Auto climate control and AC

Tiny
NMF67
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 SATURN L200
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 156,000 MILES
Was driving and the AC randomly stopped, it sputtered, the lights around the AC controls flickered and when I stopped to check on it, turned it back on and completely off/gone, no air at all coming through my vents. It was hot (110 out) and my temperature has been fluxing a little and running warmer than normal, mechanic says that looks fine but has not come across the issue like what I am having right now. Every now and then it will turn back on but I cannot control any of it, the air/heat/defrost. So far I have not been able to make it turn on and when it does pop on it still blows cold but shuts off again shortly after coming on. Where do I have the mechanic start?

Blower motor and fan (it is loud has been the whole time I have had the car. Brother told me to have it changed so I did). Has been replaced in the last six months as well as a whole bunch of front end work (I hit a hog at night and the car and I came out in one piece), but this work was done back in February this year and I just started having this issue in the last week (July).
Wednesday, July 11th, 2018 AT 7:50 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,622 POSTS
The first thing I would do is disconnect the wire going to the AC compressor and then work the control as if the compressor is connected to see if the power issue still exists. I am thinking you have a clutch coil that is shorting.

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Saturday, July 14th, 2018 AT 5:28 PM
Tiny
NMF67
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
So had to have the wires to the fan replaced (short in the wires) so that helped the overheating. As for the AC it is still random when it wants to come on. When it does come on I still cannot control temperatures and it shuts off on its own. Have not found anything similar with coming on and off except for our hot days (in TX been fairly hot the last few days) it stays on auto and it cannot be changed from it. Also, noticed today when I do not have AC I lose all my interior lighting. Top between front and back seats and on the rear view mirror.
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Saturday, July 14th, 2018 AT 9:00 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,622 POSTS
Good information, the lighting issue with the AC problem is a clue the BCM is going out or the control head is shorting back feeding the BCM. The BCM shares data which will cause the AC to fail at the same time. Here is the wiring diagram so you can see how the system works and the location of the BCM.

I would try a used control head first then the BCM which may need to be programmed in for about $130.00 at a shop.

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Sunday, July 15th, 2018 AT 9:22 AM

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