New 250C Owner - question about controls

[thorsen]

After 4 weeks of car shopping, I brought home my 1972 250C this afternoon. I actually got a lot done - fixed the sticky gear selector, cleaned the accelerator linkage (throttle was only opening up 1/4 way), and general cleaning.

I ordered the repair manual today, but while I am waiting, could someone identify what the switch labeled #1 below does? It is in the center stack on the bottom passenger side. I am having electrical problems so none of the switches work at the moment.

[Tomguy]

#1 appears to be the rear defrost and #2 appears to be the A/C temp dial (though someone more familiar with your chassis may correct me). Just judging by the knob style that was used on these vintage vehicles.

[250 Coupe]

That's the rear window defroster. Pulling it out should light the center of the knob.

The other circled switch is the AC temp control. No light in this one and fully CCW it should click into the off position.

Michael

[thorsen]

Thanks. I never thought about the rear defroster.

[Shab]

I used to have a 250C. Yep, that's the rear defroster. It only stays on a short while, several minutes if I recall.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Actually when switched on, the AC knob should light that little green indicator light next to it.. In addition to being the AC temperature control and cycling he AC compressor, the AC knob also works a vacuum valve to operate the vacuum servo of the blower change-over switch located above the accelerator pedal. These cars have separate blowers for heat and AC. The change-over switch diverts power to the recirculating AC blower with the AC on, or the fresh-air/heater blower with the AC off.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[thorsen]

Mark,

I was going to wait to ask my question until I had a chance to look over the wiring diagram, but now you have me thinking.

I have cleaned all the fuse boxes - the main box under the hood, the 2 x 2 boxes just forward of the main box, and the 2 x 2 boxes on the right side of the firewall. I removed all the fuses, cleaned the contacts with a brass wheel in my Dremel, blew them out with compressed air, and installed new fuses with dielectric grease on the ends.

The only electrical thing that does not work is the horn (which is probably the horn itself) and the heater blower & A/C. I twisted the knob marked "Defroster" in the middle of the dash to the right and can hear 3 or 4 clicks, but no motor activity. It worked the first time I looked at the car, so I am fairly confident the blower motor is ok. I am guessing there might be an inline fuse, or another fusebox somewhere I am not aware of.

Any ideas if there is a fuse somewhere I might be missing?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

According to my '72 250/250C owners manual, depending on the options in your car, you could have up to 8 extra fuses separate from the main fusebox, distributed in several small fuseboxes in the engine compartment. My manual doesn't give locations for those specific fuses. It just lists them as -

Electric drive sliding roof ...25 A
Heated rear window.............16 A
Electric window lifters....2 X 16 A
AC cooler blower...............16 A
AC heater blower................8 A
Automatic ariel.................8 A
Radio...........................2 A

Keep in mind that this car has separate heater and AC blowers working off the same switch (the knob marked 'defrost'), but selected by the change-over switch controlled by the AC knob. So the brief sound you heard could have been one or the other, depending on the position of the AC control knob. Hope you won't need a new heater blower. Some say they suspended the heater blower on a string and built the car around it, and last time I priced one it listed for over $400! Several years ago, I lucked onto a free spare NIB blower for my '72 250C, but I hope I don't ever have to install it!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[250 Coupe]

The change-over switch is on the vacuum actuator just above and inboard of the throttle pedal. It needs vacuum to switch from fresh air to recirc and from the heater fan in the firewall to the AC blower behind the ashtray.

Michael

PS, I put a brushless DC fan (think computer fan) in my 280C. Used a body saw through the top and fiberglassed the fan in the hole. Worked great but not recommended for purists.

[thorsen]

Sounds like I get to lay on my back tonight and stare underneath the dashboard!

[thorsen]

I manually manipulated the change-over valve, and the AC compressor kicked on and the AC blower fan kicked on too. So my AC is luke-warm, and it looks like the heater blower is kaput.

I am assuming the AC fan is almost directly underneath the radio.

Is there any advice for disassembling the center console and dash to fix the heater blower?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Originally Posted by thorsen

I manually manipulated the change-over valve, and the AC compressor kicked on and the AC blower fan kicked on too. So my AC is luke-warm, and it looks like the heater blower is kaput.

I am assuming the AC fan is almost directly underneath the radio.

Is there any advice for disassembling the center console and dash to fix the heater blower?

I've done the heater blower job twice in the past 20 years. First one was on my '72 250 sedan. Second was a '72 220. Plan on getting it apart on the first day, and if there are no snags, back together on the second.
The dash for the most part stays in place, but you'll need to pull the center dash speaker & grill, center dash vent assy with control levers, and the complete center console, including the portion that rests between the seats, in order to reveal the AC unit. There are two steel braces between the dash and tranny hump that need to be unbolted before removing the AC evaporator/ blower housing. Once the AC is out, you can disconnect the heater hoses at the firewall and remove the heater case. There's a defroster duct between dash and heater case that needs to be unclipped from the heater before pulling the case out (refastening this duct will be especially tricky upon reassembly!). There should be two captive studs with nuts & washers holding the heater case to the underside of the cowl vent.The heater blower will be the last thing under the center of dash, fastened to the underside of the cowl with three screws.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[rs899]

Thorsen-

Ok- so let's see some pix of the car...and the story....

Rick

[thorsen]

Originally Posted by rs899

Thorsen-

Ok- so let's see some pix of the car...and the story....

Rick

Rick,

Pics are located at http://www.pokrefke.com/250c/

When I started looking for a project about 4 weeks ago, this was the first car I looked at. It was sitting at a used car lot, in the very back, hiding amongst the weeds. It was the owner's car and had been sitting for 3 years. I liked it, was considering buying it, but when I went back the next week the passenger side window was busted out. I decided to take a pass.

I looked at several other cars - a Jaguar XJS, some older Range Rovers, some Nissan Z cars, and a couple of Volvo 122s. None of them 'spoke' to me, but the 250C wouldn't leave me alone. I went back last week and the owner and I were able to come to an agreement. I drove it home.

Now she is sitting up on jackstands in my garage waiting for the new brakes to come in. I am going to put the brakes in, put some new tires on her, and drive her this fall. Once winter comes, I'll put her back on jackstands, cut out the rocker panels, and weld new metal in. Come spring she'll get a fresh coat of paint.

The good thing is that I don't have to depend on it, so I can take my time fixing her.

Maybe next year I can talk you into trading your Citroen for it.

[Mike D]

Do you still need the side window? I'm getting ready to combine a 1970 250C and a 1974 280C. I'll be gutting the 250C and the glass is all good.