96pa a/c issue

[688i]

My 96 PA was blowing out of the defroster and I did the vacuum connection mod described in an older thread that is required when the connector nipples are soft and flexible. (Sounds like old age sex) After I did the mod the A/C has been flashing on and off for the first few minutes after starting, and blowing hot air until the flashing stops and then all is well until you turn the car off. Then the cycle starts all over again and has been doing this for going on three weeks. Only thing I'm not certain of is where the bottom switch lever arm that is operated by the programmer should be set. I'm not sure I set it back in the same snap location after reinstalling the programmer. Is there a proper way to set this lever snap connection? If not how do you get the flashing and hot flash for a few minutes upon startup to stop? Thanks.

[688i]

I feel certain that at least one of the 93 views on this post has had some idea on what it might take to resolve my issue. If not would someone be so kind as to let me know why I might not be receiving any replies. Is more information required? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[imidazol97]

Originally Posted by 688i

Then the cycle starts all over again and has been doing this for going on three weeks. Only thing I'm not certain of is where the bottom switch lever arm that is operated by the programmer should be set. I'm not sure I set it back in the same snap location after reinstalling the programmer. Is there a proper way to set this lever snap connection? If not how do you get the flashing and hot flash for a few minutes upon startup to stop? Thanks.

Disconnect the rod from the plastic arm. Turn the key to ON. Set the heater temp to HOT. Move part on the heater vane end to the full hot position. Then snap the two together.

The Flashing indicates an error on the part of the heater system. Do you have dual temperature control? If so, it may be the upper electric actuator is slipping due to a cracked gear inside.

Or it may be that the lower is not allowing the proper high and low movement when the programmer checks, therefore it flashes the light.

And every time you start, the unit does a check. It runs everything to full hot and then waits for the proper reaction. ONce you have both working or set correctly, the unit will get a proper full stroke run. It will run the check during the next 50 start cycles and then it will quit and just assume it has proper and normal settings.

[688i]

Thanks much. I feel certain your recommendation will resolve issue. I will try it tonight.

[688i]

Okay I did as you recommended but unfortunately it didn't change anything. The lower arm is set fully extended using your suggestion which was real close to where it was intially. I made the following observation which corresponds with your last paragraph but is also causing the initial hot blast of heat for about 15 seconds before it starts to cool properly. Upon startup of vehicle the vane arm will go from the fully cold position to the fully heat position and sit there for about 15 seconds and then go back to the fully cold position where it was initially and should be at. It's after the 15 second stall on full heat that the readout starts flashing and the vane starts moving back to cold position. When the engine is hot you get a 15 second blast of hot air until it completes it's cycle. What could be causing this 15 second delay? It does not happen when you cut the ignition switch off but as soon as you turn the ignition switch to on it goes through this cycle. Could this 15 second delay be due to the vacuum line(s) mod that bypasses the hose connection block or maybe the upper arm switch gear you mentioned. Thanks for your support.

[688i]

I forgot to get clarification on dual temperature control. No sure what that means. The passengerside has a control that they can use to twink the temperature some up or down. Is that what is meant by dual temperature control?

[688i]

Unfortunately it did not fix the problem. The lower arm cycles from full cold to full hot, lingers for about 15 seconds and then returns to full cold as it should. This cycle repeats everytime the ignition switch is turned on. If the engine is hot then it blows hot air during the 15 second delay at full hot when the switch is cycling. The flashing control box light has been ongoing now for two months. The flashing stops as soon as the arm cycles back to full cold. The system works fine as long as you don't trun off the ignition switch, which then starts the cycle again. Anybody else got any ideas???