TheSamba.com :: View topic - Pre-86 AC switch...WANT!

Mon Jul 02, 2018 7:16 pm

Hey all y'all -

Recent road trip burned out my AC fan switch, but just the fan portion. My early '86 van has the pre-86 AC system.
Anyone have a source for this switch incorporating the temperature control? (No such info in Bentley, of course...) :roll:

2 yellow wires are the temp control; 5 spade connectors on back for power & radiator fan, plus 3 blower speeds:

Marked:

" INDAK "
" PAT. NO. 3,159,722 "
" ' C75315 R1378550 "

FWIW, the temp control still works, so if I have to I can see myself adding a new separate fan switch to make the system
functional, but obviously I'd like to replace it with an original-type 3 speed fan switch including temp control...

Sooo...ummm...help...??? TIA... :roll: :wink: :(

- Dave

Mon Jul 02, 2018 7:27 pm

what's the plan to stop a replacement switch from also burning out?
your motor drawing too much amperage? bad grounds.
might be a good place to add in some load reduction relays for each speed.

Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:05 pm

Thanks, Dan... I hear that. I worked through all my grounds a few years
back, so I just figured 30 years is a pretty good run for a $10 switch...

I'm not much of an electric guru , but I'll certainly look into a relay setup.
In the meantime, I still need a new SWITCH! :evil: :wink:

- Dave

Mon Jul 02, 2018 8:48 pm

it's not a $10 switch.

it's a $30 switch.
gowesty has them brandy new.

http://www.gowesty.com/product/climate-controls/4065/switch-for-air-conditioning-

you might be able to bypass it ith 3 $10 switches though ;-)
Quote: This little switch has long been obsolete, forcing many to scour junkyards for good used ones. Thanks to a tip from one of our customers, we now have them available brand new! This switch has the dual male post that operates both the temperature and the fan speed. We supply it with both threaded lock rings and the fiber insulator to isolate the switch from the metal dash*. This switch fits all 1980-86 Vanagons with factory-installed rear air conditioning. It is not the correct switch for in-dash BEHR units. Take a close look at the additional photos to ensure this switch is correct for your application.

Mon Jul 02, 2018 10:02 pm

danfromsyr wrote: it's not a $10 switch...
Right...it was probably only $2.35 when new... :wink:

- Dave

PS: Thanks for that GW link!

Tue Jul 03, 2018 7:19 am

any fan, including the dual rear ac fans, will draw more current as they age and the oiled bushings dry out. it MAY be why your old switch failed, or it could just have gotten fed up with 30 years of service. if the fans sound happy and spin for a while after turning them off, no worries.

i had both ac fans out on the bench during my ac delete. measured the current draw on each and chose the lowest draw fan for the replacement of my front heater fan.

interestingly, at least on my 87, the dual rear fans use dual resistors but hooked up in parallel. so i transferred the duals to my front heater and mounted them in the incoming air stream. twice the wattage rating, kept cool, they should last forever.