AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

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takearushfan
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Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2024 12:06 pm

AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

Post by takearushfan »

Hi again. I just got back from having my AC fixed and noticed on the drive home that, although it does work again (the blower didn't turn on at all before) it still has issues. The force will change from highest to lowest and back again during certain turns, bumps in the road, etc. This is part of what I brought it in for. I'm glad it works when it didn't function at all before but I still don't care for it going to the lowest output randomly for 15-30 seconds at a time then back to full. I'm not describing it well but I'm sure you all get what I mean. Does this sound like a fuse thing, a loose wire or...? What causes this?
Also, I'm searching high and low online and can't find an exact match. Where, besides taking it to a shop (I'd like to do this myself) can I find the drivers side front door check/hinge arm thing, lol ... I forgot the name but it's the arm at the bottom of the door to prevent it from extending too far. I can't find the exact part for my '06 base model.
Thanks :)
andrewclaus
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Re: AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

Post by andrewclaus »

As I understand it, the blower speed (is that what you're talking about?) is controlled by the rotary switch on the dash and a resistor. If it's affected by bumps in the road, it may be a loose contact in the switch. Can you make it happen by bumping the dash with the palm of your hand? That's called "percussive troubleshooting."

The door check should be this part number: 68620-02061. It's a Matrix number, but that should get you close. Be sure to check it's compatible with your model.

Similarly, the part number for the A/C control assembly for the Matrix is 55900-02150. The switch is not available by itself.
takearushfan
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2024 12:06 pm

Re: AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

Post by takearushfan »

The blower speed is what I meant, yep. Bumping it helps, yep. That's all it is, a resistor? It's odd that he did all the other work but didn't notice that. Maybe he didn't have the part. Thanks so much for the info. The arm I can probably do but the resistor thing it looks like I'm going back to the shop for.
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joatmon
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Re: AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

Post by joatmon »

There is a little resistor module mounted near the blower motor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=2TEO7qOXZdk is a good video on how to replace the resistor.

You said that the fan speed changes between low and highest speed intermittently. When it does this, what fan speed do you have the knob set to?

The resistor itself is made in such a way that it is not likely to be affected by vibration or bumping, There are several resistive runs on a circuit board, for the lower speeds, the current flows through longer runs. When a resistor goes bad, one of the runs breaks, and then you lose a lower fan speed, but not the highest. The way the circuit works, if you set the knob to max, the fan will run full speed even if the resistor is disconnected, but there's not really any failure of the resistor that would cause the fan to jump up to high speed if the knob was set lower.

So perhaps the fan runs sometimes, and other times it doesn't. This is usually an issue with the blower motor itself. You didn't say what the shop supposedly did to fix the problem when you took it in. Did they say they replaced the blower motor?

If they did, and the blower motor is fine, then it could be a connection issue. Maybe the connector on the blower motor itself is not fully engaged, and makes and breaks contact with bumps. Another possibility is that for some reason, the Heater relay has worked itself partially out of its socket. It is in a hidden panel above the glove box There's a picture of it with the panel unscrewed and pulled down at download/file.php?id=33 ) You could pull the glove box, and reach up and around to press the relays down into their sockets. Don't remember folks here having that issue with the Heater relay, but some have had that happen with the Tail relay in the same block.
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takearushfan
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Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2024 12:06 pm

Re: AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

Post by takearushfan »

Hmm. I'll take a look thanks. They didn't state specifically.
takearushfan
Posts: 27
Joined: Fri Jun 14, 2024 12:06 pm

Re: AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

Post by takearushfan »

I misunderstood, sorry. It will never go from a lower speed to higher. What I mean is, let's say it's set to the highest speed and I turn a corner, suddenly despite still being set at high, it'll start blowing with the lowest force. It'll do that for a short while and seemingly go back to full force for no reason, or noticeably if I stop or hit a bump it'll go back to the highest force that it's set to. It must not be the resistor then and the blower itself was (supposedly) replaced.
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joatmon
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Re: AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

Post by joatmon »

By any chance was the AC fixed by the same shop that replaced your TPMS sensors?
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takearushfan
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Re: AC was fixed... but wasn't? 2006 Base Vibe

Post by takearushfan »

joatmon wrote: Sun Jul 14, 2024 12:35 pm By any chance was the AC fixed by the same shop that replaced your TPMS sensors?
Unfortunately, yep.
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