heater/air conditioner

[Sin Bin]

I have a 1989 340 Express Cruiser and wondering if anyone can help with this question...how should the heater/air conditioner work...when I turn it on and place it in the "run" position, I get warm air coming out of the duck and water flowing out of the exit port on the starboard side of the boat...the only way I seem to get any cool air is to place the switch in the "start" position and I notice no water flowing out of the port...is this the way it works? Any information would be greatly appreciated....thanks...Bob

 

[Little Ducky]

If you would take a picture of your HVAC controls and post it please.

 

[Sin Bin]

If you would take a picture of your HVAC controls and post it please.

My problem is that the boat is 6 hours away and I won't be there until next Tuesday, but I can explain it fairly well...there are two knobs and a light on the front panel...the top knob has 3 positions: Off / Start / Run...on "Start" the blower comes on, on "Run" heat comes out from the blower, and the light comes on...the bottom knob is the thermostat, turned all the way left is warm, turned all the way right is cool...when in the run position water comes out the side discharge on the starboard side, does not seem to matter what the thermostat is set at the temperature stays warm, on "start" the water stops running and the air seems cool...I feel somewhere in there there is something not working right...any ideas?

 

[sbw1]

The water discharging overboard is cooling water for when the compressor is running. The thermostat tells the compressor when to run to achieve the temperature you have set. Since you are getting heat, the thermostat calls for heat until the temperature inside the cabin warms up to the level you have set and then the compressor shuts off and blows unairconditioned air into the cabin until the thermostat calls for more heat. There is no overboard discharge water flowing when the unit blows unairconditioned air. When it is hot out, the compressor makes cold air and the process does the same thing in reverse until the cabin cools down to the setting on the t-stat.

 

[Little Ducky]

The only thing I can think of is the change over valve/switch is not switching over and reversing the refrigerant to make it function as an air conditioner. If you can see the unit and find a model number you might be able to find some schematics to locate the change over valve and give it a slight tap.

 

[sbw1]

The only thing I can think of is the change over valve/switch is not switching over and reversing the refrigerant to make it function as an air conditioner. If you can see the unit and find a model number you might be able to find some schematics to locate the change over valve and give it a slight tap.

His boat is in Colorado with temps in the 30s. Not likely the A/C is calling for a lot of cooling.

 

[Sin Bin]

Gentlemen...the information you have provided is of great help...when I am calling for heat the water is discharging overboard as it should do, when calling for cool I'm still getting heat telling me the switch you speak of is not switching...this boat has not been in the water for 1 1/2 years and it is very possible things are sticking a bit, seems everything else has been stuck...thank you guys greatly...Bob