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ACCUMULATORThe accumulator is mounted in the engine compartment between the evaporator coil outlet tube and the compressor inlet.
Accumulator - Typical:
Refrigerant enters the accumulator canister as a low pressure vapor through the inlet tube. Any liquid, oil-laden refrigerant falls to the bottom of the canister, which acts as a separator. A desiccant bag is mounted inside the accumulator canister to absorb any moisture which may have entered and become trapped within the refrigerant system.
BLOWER MOTOR
The blower motor and blower wheel are located in the passenger side end of the heater-A/C housing, below the glove box. The blower motor controls the velocity of air flowing through the heater-A/C housing by spinning a squirrel cage-type blower wheel within the housing at the selected speed. The blower motor and blower wheel can only be serviced with the heater-A/C housing removed from the passenger compartment.
The blower motor will only operate when the ignition switch is in the ON position, and the heater-A/C mode control switch knob is in any position, except Off. The blower motor receives a fused battery feed through the blower motor relay whenever the ignition switch is in the ON position.
The blower motor battery feed circuit is protected by a fuse in the Power Distribution Center (PDC). The blower motor relay control circuit is protected by a fuse in the junction block. Blower motor speed is controlled by regulating the ground path through the heater-A/C mode control switch, the blower motor switch, the blower motor resistor, and the voltage reduction relay.
The blower motor and blower motor wheel cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, they must be replaced. The blower motor and blower wheel are each serviced separately.
BLOWER MOTOR RELAY
The blower motor relay (also referred to as Voltage Reduction Relay or VRR) is an International Standards Organization (ISO)-type relay. The relay is an electromechanical device that switches battery current from a fuse in the Power Distribution Center (PDC) directly to the blower motor. The relay is energized when the relay coil is provided a voltage signal by the ignition switch. This arrangement reduces the amount of battery current that must flow through the ignition switch.
The blower motor relay control circuit is protected by a fuse located in the junction block. When the relay is de-energized, the blower motor receives no battery current. The VRR is used to reduce blower speeds in Heat mode. In non-A/C modes, the relay is de-energized and switches the current flow through an added resistance in the resistor block. When an A/C mode is selected, the relay is energized and the normally open contact is used to bypass the added resistor. The fuse is located in the small relay fuse block that is attached to the Junction Block. The relay is energized by grounding the coil low side with the HVAC switch in any A/C mode. See Blower Motor Relay in the Diagnosis and Testing for more information.
Blower Motor Relay (VRR) Location:
The blower motor relay is mounted with a single screw directly to the instrument panel's structural plastic inside the glove box opening, next to the left-side energy-absorbing bracket. Refer to the PDC label for blower motor relay identification and location.
The blower motor relay (VRR) cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
Blower Motor Resistor - Factory Installation:
BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR
During vehicle assembly, the blower motor resistor is mounted to the dash plenum panel inside the passenger compartment prior to instrument panel roll-up. However, a resistor mounting plate has been designed so that the resistor can be removed through an access hole in the cowl plenum panel just below the windshield. It can be accessed by removing the cowl plenum cover/grille panel. See Blower Motor Resistor in the Removal and Installation for more information.
The resistor has multiple resistor wires, each of which will change the resistance in the blower motor ground path to change the blower motor speed. The blower motor switch directs the ground path through the correct resistor wire to obtain the selected blower motor speed.
With the blower motor switch in the lowest speed position, the ground path for the motor is applied through all of the resistor wires. Each higher speed selected with the blower motor switch applies the blower motor ground path through fewer of the resistor wires, increasing the blower motor speed. When the blower motor switch is in the highest speed position, the blower motor resistor is bypassed and the blower motor receives a direct path to ground.
The blower motor resistor cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH
The heater-only or heater-A/C blower motor is controlled by a four position rotary-type blower motor switch, mounted in the heater-A/C control panel. The switch allows the selection of one of four blower motor speeds, but can only be turned OFF by selecting the OFF position with the heater-A/C mode control switch knob.
