catamount

Well a weird thing happened this morning with the AC switch, it wouldn't engage. I could press it and the compressor would kick on but as soon as I took my finger off the switch, the compressor would turn off. It was clear that the switch wouldn't stay engaged in the "On" position. Finally, it did. This got me to wondering and doing a little searching, does the AC switch have a physical engagement that keeps it in the "On" position or is it electric/electromagnetic?

Thoughts?

pauldvazquez

That happened to my AC switch too. My defrost switch has the same problem. I believe it is a physical engagement. After so many switch cycles, they just give up. I have heard of people taking them apart, but if I remember correctly, it sounded like a pretty sketchy DIY project. I back burnered fixing the switches. I think it is a much easier project if you replace the entire HVAC control unit, but of course, it’s pretty spendy to do that.

944Time

> the AC switch have a physical engagement that keeps it in the "On" position or is it electric/electromagnetic?


Physical engagement. Mine had the same problem.
You can solve it for ten cents, or one hundred dollars.
The ten cent solution is to jam a dime next to the switch.

The one hundred dollar solution is a replacement switch!

catamount

10 cent solution? Is a penny not enough? LOL!

Thanks for the info guys!

Christopher Zach

Oddly enough you can take apart the switch without removing the control box from the dash. The key is slide some spark plug feeler strips around the sides and watch out carefully for the two barbel like contacts on springs.

I did mine many years ago. Since then the bulb burned out and I really should open it up again to fix it.