My car's A/C broke & I don't think I can take it 1 day later

[973beachbum]

So the new, to us, car's climate control went crazy yesterday.  The A/c blower moter went on and refused to turn off even ten minutes after the car was turned off.  The module to control it fried and the part won't be in for a week.  So they told me they could order the part and remove the fuse that control's my climate control until they can fix it.   Sounds simple enough.  I should be able to live for a week with no A/c I would think, even a 90 plus degree week.  I had cars when I was younger with no A/c and I lived through it.

Well you know all those things in new cars that do weird things when you do something seemly random?  Like my lights come on when I turn off the car or my doors lock when I put the car in drive.  Wel it turns out that when you disable the climate control the heat turns on.     And it can't be turned off until the climate control is turned back on.

So now I have a car with no A/c in a heat wave with the heat stuck on that I can't turn off.  Just when I thout it couldn't get any worse it poured so hard today when I was driving I had to shut the windows.

Would it be an unforgivable YM sin to rent a car for the week?

[8 Bit WWBG]

This would never happen in a $5,000 gently used 3 year old Civic . . . because those don't exist!!!! AAHAAAHAHH

I'm so sorry.  Just for you, when I go out later, I'm going to turn the heat on.  You shouldn't suffer alone.  Hugs...

[Sammy]

Beach, I don't know where you live, but you have my sympathy since we are boiling in Boston.   Hmm, rhymes.   Nope, no such thing as global warming, etc., etc..   What the hell is with the electronics when one goes and the entire car starts acting like it's been attacked by a computer virus   I won't go as far as to put the heat on in my car, but I will drive around with the windows down in protest to your suffering.  

[973beachbum]

Jul 23, 2013 16:24:38 GMT -5 @patstab said:

Why not buy one of those fans that plug into your cigarette lighter or the auxillary plug in.  2 would even be better.

Aren't you going to have to rent a car when you take it in for service anyway?

I guess I thought since they said it should only take a day once the part comes in that I would just stay home that day.  We have two cars so we can drive each other where they need if we have to.  I actually do most of my work at home anyway.   I thought it would not be that big a deal.

It has been really hot.  I decided I wouldn't whine and just drive it for the week until the part comes in with the windows down.  I never thought about what if it rains.

And I really never imagined it would turn into Christine.

Everyone please don't drive with the A/C for me!  When you do drive around, crank up the A/C full blast!  Maybe it will help cool down the global warming for me.  

[toomuchreality]

UGH!  Sounds horrible!
My car's a/c hasn't worked well in years, but at least it isn't heat!

A bag of frozen peas works well to keep you cool, if you place it on the back of your neck. You could cover it with a lightweight cloth, if you're worried about someone noticing the peas.

Lease a Lizzy?
Rent a wreck?

Do what works best for you!
                  zoom  zoom!

[jeffreymo]

I feel for you. Back when I was younger I had a car that didn't have AC and it would often overheat, so I'd have to blast the heat to clear it from the engine. Luckily my commute was only 5 miles. A couple of years ago, my AC went bad, so I'd purposely go into work about an hr earlier than normal when it was much cooler, and I would not plan anything after work because I knew I'd be drenched in sweat after sitting in a hot car for 30-45 minutes.

[Peace77]

Does the repair shop have a loaner car that you can use?  My shop does but you have to ask if it is available.  

[973beachbum]

Jul 24, 2013 9:23:33 GMT -5 Peace77 said:

Does the repair shop have a loaner car that you can use?  My shop does but you have to ask if it is available.  

No they don't.  It is a very local place that is close to my house.  The good part is that when it is broken they will come to my house to get it and I can walk over to pick it up.   But they don't do loaners like a dealership.

I really am getting soft in my old age.

[Bob Ross]

Here's what you do:

Find a web forum for your brand of car.  Every brand has one, if not many.

Create an account there and post your situation and ask for help.  Those sites are frequented by mechanics, techs, parts guys, gearheads, DIY'ers, and general enthusiasts who may be able to give you a solution.

[973beachbum]

Jul 24, 2013 9:38:39 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

Here's what you do:

Find a web forum for your brand of car.  Every brand has one, if not many.

Create an account there and post your situation and ask for help.  Those sites are frequented by mechanics, techs, parts guys, gearheads, DIY'ers, and general enthusiasts who may be able to give you a solution.

DH's father was a master mechanic and he did just that.  The only advice was to put the fuse back in and disconnect the battery every time it is turned off so it doesn't kill the battery until this part comes in.  They also said this part usualy goes bad at about 93,000 miles.  Isn't it nice to know that this is normal?

[wvugurl26]

Ok the heat blasting is just wrong. That's adding insult to injury.

[ontrack]

Jul 24, 2013 7:51:45 GMT -5 jeffreymo said:

I feel for you. Back when I was younger I had a car that didn't have AC and it would often overheat, so I'd have to blast the heat to clear it from the engine.

