95 dual heating climate control problem

[aarcuda]

I have the 95 park ave with the dual circuit heater/AC climate control system (i.e., the drivers side and passenger side can blow out different temperatures). I believe this is called the C61 system.

When the car is first started, the temperature display on the control panel begins to flash after about 20 seconds and then stops flashing after 10 seconds later.

The passenger side will blow out cold air (doesnt matter where you set the temperature to) while the drivers side is fully adjustable.

I can manually force the air blend door on top of the heater box to the right to get warm air out but the HVAC controller doesnt control it correctly.

Took the car to the dealer and they said no codes were saved in the computer.

Is this a HVAC computer proble (big bucks), A control panel problem (smaller bucks) or a sensor problem. I know these cars have sensors on top of the dash to tell the HVAC computer whether or not the sun is shining on one side of the car or the other (and thereby adjusting the outlet air temp accordingly).

All the buttons work on the control panel except the passenger side stays COLD (unless forced).

Is there a test I can perform? I have the Factory service manual.

[marc0045]

I have the same exact problem with my car. Did you ever get a reply or figure it out? PLease let me know!

[aarcuda]

No answer yet. I am thinking it is the HVAC computer but for $360, I hoping to get a more definitive answer. I can't find a computer anywhere in the local (or internet search) junkyards.

[marc0045]

I went to move the air blend door lever on mine but it would not budge. I had to disconnect the linkage in order to move the door. I'm thinking of just leaving it like that until spring but if I find anything out, I'll let you know.

[aarcuda]

well if your linkage wouldn't move but the door itself would with the linkage disconnected, then you probably have a problem with the actuator. Thats about a $60 part at the dealer. I took mine off and disassembled it because it had a slightly sticky point in the travel. I found one of the gears inside it had broken.

Unfortunately for me, I dont think this is my problem tho. My door moves back and forth through control by the computer, it just doesnt seem to be moving to the right place.

Its as if the computer is telling it to go to the wrong place. So one could say right off the top that it is the computer thats bad. but i think it could also be either the panel controller (telling it to be cool on the passenger side) or one of the sun sensors on the top of the dash (telling the computer that it is blistering hot on the passenger side so it blows out cold air on that side).

Another effect is that if the car is warmed up and then I stop it for a couple of minutes and then restart it, it initially blows out really hot air for a minute of so and then the drivers side seems to blow out the correct temp while the passenger side blows out cold air.

[J J]

Originally Posted by aarcuda

I have the 95 park ave with the dual circuit heater/AC climate control system (i.e., the drivers side and passenger side can blow out different temperatures). I believe this is called the C61 system.

When the car is first started, the temperature display on the control panel begins to flash after about 20 seconds and then stops flashing after 10 seconds later.

The passenger side will blow out cold air (doesnt matter where you set the temperature to) while the drivers side is fully adjustable.

I can manually force the air blend door on top of the heater box to the right to get warm air out but the HVAC controller doesnt control it correctly.

Took the car to the dealer and they said no codes were saved in the computer.

Is this a HVAC computer proble (big bucks), A control panel problem (smaller bucks) or a sensor problem. I know these cars have sensors on top of the dash to tell the HVAC computer whether or not the sun is shining on one side of the car or the other (and thereby adjusting the outlet air temp accordingly).

All the buttons work on the control panel except the passenger side stays COLD (unless forced).

Is there a test I can perform? I have the Factory service manual.

I had the same problem with my 95 PA. It was the air blend door motor. Took it to an independent shop that services air conditioning, and had it fixed. Cost was less than $200

[aarcuda]

I will replace the blend door actuator but I have a feeling it is something more sinister.

JJ, were your symptoms exactly like mine???

[J J]

basically they were. Temp would flash for a few secs, then drivers side would work fine with the controls, but pasenger side blew full blown HOT air all the time with no control of the temp at all. Dealer wanted to do all kinds of work!!! took it to an independent auto shop that works on ac. They did a great job. Right before I sold it however, it developed another problem. Temp would flash if it was cold in the car it would blow cold air, if it was hot outside it would blow hot air. Once flashing stopped, system worked perfectly. GO figure!!!!

[Flatrater]

If the light is flashing it means you have a problem! I cannot tell you what is worng unless I run tests on the car anything else would be guessing.

On another note if you can move the actuator, then it is bad. You should never be able to force the actuator and have it move.

Everything you listed I have seen go bad over the years. But I can tell yuo the most common part I changed is the programmer then the actuators.

[homerhank]

It took Me six hours of being upside down looking under the dash but I found that I could move the temp actuator. I replaced and no problems since. I drove around 3 weeks with a stocking hat.

[aarcuda]

Well, my actuator moves as easy as can be so I will try replacing that first and I'll post back the results. I really hope it is only the $60 actuator versus the $300 hvac computer!!

[homerhank]

The actuator I replaced cost $35. It took along time, because I had to take apart the whole dash. At a garage it would of been very costly.

[aarcuda]

The actuator that I need, for the blend door, is easily accessible through the glove compartment door.

The actuator, pn 16141822 lists for $54.61 at GM or I can get it for $27.30 plus shipping (total $35.25) from gm-partsdirect

[vinceleto]

My Father has a similar problem. Heat blows out on the driver side and cold on the passenger side but not always sometimes lukewarm but never hot on the passenger side. Always correct on the Driver side. The temp gauge blinks like you said.
The dealer said they would change the heater programer and one of the
actuators. The part is $498 about $370 if you buy it anywhere else. The total job would have been $900 and change at the dealer. A bit cheaper if you can find someone else who knows what there doing because you can buy the part cheaper.
I could care less if GM went out of business tommorow and would not be suprised if they do.
Further you can't buy a rebuilt programer yet because they don't offer one from 95 on, so they could get you just that much more.

[oztotl]

Give this a try!

-Turn the ignition switch on, but don't start the car.
-Hit the OFF button twice on the climate control.
-Turn the ignition switch off and wait 30 seconds.
-Turn the ignition switch back on again, but still don't start the car.
-Wait 3 minutes before starting the car and trying out the climate control.

That's it.

Let me know if this works for you.
oz