Joined: Sun Oct 11 2009, 06:21PM
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 259
Ok, so it got cold enough that I had to run my defroster for a bit last night. I noticed when I went to shut it off, the controls were hot to the touch. I don't mean warm, but HOT!. Is this normal? Because the controls are mechanical, can that much residual heat really get from the vents to the panel?
:edit: Actually, the whole area around the control panel was hat as well. <span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited ]</span>
Joined: Wed Jan 25 2006, 07:03PM
Location: Milford Mi
Posts: 403
Check the hose that goes to the defroster vent I think that hose goes right by the controls. Most of the controls are vacuum operated unless it was the blower motor switch that got hot.
Check the fan switch. A LOT of power is going through that switch. It is common for them to get warm, if not hot. The panel may have been acting as a heat sink.
I am not sure exactly what is considered normal, but you might double check all the wiring and connections on the circuit. A short or bad ground could be placing an extra load on the circuit and pulling even more power. A dragging fan could as well.
A couple years ago I had the dash apart on my 71 Power Wagon, which uses the exact same A/C & heater control system as my 69 Fury. It ended up being apart over the winter and I used a short piece of 12 gauge, solid copper wire to jump across the fan connection and put the fan essentially on high for the winter. The wire had a vinyl insulator on it and the heat from the circuit MELTED the insulator and began to stink! I had to take the insulator off. Later I touched copper wire once by accident and BURNT my hand! I have also been behind the dash on my Fury and felt the fan switch after it had been running and it was very warm.
Joined: Thu Jun 25 2009, 11:41PM
Location: Santa Ynez CA
Posts: 105
i had a similar problem a while ago. i ran the heat/defrost in my 68 fury and when i got where i was going the ignition was pretty hot. i though i had some weird ignition short but it turned out the hose to the defrost vent had come off and the heater was blowing directly at my ignition. even the key was hot when i took it out. I'd check for tears or leaks in your hoses.