I also had to do this with my old car, a '96 Mustang I inherited from my parents.  It was awful, but I was still grateful for it.  It made me appreciate my new car that much more.  If it's in your budget, I would rent a car.  Oftentimes they have specials.

[973beachbum]

Jul 24, 2013 10:24:35 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

Ok the heat blasting is just wrong. That's adding insult to injury.

I actually thought I was doing okay until it started pouring yesterday and I had to shut the windows. 

[Deleted]

I don't really understand why this is even an issue - I would have rented a car the second they said he would take more than 2 hours to fix

[sesfw]

'Would it be an unforgivable YM sin to rent a car for the week? '

Rent a car and be comfortable.

[resolution]

If you hate the thought of renting a car, have you looked at other options? Could you get a lift to work with a friendly coworker or family member? Borrow a family member's car? Take the bus to work?

[973beachbum]

Jul 24, 2013 11:28:03 GMT -5 resolution said:

If you hate the thought of renting a car, have you looked at other options? Could you get a lift to work with a friendly coworker or family member? Borrow a family member's car? Take the bus to work?

I can work at home most of the time.  I really don't need to be driving that much.  It just happened that I had an appointment yesterday and DS had to go to the dentist today.  I have one other thing I wanted to do but I think I am going to just wait until DH comes home so I can take his truck.  

[Bob Ross]

Jul 24, 2013 10:06:03 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

Jul 24, 2013 9:38:39 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

Here's what you do:

Find a web forum for your brand of car.  Every brand has one, if not many.

Create an account there and post your situation and ask for help.  Those sites are frequented by mechanics, techs, parts guys, gearheads, DIY'ers, and general enthusiasts who may be able to give you a solution.

DH's father was a master mechanic and he did just that.  The only advice was to put the fuse back in and disconnect the battery every time it is turned off so it doesn't kill the battery until this part comes in.  They also said this part usualy goes bad at about 93,000 miles.  Isn't it nice to know that this is normal?

That's f'ed up.  It's also piss-poor design.  Are you sure there's no way to disable the heater, like disconnect a plug or remove a different fuse or something? The fuse layout diagram should be in your owner's manual.

[973beachbum]

Jul 24, 2013 14:02:26 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

Jul 24, 2013 10:06:03 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

DH's father was a master mechanic and he did just that.  The only advice was to put the fuse back in and disconnect the battery every time it is turned off so it doesn't kill the battery until this part comes in.  They also said this part usualy goes bad at about 93,000 miles.  Isn't it nice to know that this is normal?

That's f'ed up.  It's also piss-poor design.  Are you sure there's no way to disable the heater, like disconnect a plug or remove a different fuse or something? The fuse layout diagram should be in your owner's manual.

Yeah we not only have the fuse diagram but we have two fuse diagrams because we have two fuse boxes in the stupid thing.  That thing has so many fuses it is mind boggeling.  And every fuse does more than you think it should.

the only way to un plug it, so to speak, involves removing the entire dashboard to get to it.  they will have to do that when they fix it but I really didn't want to pay to have them rip apart the dashboard twice.  Renting a car would be much cheaper.

I actually considered unplugging the battery connections every time I wanted to go somewhere but I'm 5'2 and it is a GC Envoy.  

[973beachbum]

Jul 24, 2013 14:02:26 GMT -5 Bob Ross said:

Jul 24, 2013 10:06:03 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

DH's father was a master mechanic and he did just that.  The only advice was to put the fuse back in and disconnect the battery every time it is turned off so it doesn't kill the battery until this part comes in.  They also said this part usualy goes bad at about 93,000 miles.  Isn't it nice to know that this is normal?

That's f'ed up.  It's also piss-poor design.  Are you sure there's no way to disable the heater, like disconnect a plug or remove a different fuse or something? The fuse layout diagram should be in your owner's manual.

Bob just in case anyone doesn't think engineers have a sense of humor.  The spare tire in in the back of the truck infront of the tailgate door just like I would expect it to be, but we found the spot with the jack under the rear seat in front of the fuse box.

[Bob Ross]

Jul 24, 2013 14:10:10 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

it is a GC Envoy.

One thing you could do is unplug the blower motor itself.

Here's a video I found with instructions on how to replace your blower motor. The part where he unplugs it is around the 4:20 mark, although you can see the plug at the 2:10 mark (it's the purple and black wires with the orange tab thingy) so you might be able to unplug it at that point without actually unbolting the motor.



It doesn't look like your blower motor is that hard to access. I've actually replaced one on a GM vehicle (Cadillac) before. In my case, I had to access the motor though the engine bay, because the motor was on the firewall, and had to buy a special tool to crank the engine forward to get clearance to remove it. And getting the new one in was a nightmare.

Disclaimer: if you try this and break something, know that I bear no responsibility.