I just had an Arizona Air (AM13277) aftermarket A/C installed in my '76 F-250 and it works very well but even at the slowest fan speed (3-speed fan) the fan is annoyingly loud. NE1 else had this experience? NE1 have a fix? Installing an infinitely adjustable controll is evidently not a possibility. Do the other aftermarket systems like the ones from Southernrods, bought4less or vintageair have this problem? The installation of the Arizona Air unit is very nice except it pretty much wipes out the glovebox interior.

 

Maybe the unit is tweaked and the blower wheel is rubbing the plastic housing? Maybe it just needs adjustment.

 

Ditto to that. without hearing it, that is my best guess too.

 

I'll take it back to my installer. That is what Arizona Mobile suggested too.

 

It could even be the sticker came off the motor and is stuck in the fan.

 

I've corresponded with the installer and the manufacturer all summer and it turns out that there may be no solution to the problem other than returning it for a refund. The howling blower motor is due to the fact that the motor brushes rub on the commutator. ACKITS has had numerous complaints. I asked them why they didn't seek a motor manufacturer for a brushless motor and they couldn't come up with an answer. I've got $1500 invested in a useless A/C unit so I hope they come through with a refund. I'll post the results of my plight.

 

Over the years I've been around several after market A/C units, both under dash and concealed in the dash in an attempt to replicate factory air. These units have a dual squirrel cage fan (factory is single) and they are also drawing air directly from the passenger compartment into the unit, ie, same as factory on max a/c or recirc). Therefore, you will get more fan noise right off the bat. There are no baffles by default to reduce sound like the factory units, therefore it should be expected that they will be louder than a factory unit.

 

I believe the factory fan motors must be brushless motors because they are very quiet. The very annoying howl of the ACKITS A/C fan motor is caused by the motor brushes rubbing on the commutator.

I've tried everything I can think of to dampen and/or insulate the motor noise but nothing has helped.

They need to find a brushless or otherwise quiet motor to rectify the problem.

No one complains of the sound of blowing cool air on a hot day but the howl of the motor is unacceptable.

 

Factory A/C fan motors are not in the vehicle, they are under the hood. Just another source of noise removed from inside the passenger compartment. Dual squirrel cage fans (aftermarket, and small ones running at high speed like they have) make noise. Just a few things that make aftermarket A/C sorta a bummer.

 

I appreciate the reply, Bill. Why can't they use a brushless motor? They're nearly silent.

 

I'm not sure they use them in automotive apps but I've never looked either. Cost is always one good reason, being competitive in the market is another. So much of the general public these days only shops for lowest bottom line, spending just enough money to get the job done.

 

The dealer who installed my ACKITS AC connected several different blower motors to my AC unit and, out three or four, found one that is much quieter than the others, i.e. almost silent. I'm going to install or have him install it soon which should make my Arizona Mobile AC in my '76 F250 much more pleasant instead of very annoying.