Is this a late model car with A/C?
Reason for asking is RHD models don’t seem to have this, mine doesn’t anyhow. Is it in all LHD cars or only A/C equipped cars?Stuart: It looks like someone cut a hole in the right side rear wheelwell.
Is it only A/C equipped cars or all LHD vehicles? Reason asking is my RHD car does not have it.That's where the angry bees you hear behind you are kept. Or; venting for the alternator on A/C equipped cars:
The photo is of my '85.I've had late model cars with that. Not sure when it appeared, but it's probably only present on later years.
On later version of the exxe, that hole with the perforated metal panel inside lines up with the Bosch alternator fan on exxe with the AC option. It is part of the cooling for the Bosch alternator specific to the later AC versions of the exxe. This was done due to the higher current/power demands needed by the AC system and to help keep the operating temperatures of the Bosch alternator reasonable. This is one of the reasons why the alternator position and other belt driven bits on the later version AC exxe are so different.
Thanks BerniceOn later version of the exxe, that hole with the perforated metal panel inside lines up with the Bosch alternator fan on exxe with the AC option. It is part of the cooling for the Bosch alternator specific to the later AC versions of the exxe. This was done due to the higher current/power demands needed by the AC system and to help keep the operating temperatures of the Bosch alternator reasonable. This is one of the reasons why the alternator position and other belt driven bits on the later version AC exxe are so different.
An example of design/engineering details often never appreciated in the exxe..
Bernice
I'm with you on this. My factory AC equipped '79 had the alternator fans like that, but did not have the open grill vent. So I'm not sure what the theory was for adding it. In my view the whole alternator cooling arrangement is not very effective regardless of the setup.Thanks Bernice
Even though I understand the need it’s a bit of a weird setup!
The fan behind the pulley is designed to draw cool air through the alternator which draws air from the pipe attached to side vents so what is the front one doing. Is it drawing air through that mesh from the boot or blowing hot air into the boot
My thoughts exactly but happy for someone to dispel my doubts about its workings.I'm with you on this. My factory AC equipped '79 had the alternator fans like that, but did not have the open grill vent. So I'm not sure what the theory was for adding it. In my view the whole alternator cooling arrangement is not very effective regardless of the setup.
In my mind the fan draws air from the boot (seems weird) then throws it into the engine bay to dilute the hot air?Then there is the question of where that dumps the air given the body construction in that area even if it did somehow remove air from the alternator vicinity. My 79 AC-equipped X does not have that obviously, but it is clear that Fiat was trying something given that several models use the cool air tube fed to the back of the alternator. They were aware of the need for cooling in any case.
Has to be pulling. That geometry cannot push. And the pull will be very weak - very nearly pointless. But what little it does was cheap to doThanks Bernice
Even though I understand the need it’s a bit of a weird setup!
The fan behind the pulley is designed to draw cool air through the alternator which draws air from the pipe attached to side vents so what is the front one doing. Is it drawing air through that mesh from the boot or blowing hot air into the boot