When I purchased my Alpine, it had a stock toggle switch on the dash labeled 'blower'. It was some time later that I learned about the original blower switch (built into the off/car/screen selector). Last spring, I pulled out this heater control selector. There is a plastic piece and some metal guides for the push/pull action. The plastic was broken and the metal guides were bent pretty bad. Since I had the 'blower' switch on the dash, I had the push/pull action welded in place so that it no longer rattles.
My car also had its ignition wire (the white wire that runs between the ignition switch and the coil and tach) burned up and replaced before I bought the car. Since the car also had it's heater switch replaced, perhaps the two are related? Just a thought. AFAIK, these were the only electrical mods/repairs to my car before I bought it.
Brad
Ron Tebo wrote:
>
> Robert Wiseman wrote:
>
> > I am having a problem with my electrical system. I am working on a car
> > that has been garage and not run for 20 yrs. While trying to start it
> > the other evening, there was a pop and the entire electrical system went
> > dead. The question is what is the best way to track the short. Keep in
> > mind your are dealing with a novice. Any help would be appreciated.
> > Thanks, Rob 1961 Alpine Series I
>
> Rob:
>
> The advice you got from Brad and Jan was excellent and a good start, and as
> they indicated, I would definitely suspect a frozen blower or wiper motor.
> You may not be able to find your blower switch to make sure it is off,
> since it is cleverly concealed as a push-pull action of your heater
> vent-control handle. I would definitely check here first, if your wiper
> switch was off when you tried to start, since you may find it removed/
> modified/etc. However, this should have had an inline fuse that was
> supplied as part of the optional blower kit, and should have blown this
> fuse rather than the main fuse. Write back after you have printed out the
> wiring diagram with what was on or off at the time and I will be glad to
> help you with some tests to nail down the problem.
>
> Ron Tebo - Series I - B9000627