draw power directly from the alternator output. The relay is the top one on the passenger side of the a/c - heater box.
Tom, MS II


2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552 KA4CSG
Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310833 is a reply to message #310830] Wed, 23 November 2016 18:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bruce Hart is currently offline  Bruce Hart   United States
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Adam, is your Climate Control Fan switch connected?

http://www.gmcmotorhome.com/tech/heatfan/index.html

From the 75-76 manual manual page 1-46

BLOWER SWITCH, RELAY & RESISTOR
The blower switch, blower relay and the blower
resistor must be discussed together because of their
interrelations with each other. The blower switch
located on the instrument panel regulates low,
medium and high blower speeds through a blower
resistor system. This resistor (figure 15) regulates the
amount of current fed to the blower thereby regulating
the blower speed. The blower relay (figure 20)
provides the proper connections for the low and
medium speeds through the resistor assembly and
direct battery current to the blower for high speed..



On Wed, Nov 23, 2016 at 5:23 PM, Adam Metzger wrote:

> Matt Colie wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 17:41
>> Atom Ant wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 18:11
>>>
>>
>> I think he is trying to catch up with JimK. :)
>> Matt
>>
>> Answers to the post that has writing in it.
>>
>> There are only three things that can "thump" in and about the right side
> dashboard. The fan would be my first guess, too. If the compressor is
>> running and you aren't getting any cool air out, then the fan would be a
> good place to start. It is not hard to remove and yes, little animals like
>> to make a home in GMCs. (I think they know that they will be around
> longer than Winyboxos.) If the thumps was real regular, that is almost a
> given.
>> If the thump was slow and irregular, then it might be one of the HVAC
> doors opening and closing as it tried to do what the control wanted and
> there
>> is a vacuum leak so it sets up an oscillation.
>>
>> Good luck
>>
>> Matt
>
>
> The thump is a single sound, as a reaction to setting the switch to the hi
> setting.
>
> --
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Austin, TX
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>



--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
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Bruce Hart 1976 Palm Beach 1977 28' Kingsley La Grange, Wyoming
Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310837 is a reply to message #310833] Wed, 23 November 2016 19:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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I think the thump that you are hearing is the Fan relay that is mounted on the fire wall. The fan relay is only energized on the high setting.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310839 is a reply to message #310837] Wed, 23 November 2016 20:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
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Adam, if you hear a clunk when you turn the fan on HIGH speed, that is the
relay pulling in. Normal sound. If the engine is running, and alternator is
charging, the fan will run. If the engine is not running, but the key is
on, you will hear the relay pull in, but no fan will run.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

On Nov 23, 2016 5:58 PM, "Ken Burton" wrote:

> I think the thump that you are hearing is the Fan relay that is mounted on
> the fire wall. The fan relay is only energized on the high setting.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
>
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Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310841 is a reply to message #310811] Wed, 23 November 2016 20:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
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So what if the engine is running, hi setting makes the sound, but no air moves? I'll check out the blower tomorrow.
Speaking of blower, there is a small wire that looks like a ground wire, but it runs out through a cylinder. Is this a resistor or some other sort of connection? Vague, I know. IIrc, the wire runs to the 28 pin harness.


1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX

[Updated on: Wed, 23 November 2016 21:01]

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Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310845 is a reply to message #310830] Wed, 23 November 2016 21:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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Atom Ant wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 18:23
The thump is a single sound, as a reaction to setting the switch to the hi setting.
That would be the blower relay switching to high.

If no air is moving, either your fan is not turning or is clogged, or the actuators are not routing air like they are supposed to. I said if your compressor is getting cold, the fuse has not blown. But check it anyway.

The fan/blower box can be clogged with rodent nests. http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/misc/p18033.html

If none of the actuators are working, probably a vacuum clog or leak.

