No AC and no Air Conditioning?

[1996QShip]

So I Just bought a 1996 Q off of ebay with only 66k from NY, NY. I wonder if anyone knows of a reliable shipping company? Also I am told the cars AC and Heat don't work. I know 94-96 G50's are know to break their mixing door. Or something like that. I've been searching the forums but with no luck.. I could sure use some help.. BTW I'm about to put my 92 Q to rest soon. Metal guides and all!

[Infinitiguy19]

I think I saw the Q you bought on Ebay as well, is it white?

When you get it you can run a electronic diagnostic...

Doesn't Ebay show you shipping quotes and air fair price in case one want to have the car shipped or go their and pick it up?

[1996QShip]

yup I think you saw the one I bought..... they want $1000 to ship to LA. So I am thinking about flying up there and driving it down here. Only 1500 miles without AC is going to suck

[goody90q45]

The self-diagnosis will tell you a lot but it sounds like you're a little far away from the car. It's in the Heat/AC section of the FSM. Maybe you can coach the owner over the phone to get an idea what's going on.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/1996_Q45/

Does the car have heat but no AC? If it has neither and the fan is not blowing at all it could be a bad blower motor, a fried fan control amplifier, or just a blown fuse.

Where in CA are you driving it back to?

[1996QShip]

Thanks for the FSM Goody. I think even I could follow it. So I called the guy and he tells me neither the AC or the Heat work. He claims only the ambient air blows out of the respective vents. Furthermore, he's telling me he doesn't "hear" the compressor come on..... So.....

[maxnix]

Sounds like the Darlington bridge is kaput, and maybe the fan motor also.

[1996QShip]

whats a "Darlington Bridge"? And is it difficult to replace?

[1996QShip]

wait.....Just found out what Darlington Bridge is thanks..... so it sounds like I'll know it if the blower only comes on at full blast and I'm not able to slow the fan speed down?

[goody90q45]

Correct. Sometimes the blower fan won't come on at all but mostly it wants to run on high speed only.

The Darlington "resistor" is a component of the fan control amplifier which is the replacement part you would ask for if you were to buy a new one from the stealership. It sounds like you've already found the thread on repairing the amp by replacing the resistor?

[1996QShip]

why wouldn't the heat or the AC work though? I would think both would work, just at full speed or not at all? I'm obviously wrong. I just don't understand why.

[qship96]

Until you get the car in your hands and do some testing, it is all guessing.....could be bad resistor,fan motor, or even compressor or wiring issues. At 15 years old,it is time to replace all components of ac system if they have not already been done at least once. Even with the low miles on car, time takes its toll on most everything {under plenum hoses, suspension bushings,etc}

[1996QShip]

good point... I guess I'm just being impatient. Do you know any specific problems with the 96 G50's?

[qship96]

None. The 96 model is the most reliable of the 90-96 series....afterall, the engineers had 6 years to learn and correct the weak spots of the series.Still, time takes its toll on all rubber bits under that hot hood, and ozone eats away at all the rubber bushings in the suspension.

[1996QShip]

Which of the rubber can be changed as a DIY without special tool. Perhaps I can order them before they fail. If somebody knows prices also would be helpful. I think it may have the touring package as there is a reservoir under the hood on the passenger side