I'm sorry if this has already been posted, I've search the forums but I can't seem the find someone who has this problem. If you know something that might help me, please direct me!

My air conditioning in my 2002 doesn't shut off unless I turn the car off. I have the same problem as other owners about it only being really cold unless you are at high speeds. However, I only use the a/c on the highway so that problem is not that major for me at the moment.

Last week I used the air conditioning when I had a friend in the car and after dropping them off, I turned my car off and restarted it however the air was still on. I did this again at a stop sign down the road when I noticed the air was still on. This problem is new.

Usually I just have to turn the car off and back on and the air is off. I understand that the fan comes on after you shut the a/c off to cool the system. I have also found that after I turn my a/c unit off (NO lights at all on) that when I'm idle the air is off, when I'm in gear the a/c is back on like I never turned it off, even though the lights say it is off.

Thankfully the next day my Mini was going in the shop for preparation to have my clutch replaced (8 year car, 132+ mi, original clutch!), on the way to the shop I noticed it was hot in the car. I live in FL so it's always hot, however it was warmer than normal... I opened the air vents and there is heat blowing out of them full blast even though the entire unit is off.

My car was in the shop for 2 days and the shop couldn't figure it out. They couldn't even get it to do what I had been experiencing. After I picked up the car I drove around the neighborhood with a technician with the FOB key (they had the spare), got out of the shop's driveway turned the air on then back off and the air was still blowing. The technician thought I was crazy until then. However they still don't know why my air won't turn off or why it is blowing hot air.

If anyone might have a clue or any help, I would greatly appreciate it!

 

I am not sure about the A/C staying on for as you know, this seems to be unusual. But since you are doing your clutch you should also check your lower control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, radiator fan low speed and strut tower tops. Chances are they all need replacement and it will be much cheaper while the front of the car is apart.

Rich

 

Thanks, I will mention this when I take the car in this week!

 

So I used the a/c last night. Turned the car off because I was actually leaving the vehicle, came back to the car about 4 hours later and the air is blowing heat full blast. Turned the car on this morning and it was still blowing heat!