Automatic Climate Control shuts off periodically...

[KristenD]

I have a 1999 Olds Intrigue, which I love, except for one problem.

The climate control system sometimes just shuts off automatically...no lights, no air, no heat, no defrost, nothing. It may stay off for just a period of minutes, but sometimes can last for a day or more. And then just as mysteriously as it turned off, it turns back on again. Sometimes I can "solve" the problem if I shut off the car and then restart it, but this doesn't always work.

Any ideas on what the problem could be? Could it be a loose wire? I've taken it to the dealer, but they are unable to duplicate the problem.

Almost forgot to mention...when the climate control is out, so is the digital direction indicator on the rearview mirror.

[panzer dragoon]

test (or replace) that 10A HVAC fuse. When all this stuff happens the blower motor (fan) is still on?

[Jimmy Olsen]

Originally Posted by KristenD

I have a 1999 Olds Intrigue, which I love, except for one problem.

The climate control system sometimes just shuts off automatically...no lights, no air, no heat, no defrost, nothing. It may stay off for just a period of minutes, but sometimes can last for a day or more. And then just as mysteriously as it turned off, it turns back on again. Sometimes I can "solve" the problem if I shut off the car and then restart it, but this doesn't always work.

Any ideas on what the problem could be? Could it be a loose wire? I've taken it to the dealer, but they are unable to duplicate the problem.

Almost forgot to mention...when the climate control is out, so is the digital direction indicator on the rearview mirror.

Kristen, 3 questions. When was the last time you changed the cabin air filter? Are you having problems with the temperature sensor gving false readings? Do you have the heat/air system set to automatic?

[wangall]

I have to exact same problem as KristenD. To provide some additional info to some of the questions, 1) the fan blower goes off when the climate control goes off; 2) the cabin filter was changed ~4 yrs ago; 3) I noticed the temp reading to be 10 degs lower than actual; 4) the AC is not set to automatic--it is dialed to a specific temp.

[Jimmy Olsen]

Originally Posted by wangall

I have to exact same problem as KristenD. To provide some additional info to some of the questions, 1) the fan blower goes off when the climate control goes off; 2) the cabin filter was changed ~4 yrs ago; 3) I noticed the temp reading to be 10 degs lower than actual; 4) the AC is not set to automatic--it is dialed to a specific temp.

Does your system have an automatic feature? If so, try turning it on. As for the wrong temperature readings, try cleaning the temperature sensor with a wet rag...it is located behind the radiator on the passenger side, near the bottom.

Could be a ground wire is loose.

[mdtuck0]

I'm now having the same problem as the original post on my 2000 Intrigue. At first my climate control was intermittently going dark (no power, no digital readout, no defrost, no air movement whatsoever, no compass indicator on my rearview mirror), and a couple weeks later completely died.

After checking that my related fuses were ok and replacing the relay just in case, no dice. I had the climate control module replaced with another used module, which seemed to "fix" the problem for a few days. Unfortunately, now the used module is also dead as a doornail with the same symptoms as before. I've got a 6-month warranty on the used climate control module, but I haven't had it replaced yet.

Now, this morning I had a new development: my car wouldn't start. After getting a jump and taking my Intrigue to the shop to have the battery/alternator/starter load-tested, my alternator and starter checked out ok, but my 1-year-old battery tested as bad. I just now replaced my battery and started my car, but the climate control is still dark.

Any ideas out there on what might be going on with my climate control? Could a bad climate control module kill my battery?

[mdtuck0]

...And I forgot to mention in my last post...

Just before my climate control died completely, it could still blow bone-chilling air, and the passenger side cabin air filter is new.

Also, my cruise control recently stopped working as well--won't turn on.

[aghopkins]

Originally Posted by mdtuck0

I'm now having the same problem as the original post on my 2000 Intrigue. At first my climate control was intermittently going dark (no power, no digital readout, no defrost, no air movement whatsoever, no compass indicator on my rearview mirror), and a couple weeks later completely died.

After checking that my related fuses were ok and replacing the relay just in case, no dice. I had the climate control module replaced with another used module, which seemed to "fix" the problem for a few days. Unfortunately, now the used module is also dead as a doornail with the same symptoms as before. I've got a 6-month warranty on the used climate control module, but I haven't had it replaced yet.

Now, this morning I had a new development: my car wouldn't start. After getting a jump and taking my Intrigue to the shop to have the battery/alternator/starter load-tested, my alternator and starter checked out ok, but my 1-year-old battery tested as bad. I just now replaced my battery and started my car, but the climate control is still dark.

Any ideas out there on what might be going on with my climate control? Could a bad climate control module kill my battery?

I haven't had this problem with an Intrigue but I had a very similar problem with my previous car (a Taurus). In my case a grounding wire had come loose.

[doneddison]

I have an 1998 Intrigue 3.8L V6 with climate control issue as well. Unit blows air, a/c compressor turns off and on, I tried it in 'auto' mode and 'manually' but it still only blows ambient or current air temp. This is after I added 3 cans of 134 freon (I over charged it) and it never got better. I took it to Pep Boys and they diagonised it to be the 'Electronic Climate Control Unit', unit cost approx. $850 and total job cost approx. $1250. I have not had it fixed yet.
Questions: Has anyone had this problem? Can this unit be repaired? If all else fails, does anyone know where I can get a 'good' used one to buy?
Thank you in advance for your input.

[dtownfb]

Is this the part they say you need?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/98-99...QQcmdZViewItem

[Jimmy Olsen]

One Of The Nice Things About Driving The Intrigue Is That There Are Good Number In The Salvage Yard.

[doneddison]

Follow-up to my first post, I bought the Climate Control Unit on ebay, replaced the old with it and my air is still only blowing ambient temperature.
Any other thoughts....???
Thank you in advance for input. Don.

[mdtuck0]

Sorry--forgot to update my thread with the solution I eventually found. After I shelled out for another climate control module (which didn't solve my problem), we found that my climate control woes were due to a bad ignition switch. Come to find out my rearview compass (which I assumed was just broken), cruise control (which I didn't use anyway), and climate control all shared the same power path, I guess. I really do need to get those schematics.... Anyway, if your rearview compass and/or cruise aren't working either, I'd take a peek at the ignition switch.

[dtownfb]

Another problem caused by a bad ignition switch....

Thanks for updating us.