Climate control stalls engine!
 

I was driving to work today with the heat on. the Climate control was set for low fan, with the middle switch on. For the past week or so, I've noticed some (what sounded to me like) fan noise when I put the heat on.
Today, the noise suddenly got very loud (a binding, whining type noise), and the car stalled.
With the Climate control completely off, the car seems fine. If I put the climate control on any setting, including economy, the car stalls.
Any ideas? Will I be damaging the car if I drive it with the climate control off?

Thanks,
Slim

Surely yes! Unless of course you are driving a Mercedes, in which case we would need some info, such as a model and year. Thanks.

How could the heater affect the engine? I could see the AC having an effect on the engine, but not the heat.

I have the opposite thing wrong with my climate control, if I try to shut the car off with the CC on anything other than OFF, the engine keeps running. The joy of vacuum leaks! Nothing works except DEFROST in the CC either.

sounds like a bypassed fuse, and a seized blower.
excessive amp draw, alternator loads up and with a weak running motor, pop, down she goes!

Try disconnecting the wires to the AC compressor (so the it can't engage) and try it.

When my compressor siezed, it nearly stalled the engine (at idle).

Depending on what year and model, the AC compressor sometimes comes on when the heat is on. I'd suspect a seized AC compressor. Remove the belt or electrically disconnect the compressor and you should be good to go.

Sorry. In my haste, I forgot to tell you: 1985 300D turbo. I talked to my mechanic, and he thinks it's the a/c compressor. in economy mode, I can run the heat (and the fan). If I engage any other setting, it engages the a/c compressor. So, if the compressor seized, it would stall the engine.

Slim

That's what I'm thinking too, but he said it also happens in "econ" mode. :confused:

yeah, I was wrong about economy mode. I was just upset and a little panicked stalling on the highway. I went out after I talked to the mechanic and tried it again parked. Economy works, every other mode stalls the engine. So, I guess I have a seized a/c compressor, no?

slim

A seized compressor sounds like the only credible reason.

And why would the AC compressor kick in while the heat is on?

The AC always runs unless you are in econ mode or the evaporator temperature is too low. The AC dehumidifies the air.

Defrost engages the AC in some cars. I don't know about in old MB's because my belt is off my compressor!