[Thirsty4H20]

So...

I purchased a 90 Spider and it arrived last week. The heater switch worked...at first....now it doesn't.....

Also has a few other electrical issues....fuel gauge and oil pressure gauges do not function....

The car has not been driven much in the last 2 years...I have a few manuals, however, thought I would see if anybody here has had this issue or was wondering if there is or could be any corrolation between these things....

Also, do the heater and AC systems utilize the same fan? If so, the fan DOES function with the AC on.....

I am ready to pull the switch out and start looking at connections....does it just "pop" out?

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.....

Thanks!!!

 

[Tifosi]

Yup, the heater fan rocker switch is a simple press fit into the console.

The AC blower fan is a seperate unit than the heater blower fan and is contained within the underdash AC stuff. (you can literally have heat and AC going at the same time with each blowing out thier own ducting)

 

[Thirsty4H20]

hmm...

yeah...i was out in my garage for a spell this evening trying to figure it out....i was able to pop out the heater switch...i wiggled the wires around...nothing was obviously wrong......*sigh*

 

[Tifosi]

Have you thoroughly checked all the fuses and connections on the back of the fusebox?

You'd be surprised what gets shook loose over time.

Have you tried reaching into the floor ducts (either side of the console back by the firewall) and spinning the squirrel fan with your fingers?

Could be the switch is fine but the motor has bound up.

Fuel gauge you'll have to check behind the console for disconnected wires on the back of the gauge, then get into the trunk and pull up the carpet on the left side to get at the sending unit. (if your trunk junk is complete, there will be the carpet, then a oddly shaped foam bit over top of the hoses with the wires under that)

Check for disconnected/broken wires. (one set of wires is the sending unit, the other is the in tank fuel pump. Right this second I couldn't tell you which was which)

For the oil gauge all you need do is find the sender and disconect the single wire to it.

Turn the key on and take that wire to ground.

If the wiring is good, the gauge will peg at max, if it's not, it won't.

If you can get that trick to work, then you're most likely looking at a sender not wiring.

 

[Thirsty4H20]

I will try all of the things you have recommended. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Thirsty4H20]

Ok....back to my heater issue.

There are 4 wire connections mounted to the underside of the heater blower box. One wire was disconnected. I thought HEY this is my problem...however, no dice....

I checked for power at the connections. Power was detected at the connections when the heater switch was turned on at both speeds.

I used a flathead screwdriver and turned the plastic fins at the blower and was able to move the fan unit. Still didn't do anything. There are two wires that take off from the connection beneath the heater box and take off through the firewall. Anybody know where the heck these things go to??? Figure I will check these out before I rip the whole blower unit out....

*sigh*

 

[Tifosi]

Two through the firewall?

Color me clueless on those. (I don't think they are even present on mine, but it's been a while since I was under there)

 

[alfaparticle]

There should also be a black wire that goes to ground. It may be on the passenger side of the heater box. Find the black wire and hook it to the -ve side of a 12V battery. Now hook the +ve side of the battery to either the blue or red wires. The motor should spin. If it does not turn, try helping it. If it still does not spin, then you have a problem with the motor. If it runs from the battery but not the car's power source, then you have a fuse/switch/wiring problem. Could be a bad ground.
Ed Prytherch, Columbia SC

 

[Thirsty4H20]

Thanks, Ed....I will try that! I appreciate your assistance.

 

[Thirsty4H20]

ok.....so, i cant locate the black wire coming out of the heater...meaning dillemma.....a few questions:

1. when i spin my fan by hand it is difficult to turn....should this thing spin real easy by hand?

2. it appears that the lower housing can be removed by taking out a few nuts.....i am just curious if anybody has replaced their fan motor. can i do this w/o having to remove the entire system out of the car...by system i mean the whole plastic housing that contains the heater......it looks as though the lower panel can be removed which would expose the fan.....

3. how the heck does the fan motor attach inside the housing?

thanks again......
Andy