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Podivin · 04-25-2018, 06:12 AM

2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V on the Ford F53 chassis.

Anytime I turn on the dash vent system to any setting the air conditioner compressor kicks on.
On the dial there are some selections that are obviously AC, and I would expect the compressor to run when in defrost mode.
In the picture, I would expect "Vent" and the two selections to the right of where the dial is now to be just outside air.
In the current 'Off' position the compressor shuts down as it should - but then I don't have any air flow at all up front.
There isn't a switch to turn on/off the compressor as there is in some cars - or if there is I'm not clever enough to find it.

Does anyone have any thoughts about what's gone wrong to make the compressor run all the time?
On the one hand I'm glad that it works, but not ALL the time.

Old Scout · 04-25-2018, 06:22 AM

...agree, compressor should run on A/C related settings and/or on defrost. The trinary switch and the freeze probe act to turn off compressor if certain conditions are met, eg, high or low 134a, coil freeze over, etc. Sounds like dash switch [control head] may be messed up......

emcee · 04-25-2018, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podivin

2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V on the Ford F53 chassis.

In the picture, I would expect "Vent" and the two selections to the right of where the dial is now to be just outside air.

Per the owners manual:

"The air conditioning system is designed to operate in all modes except VENT, FLOOR, and OFF."

There are some troubleshooting guides here and electrical schematics here.

Per the electrical schematic, either the vacuum mode switch is wired wrong or it's bad.

The vacuum mode switch is part number RV218476.

Here is one source ($120) for the switch.

Podivin · 04-25-2018, 12:41 PM

Thank you gents.
emcee you rock!
But, I have a silly question now. Is the 'clutch' in the wiring diagram what I was referring to as the compressor? It makes sense to me that would have a clutch, but to ME it seems a bit odd that it would be referred to as one.

**Lt Dan** · 04-25-2018, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podivin

Thank you gents.
emcee you rock!
But, I have a silly question now. Is the 'clutch' in the wiring diagram what I was referring to as the compressor? It makes sense to me that would have a clutch, but to ME it seems a bit odd that it would be referred to as one.

Auto AC compressors have a "clutch" since the pulley is turning all the time when the engine is running and the clutch engages the compressor when energized. It's a magnetic clutch, so your solution could be as simple as adding a switch in the power line to the clutch/compressor.

DENSHER · 04-25-2018, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podivin

Thank you gents.
emcee you rock!
But, I have a silly question now. Is the 'clutch' in the wiring diagram what I was referring to as the compressor? It makes sense to me that would have a clutch, but to ME it seems a bit odd that it would be referred to as one.

The clutch is the electric activated portion of the compressor since this is electrical schematic only the clutch is mentioned.

Podivin · 04-25-2018, 01:11 PM

Lt Dan, that's a very good idea. I would be REALLY inclined to go that route if I still had my 20-something year old rig. As it is, it seems too soon in it's life for me to start cobbling things together in the RV. (of course if I happen to lay my hands on one of those 'AC' switches from a car, I might change my tune...

).

Densher, thank you. That makes perfect sense when explained that way.

wa8yxm · 04-26-2018, 08:55 AM

They started that with Cars back in the 70s as I recall.. The reason is the A/C removes MOISTURE from the air so you first CHILL the air to condense out mositure, then heat it and now the hot dry air de-fogs the windshield faster.

17BerkXL · 04-27-2018, 08:22 AM

We had a 13 Winnie Adventurer 37F on the Ford chassis. After much frustration such as yours with the A/C, I eventually found a bad vacuum line "under the hood" near the Brake reservior that led to the Door Actuator for the system. Be a good idea to look around.

Podivin · 04-28-2018, 06:18 PM

Thanks, I'll give the vacuum lines a look.

DENSHER · 04-29-2018, 07:21 PM

Attached is operation instruction for that dash control panel.

Note: Air conditioning will run in any function except Off, Vent, or Floor.
The A/C position is fresh air intake to a/c and Max A/C is recirculate position.

Tetonchief · 04-29-2018, 09:33 PM

Not a great system. On mine the fan has only one speed, though the switch has several speed settings. Also, the temp knob, the moment I turn mine from the max cold blue setting toward the red heat starts coming out--when I only moved the temp control a fraction, like 1/8 inch!

17BerkXL · 04-30-2018, 08:04 AM

I'm not sure on the Ford Chassis, but a lot of multi position fans have a resistor that can fail and only operate the fan in the high speed condition. I found that issue on several Jeep Wranglers I've owned over the years. Water gets to them and causes shorts in the cheap components. On the Wrangler, the resistor is mounted inside the ducting beside the fan. Good luck!