The blower motor switch directs the blower motor ground path through the mode control switch to the blower motor resistor; or directly to ground, as required to achieve the selected blower motor speed.
The blower motor switch cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, the entire heater-only or heater-A/C control unit must be replaced. The blower motor switch knob is serviced separately.
COMPRESSOR
The air conditioning system uses a Sanden SD7H15 seven cylinder, reciprocating wobble plate-type compressor on all models. This compressor has a fixed displacement of 150 cubic centimeters (9.375 cubic inches), and has both the suction and discharge ports located on the cylinder head. A label identifying the use of R-134a refrigerant is located on the compressor.
The compressor is driven by the engine through an electric clutch, drive pulley and belt arrangement. The compressor is lubricated by refrigerant oil that is circulated throughout the refrigerant system with the refrigerant.
The compressor draws in low-pressure refrigerant vapor from the evaporator through its suction port. It then compresses the refrigerant into a high-pressure, high-temperature refrigerant vapor, which is then pumped to the condenser through the compressor discharge port.
The compressor cannot be repaired. If faulty or damaged, the entire compressor assembly must be replaced. The compressor clutch, pulley and clutch coil are available for service.
Compressor Clutch - Typical:
COMPRESSOR CLUTCH
The compressor clutch assembly consists of a stationary electromagnetic coil, a hub bearing and pulley assembly, and a clutch plate. The electromagnetic coil unit and the hub bearing and pulley assembly are each retained on the nose of the compressor front housing with snap rings. The clutch plate is mounted to the compressor shaft and secured with a nut.
The compressor clutch assembly provides the means to engage and disengage the compressor from the engine serpentine accessory drive belt. When the clutch coil is energized, it magnetically draws the clutch into contact with the pulley and drives the compressor shaft. When the coil is not energized, the pulley freewheels on the clutch hub bearing, which is part of the pulley The compressor clutch and coil are the only serviced parts on the compressor.
The compressor clutch engagement is controlled by several components: the heater-A/C mode control switch, the low pressure cycling clutch switch, the high pressure cut-off switch, the compressor clutch relay, and the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The PCM may delay compressor clutch engagement for up to 30 seconds.
COMPRESSOR CLUTCH RELAY
The compressor clutch relay is a International Standards Organization (ISO) micro-relay. The terminal designations and functions are the same as a conventional ISO relay. However, the micro-relay terminal orientation (footprint) is different, the current capacity is lower, and the relay case dimensions are smaller than those of the conventional ISO relay.
The compressor clutch relay is a electromechanical device that switches battery current to the compressor clutch coil when the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) grounds the coil side of the relay. The PCM responds to inputs from the heater-A/C mode control switch, the low pressure cycling clutch switch, and the high pressure cut-off switch. See Compressor Clutch Relay in the Diagnosis and Testing for more information.
The compressor clutch relay is located in the Power Distribution Center (PDC) in the engine compartment. Refer to the PDC label for relay identification and location.
The compressor clutch relay cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
CONDENSER
The condenser is located in the air flow in front of the engine cooling radiator. The condenser is a heat exchanger that allows the high-pressure refrigerant gas being discharged by the compressor to give up its heat to the air passing over the condenser fins.
When the refrigerant gas gives up its heat, it condenses. When the refrigerant leaves the condenser, it has become a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The volume of air flowing over the condenser fins is critical to the proper cooling performance of the air conditioning system. Therefore, it is important that there are no objects placed in front of the radiator grille openings in the front of the vehicle or foreign material on the condenser fins that might obstruct proper air flow. Also, any factory-installed air seals or shrouds must be properly reinstalled following radiator or condenser service.
