How To: A/C & Recirculation intermittant/blinking

[BeatnikTermite]

This has been discussed many times here before, and I thought I would bring all of the information together in a "how-to." I am going to attempt the semi-permanent cleaning repair this weekend. I will let you all know how it works.

Problem: A/C and Recirculation lights flash on and off intermittently.

Reason: HVAC Control head unit is worn.

Affected Model Years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

Semi-Permanent Fix:

1. Replace unit at a cost of $100 - $150.
Will return in 2-3 years depending on use.

2. Clean existing unit with directions provided here, at no cost.
Will return in 2-3 years (estimated) depending on use.
Forum: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...0&page=1&pp=15 (Post #14)
Direct Link: http://www.imcool.com/articles/airco...Repairable.pdf

[BeatnikTermite]

Just to let everyone know, I did this modification two nights ago. It took about 30 minutes total. More time was spent taking the dash apart than actually doing the cleaning.

It seems to have worked. I have been driving with just the Recirc on, just the A/C on, and with both on for two days and have not had one flicker.

This also has seemed to stop another problem that happened occasionally when I would go to change the blower location setting. Sometimes it would hesitate and still blow where the selector was at and not where I moved it too. (i.e. It was set on defrost, I moved it to floor, but it was still blowing on the window) It has also not done this for two days.

[rbowers28]

How do I remove the facia to get to the control head?

[igkyoa]

its not held in by any screws just some of thoes stupid clips so all you have to do is pull it off, starting at the top usualy works best

[rbowers28]

Once again Thanks.

[l3adMonky]

I just finished the cleaning. I no longer have the problem with my A/C light flashing and the recirculation stays lit with out changing. i still have a problem with my a/c not blowing on the 1 and 2 settings but i believe that's a different problem. I'm very satisfied so far. thanks for the walk through

[rbowers28]

That is the resistor problem. The first URL in the message above will give you directions on changing it. It is around $20 for the part and around 1 hour of labor.

[djolney]

The A/C light on our 1998 Malibu would not stay on all the time so we took it to the dealer and they replaced the A/C control head. Now the controls work differently then they did before. Now with the fan on, if you press the recirc switch, the A/C will come on and stay on. The light on the A/C switch remains off. You can cycle the A/C switch on and off ( the light works) but it does not turn off the A/C. The dealer states that this is the way it is supposed to work but I am not convinced. We have owned the car since it was new and it never worked like this before. You could have the fan running in recirc mode without the A/C running. Am I wrong? We have been back to the dealer twice on this issue.

[gapboi210]

I know this is somewhat late of a reply, but my control unit works the same way. It has since the car was new. If you are put in recirculate mode it kicks the A/C compressor on. Regardless of whether the A/C button is on or off. Samethin when you put in on defrost. The A/C compressor turns on. Kinda don't like this thing doing the thinking for me. Tried the cleaning thing...guess I will see how it goes. Haven't installed the unit back in yet though...still sitting here on the desk.

[djolney]

Originally Posted by gapboi210

I know this is somewhat late of a reply, but my control unit works the same way. It has since the car was new. If you are put in recirculate mode it kicks the A/C compressor on. Regardless of whether the A/C button is on or off. Samethin when you put in on defrost. The A/C compressor turns on. Kinda don't like this thing doing the thinking for me. Tried the cleaning thing...guess I will see how it goes. Haven't installed the unit back in yet though...still sitting here on the desk.

Thank you for responding. We have just decided to live with it and get used to the change in how the controls work.

[gapboi210]

well I did the cleaning instructions as stated in the link above...so far so good. Mine used to do it occasionally, then it got progressively worse. Didn't matter if it was in re-circulate or not the a/c light and compressor would flash on and off. Here on a hot Texas day it wasn't enought to keep the car cool with the compressor kicking on and off. (I was waiting for the compressor to die with it turning off and on). But the fix has worked so far if it does it again I will just take it apart, you could probably do it in 5-10 minutes easy, if you have any questions on how to do this feel free to ask.

[minerswon]

I have lived with this problem for more than 2 years. I wish I had surfed to find this site earlier. I am so pumped that it worked. What an easy repair!!!!

[steve_o]

Definitely worth doing.

Problem went away, not sure why cleaning the contacts fixed it.

I followed these instructions - very easy - very clean procedure.

I should have done this 2 years ago.

[blackbird24]

Thank you for the post BeatnikTermite. I just did it on my Malibu and it worked like a charm.

Originally Posted by BeatnikTermite

This has been discussed many times here before, and I thought I would bring all of the information together in a "how-to." I am going to attempt the semi-permanent cleaning repair this weekend. I will let you all know how it works.

Problem: A/C and Recirculation lights flash on and off intermittently.

Reason: HVAC Control head unit is worn.

Affected Model Years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

Semi-Permanent Fix:

1. Replace unit at a cost of $100 - $150.
Will return in 2-3 years depending on use.

2. Clean existing unit with directions provided here, at no cost.
Will return in 2-3 years (estimated) depending on use.
Forum: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...0&page=1&pp=15 (Post #14)
Direct Link: http://www.imcool.com/articles/airco...Repairable.pdf

[PrimeWoman]

Originally Posted by BeatnikTermite

This has been discussed many times here before, and I thought I would bring all of the information together in a "how-to." I am going to attempt the semi-permanent cleaning repair this weekend. I will let you all know how it works.

Problem: A/C and Recirculation lights flash on and off intermittently.

Reason: HVAC Control head unit is worn.

Affected Model Years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

Semi-Permanent Fix:

1. Replace unit at a cost of $100 - $150.
Will return in 2-3 years depending on use.

2. Clean existing unit with directions provided here, at no cost.
Will return in 2-3 years (estimated) depending on use.
Forum: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...0&page=1&pp=15 (Post #14)
Direct Link: http://www.imcool.com/articles/airco...Repairable.pdf

BeatnikTermite....THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
Apparently the problem with my a/c is not an unfamiliar one and thank goodness to the powers that be for Google. I took my car to a local shop to diagnose the problem. I dealt with the owner. He "suggested" that I have the entire system replaced to a tune of almost $1500 (provided me with a detailed estimate as he tried to confound me with tradespeak). This cost me $25. I took it to another shop, the mgr told me he ran the a/c for 30 min and the problem I described did not surface, therefore he could not give me any estimate for repair, not knowing what the problem was. This cost me $0. It occurred to me to give Google a try, keyed in malibu+a-c+problem, which brought me to this forum, and low and behold, found my problem described to a T. It makes me boiling mad to have anybody attempt to hose me...and especially automotive repair shops. Ain't my first rodeo, and have had encounters with unscrupulous sorts....what really burns my butt is those who think that because my chromosomes are XX, that I am an airheaded woman and an easy target.
The pdf page is step-by-step w/ pictures too. Love that. I copied and pasted the forum page and pdf. I am in the process of contacting 8 on your side consumer reporter. If they decide not to investigate, I will march into that shop on a busy Monday morning, with documents in hand and politely, calmly, read the owner the riot act, with both barrels loaded. Not only will the owner find out that I won't subscribe to his brand of "service", but will in return, "suggest" he learn to Google, look up the meaning of INTEGRITY, and review a course on business ethics, but the customers waiting to be served will get some insight as to how they operate there. The ultimate irony? A tagline on their letterhead that reads: Yesterday's integrity, todays technology. --Respectfully and humbly--PW