i just bought the car, so i have no ac history. the blower works, system has pressure, but there isnt any voltage at the compressor/condenser fan wiring when i turn everything on. any ideas where to start? seems like a fairly simple system, but i could be wrong.

 

Where are you testing for voltage? At the connector for each fan and the compressor?

 

yeah at the connector where the power splits and goes to the condenser fan and the compressor. i'm just unplugging them and testing the pins.

 

Wait a second, those two items should not share the same power source. The condenser fan and the compressor have their own relay to supply power. The relays are right next to each other on the condenser fan shroud.

 

Well if they aren't on the same circuit why do I not have power to either plug?

 

They share the same signal, but they are each powered through their own relay that has a different power source. I just wanted to make sure that the wiring wasn't modified.

In the Common DIY Threads on top of this forum, there is a link to online manuals. Download the 94 manual, as it is pretty much identical to your car.

Does the green light on the a/c button light up inside of the car when you turn on the a/c? Does the radiator fan (passenger side) turn on when you turn on the a/c?

 

Both the radiator fan and he green light come on. The ac doesn't have to be on for the radiator fan though.

 

Check the fuses in the engine bay fuse box.

The next step would be test the input at the relay for the a/c fan and the a/c compressor. Two of the pins should always have 12V to body ground when the key is in the II position. One of the two pins with no voltage should be closed (zero resistance) to the power wire going to the compressor. The last pin would be the signal wire. It should be open to ground when the a/c is turned off, closed to ground when the a/c is turned on.

 

You said system has pressure. How do you know? Suggest checking the AC pressure switch contacts. There should be zero resistance across the contacts (switch closed). If open, either your pressure is low or switch is bad.

good luck

 

my problem turned out to be the relay... but because i tried to be smart, now i have a new problem. i made a couple of jumper wires and decided it would be a smart idea to bypass the relay! oh man was i wrong... now nothing works. the entire hvac system is dead, including the radiator fan. the car still starts and runs, but i cant drive it far without risking overheating the engine. what did i do?

edit: i have schematics for the entire ac system including the underhood and underdash fuse boxes for reference now.