A-R-A Manufacturing AC Blower Switch

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

82sierradude

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Posts
8
Reaction score
3
Location
Pacific NW
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C2500
Engine Size
5.7
The switch for the AC blower needs to be replaced, as it developed a short and melted the plastic part inside it. I discovered that the AC system is an aftermarket A-R-A Manufacturing kit, which is no longer available. The wiring harness and switch were built to control both the heater and AC blowers, and the switch has an unusual array of nine terminals vs the normal four terminals for trucks with factory AC.

Question: Does anyone know where I can find this switch? The part number on the lever is 0317858. I found one truck in a salvage yard that had the same setup, but the switch was taken. ☹ I've tried LMC and Classic, but neither had anything comparable.

Thanks

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

Honky Kong jr

Super Sarcastic Man
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Posts
14,968
Reaction score
9,828
Location
Denver,PA
First Name
J-me
Truck Year
87
Truck Model
V10
Engine Size
Lil BB 407
I'm going to the bone yard tomorrow and I know there was a truck there with aftermarket ac I will see what I can find. That's if I remember.
 

82sierradude

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Posts
8
Reaction score
3
Location
Pacific NW
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C2500
Engine Size
5.7
I'm going to the bone yard tomorrow and I know there was a truck there with aftermarket ac I will see what I can find. That's if I remember.

Thanks. After a couple weeks of searching and becoming more familiar with what I had under the dash, I used some different search terms on eBay; I may have located a replacement. The seller (bshaetz) didn't include any pics, but the description seems like what I'm seeking. I've contacted the seller to get pics. The last update for the listing looks like 2006, so I'm not sure this is truly an active listing. I guess I'll find out.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,128
Reaction score
9,299
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
No, you won't find that switch nowhere but A-R-A. Not LMC, Classic parts, stealership etc. Don't lose it though. You might end up having to tear it apart to figure out which terminals do what and use a couple different toggle switches to do the same job.

But, have you tried calling ARA yet? They're in Grand Prarie, TX still according to Google. 214-647-4111
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,128
Reaction score
9,299
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Thanks. After a couple weeks of searching and becoming more familiar with what I had under the dash, I used some different search terms on eBay; I may have located a replacement. The seller (bshaetz) didn't include any pics, but the description seems like what I'm seeking. I've contacted the seller to get pics. The last update for the listing looks like 2006, so I'm not sure this is truly an active listing. I guess I'll find out.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
I'd ask for a pic before you buy it. If it's not the one, you might be out the funds and/or a nightmare to make a return.
 

82sierradude

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Posts
8
Reaction score
3
Location
Pacific NW
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C2500
Engine Size
5.7
No, you won't find that switch nowhere but A-R-A. Not LMC, Classic parts, stealership etc. Don't lose it though. You might end up having to tear it apart to figure out which terminals do what and use a couple different toggle switches to do the same job.

But, have you tried calling ARA yet? They're in Grand Prarie, TX still according to Google. 214-647-4111

Thanks for the ph#. I hadn't looked much, since I'd read they were no longer in business. I could have gotten bad info.

The good thing is that the terminals are labeled on the board to which they're attached. I was trying to think of how I could make the four-terminal original switch I just bought work, and I came to the same conclusion that I either need the nine-terminal replacement or two separate switches.
 

82sierradude

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Posts
8
Reaction score
3
Location
Pacific NW
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C2500
Engine Size
5.7
Well, the seller didn't respond to my request for pics, so I took a gamble and made the purchase. The switch that arrived today matches my original, and my AC appears to be working just in time for the sunny and warm weather we're supposed to be seeing the rest of the week.

The part I purchased only includes the body and not the lever, so I swapped the guts of the new part over to my old switch's housing.

You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach


You must be registered for see images attach
 

HotRodPC

Administrator
Staff member
Admin
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Posts
47,128
Reaction score
9,299
Location
OKC, OK
First Name
HotRod
Truck Year
85 K20 LWB
Truck Model
Silverado
Engine Size
454 - Turbo 400 - 3.73
Sweet !!! Glad that worked out good. I'm surprised you were able to find that switch and didn't have to improvise and have a couple of different switches do the job.
 

82sierradude

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2017
Posts
8
Reaction score
3
Location
Pacific NW
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1982
Truck Model
C2500
Engine Size
5.7
Sweet !!! Glad that worked out good. I'm surprised you were able to find that switch and didn't have to improvise and have a couple of different switches do the job.

I searched the world for that switch. I'm surprised, too.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,160
Posts
950,626
Members
36,273
Latest member
dannyphx
Top