The condenser cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
EVAPORATOR COIL
The evaporator coil is located in the heater-A/C housing, under the instrument panel. The evaporator coil is positioned in the heater-A/C housing so that all air that enters the housing must pass over the fins of the evaporator before it is distributed through the system ducts and outlets. However, air passing over the evaporator coil fins will only be conditioned when the compressor is engaged and circulating refrigerant through the evaporator coil tubes,
Refrigerant enters the evaporator from the fixed orifice tube as a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid. As air flows over the fins of the evaporator, the humidity in the air condenses on the fins, and the heat from the air is absorbed by the refrigerant. Heat absorption causes the refrigerant to boil and vaporize. The refrigerant becomes a low-pressure gas when it leaves the evaporator.
The evaporator coil cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, it must be replaced.
FIXED ORIFICE TUBE
The fixed orifice tube is installed in the liquid line between the outlet of the condenser and the inlet of the evaporator. The fixed orifice tube is located near the front end of the rear half of the two-piece liquid line. It is accessed for service by separating the tube fitting that joins the two halves of the liquid line.
Fixed Orifice Tube - Typical:
The inlet end of the fixed orifice tube has a nylon mesh filter screen, which filters the refrigerant and helps to reduce the potential for blockage of the metering orifice by refrigerant system contaminants. The outlet end of the tube has a nylon mesh diffuser screen. The O-rings on the plastic body of the fixed orifice tube seal the tube to the inside of the liquid line and prevent the refrigerant from bypassing the fixed metering orifice.
The fixed orifice tube is used to meter the flow of liquid refrigerant into the evaporator coil. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant from the condenser expands into a low-pressure liquid as it passes through the metering orifice and diffuser screen of the fixed orifice tube.
The fixed orifice tube cannot be repaired and, if faulty or plugged, it must be replaced.
Common Blend-Air Heater-Air Conditioner System - Typical:
HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER
All vehicles are equipped with a common heater-A/C housing assembly. The system combines air conditioning, heating, and ventilating capabilities in a single unit housing mounted under the instrument panel. On heater-only systems, the evaporator coil and recirculation air door are omitted from the housing.
Outside fresh air enters the vehicle through the cowl top opening at the base of the windshield, and passes through a plenum chamber to the heater-A/C system blower housing. Air flow velocity can then be adjusted with the blower motor speed selector switch on the heater-A/C control panel. The air intake openings must be kept free of snow, ice, leaves, and other obstructions for the heater-A/C system to receive a sufficient volume of outside air.
It is also important to keep the air intake openings clear of debris because leaf particles and other debris that is small enough to pass through the cowl plenum screen can accumulate within the heater-A/C housing. The closed, warm, damp and dark environment created within the heater-A/C housing is ideal for the growth of certain molds, mildews and other fungi. Any accumulation of decaying plant matter provides an additional food source for fungal spores, which enter the housing with the fresh air. Excess debris, as well as objectionable odors created by decaying plant matter and growing fungi can be discharged into the passenger compartment during heater-A/C system operation.
The heater and optional air conditioner are blend- air type systems. In a blend-air system, a blend-air door controls the amount of unconditioned air (or cooled air from the evaporator on models with air conditioning) that is allowed to flow through, or around, the heater core. A temperature control knob on the heater-A/C control panel determines the discharge air temperature by moving a cable, which operates the blend-air door. This allows an almost immediate manual control of the output air temperature of the system.
The mode control knob on the heater-only or heater-A/C control panel is used to direct the conditioned air to the selected system outlets. Both mode control switches use engine vacuum to control the mode doors, which are operated by vacuum actuator motors.
On air conditioned vehicles, the outside air intake can be shut OFF by selecting the recirculation mode (Max A/C) with the mode control knob. This will operate a vacuum actuated recirculating air door that closes OFF the outside fresh air intake and recirculates the air that is already inside the vehicle.
The optional air conditioner for all models is designed for the use of non-CFC, R-134a refrigerant. The air conditioning system has an evaporator to cool and dehumidify the incoming air prior to blending it with the heated air. This air conditioning system uses a fixed orifice tube in the liquid line between the condenser and the evaporator coil to meter refrigerant flow to the evaporator coil. To maintain minimum evaporator temperature and prevent evaporator freezing, a fixed pressure setting switch on the accumulator cycles the compressor clutch.