A/C Thermoswitch Bypass?

[CodeSplice]

My A/C has been inop for a while, and now that summer is here in Alabama it is less than pleasant. I've been through a series of troubleshooting steps and believe that I have narrowed the problem down to the thermoswitch on the compressor.

(On a related note, I recently received a P0119 trouble code for an intermitten fault with the Engine Coolant Temperature sensor - WIS said that another symptom could be a malfunctioning A/C so I went ahead and replaced the ECT sensor today with no luck)

It is my understanding that the thermoswitch was a separate unit on the NG900s, but that it is a part of the compressor on OG9-3's such as mine. Is there a way to bypass/hotwire the thermoswitch? Or will I be forced to shell out $$$ for a new compressor due to a single faulty electrical component?

Thanks,
John

[earthworm]

I see a thermo switch on the compressor with a part number of 46 32 014, VIN S2002730>...in the parts book('94 to '98)...
So this may not help....
The switches are all "part of a compressor"... But I cannot believe it is not separately replaceable...
And the thermo-switch is very important as it protects the compressor..

[CodeSplice]

There's no entry in the 2003 EPC for a OG9-3 (99-02) for a temperature switch for the A/C.

Would it really be a terribly horrible idea for me to just have enough common sense to turn off the A/C if the car starts to overheat? I seem to recall that the switch is designed to turn off the compressor if the coolant temperature reaches above 140*C.... which is ~285*F. I've never seen temps above 211*F... so I'd probably be freaking out (and turning off the A/C) at about 225.

Thanks for the input though

[CodeSplice]

I've got my car in the front yard with the front bumper off so I can maybe access the compressor enough to play.... before I start just dickin' around and hoping to get lucky does anyone have any idea at all how I might be able to bypass that switch?

[Munki]

My thermo switch packed up about 2 years ago ... I simply disconnected the wires and connected them together to bypass the switch. It's been fine ever since. Mind you, this is the UK where the temperature never gets much above 'miserable'

[CodeSplice]

Thanks Munki for your reply. Is the wiring for the thermoswitch going to be differnet on my car since it's a 9-3 and the thermoswitch is evidently not replaceable? And what's the best way to get to those wires on top of the compressor, short of removing the compressor?

On that note, though, I found a Saab tech bulletin in the WIS (number 03-02-854) titled "Replacing the thermo contact on the A/C compressor". It goes on to state that the "thermo contact" is now available as a spare part.

Is this "thermo contact" related to the pesky switch that's making me sweat in this heat?

[CodeSplice]

Progress! Sort of.

There is a diode. One end is between the thermoswitch and the compressor, the other is at ground. It shows a resistance of ~4 Ohm each way. As I recall, a diode should show a short in one direction and an open in the other. So possibly the switch is good, and the diode is bad? :-/

Either way, I'm gonna hotwire something to make this work. Don't know how yet, but I'll let you know