Here's the vacuum actuator drawing:
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/color-hvac-troubleshooting-charts/p22990-hvac-diagram-color-comp.html
Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310848 is a reply to message #310841] Wed, 23 November 2016 21:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
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Capacitor. Dampens radio interference. If open, no fan. But, does fan run
in lower speed settings?
Jim Hupy

On Nov 23, 2016 6:59 PM, "Adam Metzger" wrote:

> So what if the engine is running, hi setting makes the sound, but no air
> moves? I'll check out the blower tomorrow.
> Speaking of blower, there is a small wire that looks like a ground wire,
> but it runs out brought a cylinder. Is this a resistor or some other sort of
> connection?
> --
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Austin, TX
>
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Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310850 is a reply to message #310841] Wed, 23 November 2016 21:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMCWiperMan is currently offline  GMCWiperMan   United States
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The blower is grounded with a single black wire under one of its mounting
screws. That screw is threaded into the fiberglass housing. If even
slightly loose, it will disable the fan.

Put a star washer and anti-corrosion compound on it and tighten it securely
-- with a larger screen if necessary.

Ken H

On Nov 23, 2016 10:00 PM, "Adam Metzger" wrote:

> So what if the engine is running, hi setting makes the sound, but no air
> moves? I'll check out the blower tomorrow.
> Speaking of blower, there is a small wire that looks like a ground wire,
> but it runs out brought a cylinder. Is this a resistor or some other sort of
> connection?
> --
> 1976 Palm Beach
> Austin, TX
>
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Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310881 is a reply to message #310850] Thu, 24 November 2016 16:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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GMCWiperMan wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 21:27
The blower is grounded with a single black wire under one of its mounting
screws. That screw is threaded into the fiberglass housing. If even
slightly loose, it will disable the fan.

Put a star washer and anti-corrosion compound on it and tighten it securely
-- with a larger screen if necessary.

Ken H




Colonel Sir, You beat me to that suggestion.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310884 is a reply to message #310881] Thu, 24 November 2016 17:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMCWiperMan is currently offline  GMCWiperMan   United States
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So why didn't you suggest fastening it with something besides a "screen"?

Ken H

On Nov 24, 2016 17:37, "Ken Burton" wrote:
>
> GMCWiperMan wrote on Wed, 23 November 2016 21:27
>> The blower is grounded with a single black wire under one of its
mounting
>> screws. That screw is threaded into the fiberglass housing. If even
>> slightly loose, it will disable the fan.
>>
>> Put a star washer and anti-corrosion compound on it and tighten it
securely
>> -- with a larger screen if necessary.
>>
>> Ken H
>
>
>
> Colonel Sir, You beat me to that suggestion.
> --
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Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310887 is a reply to message #310884] Thu, 24 November 2016 20:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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GMCWiperMan wrote on Thu, 24 November 2016 17:19
So why didn't you suggest fastening it with something besides a "screen"?

Ken H


Because I thought that might be the Georgia way of spelling "screw". The Britts and Aussies spell windshield as "windscreen". So I thought maybe something like that was going on here.

Actually, I have no room to speak when it comes to typing. I really assumed that it was a typographic error or your spell checker changed it to "screen" for you.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310892 is a reply to message #310887] Thu, 24 November 2016 21:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bullitthead is currently offline  Bullitthead   United States
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I don't understand how anybody is successful in grounding anything to fiberglass.

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.
Re: [GMCnet] blower motor/AC/heat [message #310893 is a reply to message #310892] Thu, 24 November 2016 21:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bullitthead is currently offline  Bullitthead   United States
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You better have another wire under the screw to the negative side of the battery or engine block or chassis or there is no ground path.

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.
Re: blower motor/AC/heat [message #310894 is a reply to message #310811] Thu, 24 November 2016 21:44 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Atom Ant is currently offline  Atom Ant   United States
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Thanks y'all. I went out this morning and started poking around. I discovered the capacitor, and what it's for, through the schematics. I also discovered that The capacitor ground was really loose and corroded.

Disconnected it, cleaned up the ground and the capacitor bracket with some sandpaper, screwed in tight, and it fired up!

It's ALWAYS the ground.

I did notice that the wire jacket on the capacitor wire is broken. Would it be wise to replace the whole assembly (plug, capacitor, wire)

Is this a place where good old electrical tape is acceptable?

Thank you Kens-colonel and otherwise. 😀





1976 Palm Beach Austin, TX
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