QuestionThanks for the quick reply and info Roland. Photocopying the info would be of great help. I have the SATC system I think (the control head has a temperature range marked on it from 60 - 90 degrees)so I assume it is semi-automatic. (I just bought the car).
My mailing address is 2013 Upper McKinnon Road, Revelstoke, BC Canada, V0E 2S1. Don't know if you are located in the States or Canada but if it's a problem sending the material here, we could arrange something else maybe. If cost is an issue, I can arrange to send you the payment first. Thanks.
Followup To
Question -
My 1983 5th ave (318 rear wheel drive) has very little heat and no a/c. I would like to disconnect the a/c altogether. Is this possible without affecting the heating component? (The hoses from the a/c clutch in the engine compartment become very hot). As to the heating problem, there is some heat coming through the vents. What can I do to troubleshoot this without having to remove the whole unit? (I was having problems with the vacuum system but managed to get it working again). I have a Haynes shop manual but there isn't enough information in it. Do you have a more detailed service manual for the heating/ac system? Thanks for your assistance. Mike Benedict
Answer -
Hi Mike,
I have the '83 rear wheel drive shop manual so that may be of help to you. I suspect the easiest way to remove the A/C is to change the belts, buying belts for an alternator set-up without the A/C compressor which was an option and just by-passing the compressor pulley. If you run too low on refrigerant the A/C clutch should disengage too if you asked for A/C and of course it will disengage if you don't ask for A/C, except when you use the defrost setting when it is brought back into play if there is enough refrigerant. So see if you can't get the shorter belts and just take the compressor out of the loop. In fact you probably only need one belt if you are only running the alternator, rather than the paired belts the manual seems to show when there is also an A/C compressor in the loop.
On the heater putting out too little heat, there are a number of possibilities and maybe the easiest thing would be to xerox copy and postal mail you all the pages from the manual, about a dozen or so and with them you should be able to figure out what the problem is. With a car that is 22 years old I would suspect that there is a build up of crud in the heater core that you might want to flush out in both directions using a garden hose after removing the water supply and return hoses from the inlet and outlet. It also could be the doors/vacuum controls. Tell me if you have the standard heat system or the semi-automatic temp control system as they have different pages. I should be able to copy and mail the pages to you for about $1.50 which you could reimburse me for in postage stamps after you receive the materials. So if you want the pages let me know a postal mailing address and which system you have.
Roland
AnswerHi Mike,
I made the copies and will mail them shortly. They weigh a little under 2 oz. so my postage will be $1.20 and the copying was 0.80. So if you have a Paypal account you can just credit me for $2.00 or mail me a couple of U.S. dollars if you have them conveniently. My Paypal is rfinston@hotmail.com and my mailing address is:
856 Thornwood Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94303-4436
USA
I'll mail them regardless of which way you want to handle it so that you get them a.s.a.p. If getting me the cash in US dollars is a hassle, just accept this as a gift.
Roland
