newbie has two questions-AC and radiator fan

Hi everyone....I just bought a 1990 miata and already am in love with it.
What a fun car to drive!
I have very, VERY limited skills, and an even more limited budget, but am wondering about 2 issues that I would like to fix if I can.
The first one is the AC. The fan works, and it blows air, but it isn't cold. From my research I know it is R12. A friend gave me a can of Dupont Freon he had in his garage. It is 12oz. Is adding it something I can do, or is it out of my skill range? Also, would that be enough to get cold air?

The second item is the radiator fan. It does not turn on when the car is idling, or driving for that matter. The temp gauge stays right in the middle when I am driving, but when idling/at rest it really starts to move to the hot side. Sometimes turning on the a/c (2nd fan starts) helps to lower it, but not by much. Any ideas?

Thanks for all your help! Glad to be here!

p

I'd get someone who knows what they are doing to work on the A/C you can screw it up good if you don't know what you are doing.

On the fan you can go to the diagnostic port and put a jumper in to verify operation of the fan. Let me see if I can find you a link on the procedure.

Found it - http://www.rivercityroad.com/garage/diagmodule.htm

See the section on TFA - Used to test cooling fan relay and cooling fan.

THANK YOU FOR THE LINK!!!
Okay..now a really stupid question...I am assuming to test the fan by grounding it I just take a piece of wire and touch one end to the TFA module and the other end to the GND module at the same time. And then it should kick on.
Also, on a completely different note, I just changed out the CAT yesterday. The new one wasn't marked front/inflow, and I am 99% sure i put it on right. But, I am getting a burning smell and a little smoke from it. Is this just normal burn off from the newness?

Thanks again.

Yea just make sure you hook it up correctly! ;-)

Sounds like :cat: newness to me!

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Originally Posted by perry

.I am assuming to test the fan by grounding it I just take a piece of wire and touch one end to the TFA module and the other end to the GND module at the same time.

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FYI...a small paper-clip works great.

POS is right. Jumper TFA and GND with the ignition switch ON and the fan should come on. If it does, the fan and relay are good. You may have a bad thermoswitch located in the top of the t-stat housing. They can be found at VatoZone.

For the AC, take the car to a shop that handles R12. Have them evacuate the system then pressurize with nitrogen to check for leaks. Fix the leak and re-charge and you are good to go. Be prepared for it to be expensive.

Welcome to the addiction!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sammm

FYI...a small paper-clip works great.

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Indeed. And there is even a little holder built into the module/port too.

You guys rock!
Tried the paper clip trick..the fan kicked on. Guess that means I need a new thermoswitch? Also, I know I need to buy a repair/maintenance type book/manual. What is the one I should get?
Thanks again.

p.s. Oh great...just what I need...another addiction!! :-)

Find this manual it is one of the best IMHO - http://www.amazon.com/Mazda-Miata-En.../dp/1874105596

Quote:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Find this manual it is one of the best IMHO - http://www.amazon.com/Mazda-Miata-En.../dp/1874105596

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+1 on that book.

www.miata.net is a great source of info if you have't found it yet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

Find this manual it is one of the best IMHO - http://www.amazon.com/Mazda-Miata-En.../dp/1874105596

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For the 1.6 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...40836/miatanet

so I went to Oreilly's, and got the thermal switch. While I was there, picked up a new radiator cap just because.... Anyway, the fan still is not kicking on. And, to add insult to injury, I went back and tried the paper clip trick--and now that doesn't even make the fan go on. Any thoughts/ideas would be greatly appreciated.
p.s. I installed a new thermostat about 1 month ago...and I know it goes spring(s) side down...but there is also a little dangly thing. Is there an exact position to place that in? From the images i have seen on the web the big spring part is in the front and the little spring part is in the back, so that is what I did.
thank you.