93 Park Ave: when a/c on, cold driver side, heat from dual zone

[DeValle]

When I turn on the A/C I get cold air from the driver's side but heat from the passsenger side (dual zone). And when I turn on the heat it's just the opposite: heat on driver's side, A/C from dual zone vents.

A mechanic guessed this was a module problem. If so, what's the average cost for the part and for labor on this? Is it worth trying to get a used part?

The radio no longer works either. Does that further suggest module failure? Fuses are OK. Once when I removed the radio fuse and replaced it I heard an audible click (reset?) then the radio worked until I turned the engine off. But it ever worked again.

[Jed Rule]

The HVAC programmer controls both the driver and passenger air-mix and mode valves. It's very expensive $450 and a new one requires a replacement jumper harness. The new programmer probable replaces a few different original part numbers and the harness makes it work in all applications. The programmer is bolted to the evaporator/heater case behind the glove box. You can remove the glove box and observe the operation of the control rods.

There are 3 fuses for the radio. Check fuse 9C, 4A and 8D in the fuse box under the left side dash.

This information is from my 1995 sevcice manual. Your car may be different.

[DeValle]

A late thank you for the reply, Jed. I was afraid your answer might be that it's expensive. I've looked at a couple of other posts and it appears this issue isn't all that unusual. At the risk of offending many of the people in this forum who are American car enthusiasts, I'm sick and tired of the sloppy crap being put out of Detroit. You would think that when paying as much as these big cars cost you could get some value from them. I'm voting with my checkbook. I just bought a Toyota. That's the only thing those self-appointed geniuses at the Big Three understand. After all these Park Avenue electrical problems and 3 transmissions in an Intrepid, I've had it with American cars.

[aarcuda]

I thought my HVAC programmer was bad too (I had cold on passenger side and hot on drivers in the winter) turned out it was the actuator for the blend door. only cost me $40 or so at bumper to bumper