Hello,
I'm looking for some advice in helping fix our heating system so our boys don't have to freeze. We have a '96 960. I've done some looking but haven't found anyone else that has the same problem. Help would be much appreciated.

Here's the issue- On the way home last weekend the heat was on and working fine, then the fan just stopped. I turned it off (to 0) then back on and it worked for about 5 second then stopped. I may have done this one more time, but after that and since it hasn't worked at all. A little ways into our 2 hr drive home I noticed the heater control unit and some other things on the dash were hot to the touch. The engine wasn't overheating. There are two reasons it seams the control unit isn't getting power- (1)- I can't change the mode. (2)- I used to be getting a flashing orange light around the AC button, but that hasn't been flashing since.

From my reading it seams like the problem could be a bad solder joint on the control unit, bad resistor (but I don't even get fan if I turn it to 5), bad relay, or the fan drawing to much power or shorting.

Does anyone know what the problem is or where I should start testing? Thanks!
Ryan

 

the easiest way to test it is to borrow another working 960-II/SV90, and swap the controllers. if the problem moves with the controller, then you know you have a bad one (give him his good one back). there is also a power module on the top side of the fan housing, behind the glovebox, which controls the actual power to the fan. these can die.

 

There's also fuse 7 in the left side of the dash (and the bottom relay of the three next to the fuses.) If these go the control panel should be 'dead'

The ECC in my car lights up the AC button for a few seconds every time the key is turned on. Also the recirculation button lights up when it's pressed. These lights can be used to check the control panel for 'life'

Would you like the wiring manual? It's available for free on the 'net.

Once you get 'life' back you should try and make the a/c lamp stop flashing, it is alerting you to a fault.

 

Swapping the unit is a good idea. I'll check the local junk yards. Anyone have instructions for removing it?
I did check the fuse, and even replaced it with one of the spares and nothing changed. Is there a way to test a relay?
Thanks

 

doing a voltage test at the fan power wires would be a much simpler thing, using a digital volt meter. if there's no power, then it might be the fan power module. if there is power, but the fan isn't turning, then its probably the fan motor.