1st tim e vette owner...and I'm pissed(sort of)
05-04-2015, 08:50 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
1st tim e vette owner...and I'm pissed(sort of)
Greetings...bought a beautiful red '96 vette a with only 39k miles week ago....LOVE IT! Drives like a dream. However, I've discovered there is a common issue with the a/c programmer control...GM Part #: 19151964.
Yeah I know I should have checked all this out before leaving the lot, but I was too damn excited to get behind the wheel and find someone to race.
Not asking for help...just little rant on my part.
Yeah I know I should have checked all this out before leaving the lot, but I was too damn excited to get behind the wheel and find someone to race.
Not asking for help...just little rant on my part.
some words of advice....If you want to own a C4 you need thick skin
05-04-2015, 09:58 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Yes. They are 20 year old cars at newest. Things break.
05-05-2015, 01:21 AM
#5
Race Director
Congratulations to the Corvette world. If this Is your only problem with an almost 20 year old car, you are a lucky man.
05-05-2015, 05:39 AM
#6
- only ONE issue, and WHAT issue would that be?
05-05-2015, 06:43 AM
#7
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Member Since: Feb 2002
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First congrats on your new Corvette and welcome...If its the under dash controller do a search, lose vacuum gang plug is the most common issue. Generally the issue is it will only blow out the defrost. If its the buttons on the head unit may just need cleaned.
Last edited by FASTAZU; 05-05-2015 at 06:45 AM.
05-05-2015, 12:32 PM
#9
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Thread Starter
My understanding from the local GM-Chevy shop is that I need a replacement for the A/C Heater Programmer Controller...and this is a common issue with 1996 vettes. Problem is they're no longer being made, but I see there are some being sold on Ebay for around $300. Of course this is nothing more that a convenience issue. I truly found a diamond in the rough when I bought this C4 Vette!
05-05-2015, 04:32 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
The part # you listed is the under the dash controller. There are multiple vacuum connections in it. They were made poorly and the rubber connections can collapse when a vacuum is applied.
There are several ways to fix it yourself without buying an expensive part. There are quite a few threads that explain how. You can do a search for them.
Like We Gone stated the most common problem is the loose gang plug. It may be as easy as tightening it up. On mine I separated the halves and inserted short sections of metal hypodermic needles to keep the rubber nipples from collapsing. It takes very little flow to make a vacuum drop, so the openings can be very small. On mine it is still working after I made the repair about 12 years ago. The repair cost me about 25 cents for the needles at Walgreens. The dealer wanted about $500 for the part and $500 for labor. I chose 25 cents.
Good luck.
05-05-2015, 08:43 PM
#13
Advanced
Thread Starter
Let us know the symptoms and usually people here can help you find the problem and fix it.
The part # you listed is the under the dash controller. There are multiple vacuum connections in it. They were made poorly and the rubber connections can collapse when a vacuum is applied.
There are several ways to fix it yourself without buying an expensive part. There are quite a few threads that explain how. You can do a search for them.
Like We Gone stated the most common problem is the loose gang plug. It may be as easy as tightening it up. On mine I separated the halves and inserted short sections of metal hypodermic needles to keep the rubber nipples from collapsing. It takes very little flow to make a vacuum drop, so the openings can be very small. On mine it is still working after I made the repair about 12 years ago. The repair cost me about 25 cents for the needles at Walgreens. The dealer wanted about $500 for the part and $500 for labor. I chose 25 cents.
Good luck.
The part # you listed is the under the dash controller. There are multiple vacuum connections in it. They were made poorly and the rubber connections can collapse when a vacuum is applied.
There are several ways to fix it yourself without buying an expensive part. There are quite a few threads that explain how. You can do a search for them.
Like We Gone stated the most common problem is the loose gang plug. It may be as easy as tightening it up. On mine I separated the halves and inserted short sections of metal hypodermic needles to keep the rubber nipples from collapsing. It takes very little flow to make a vacuum drop, so the openings can be very small. On mine it is still working after I made the repair about 12 years ago. The repair cost me about 25 cents for the needles at Walgreens. The dealer wanted about $500 for the part and $500 for labor. I chose 25 cents.
Good luck.
05-06-2015, 08:58 AM
#15
Le Mans Master
Try making sure the vacuum is good. A lot of people have had problems with a check valve (under the right fuel rail cover) that has cracked. However, many people are not that lucky to have the easy fix. It probably will be the AC programmer.
Try reading the following threads. They have a lot of information and some pictures.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-my-96-a.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...l-problem.html
Good luck.
05-06-2015, 12:48 PM
#16
Team Owner
don't ever replace a part on these cars without doing some basic diags...
I agree... check the vacuum source. On the right side of the intake, under the black plastic fuel rail cover, is a check valve. It is black, has one line in, one line out and a central barrel about 1" round. They break and they are cheap. $5.00 at any part shop.
The Programmer is under the dash and has a bunch of vacuum lines going to it. Make sure the harness is plugged in nice and tight.
As an aside, the AC system will work, just won't blow where you want.
Contact vette2vette.com for a used one.
Any why is the 96 part different? I have heard this but don't have any personal experience... why won't a 95 programmer work? it's just a vacuum manifold.
I agree... check the vacuum source. On the right side of the intake, under the black plastic fuel rail cover, is a check valve. It is black, has one line in, one line out and a central barrel about 1" round. They break and they are cheap. $5.00 at any part shop.
The Programmer is under the dash and has a bunch of vacuum lines going to it. Make sure the harness is plugged in nice and tight.
As an aside, the AC system will work, just won't blow where you want.
Contact vette2vette.com for a used one.
Any why is the 96 part different? I have heard this but don't have any personal experience... why won't a 95 programmer work? it's just a vacuum manifold.
05-06-2015, 01:13 PM
#18
Advanced
Thread Starter
don't ever replace a part on these cars without doing some basic diags...
I agree... check the vacuum source. On the right side of the intake, under the black plastic fuel rail cover, is a check valve. It is black, has one line in, one line out and a central barrel about 1" round. They break and they are cheap. $5.00 at any part shop.
The Programmer is under the dash and has a bunch of vacuum lines going to it. Make sure the harness is plugged in nice and tight.
As an aside, the AC system will work, just won't blow where you want.
Contact vette2vette.com for a used one.
Any why is the 96 part different? I have heard this but don't have any personal experience... why won't a 95 programmer work? it's just a vacuum manifold.
I agree... check the vacuum source. On the right side of the intake, under the black plastic fuel rail cover, is a check valve. It is black, has one line in, one line out and a central barrel about 1" round. They break and they are cheap. $5.00 at any part shop.
The Programmer is under the dash and has a bunch of vacuum lines going to it. Make sure the harness is plugged in nice and tight.
As an aside, the AC system will work, just won't blow where you want.
Contact vette2vette.com for a used one.
Any why is the 96 part different? I have heard this but don't have any personal experience... why won't a 95 programmer work? it's just a vacuum manifold.
05-06-2015, 01:17 PM
#19
Advanced
Thread Starter
don't ever replace a part on these cars without doing some basic diags...
I agree... check the vacuum source. On the right side of the intake, under the black plastic fuel rail cover, is a check valve. It is black, has one line in, one line out and a central barrel about 1" round. They break and they are cheap. $5.00 at any part shop.
The Programmer is under the dash and has a bunch of vacuum lines going to it. Make sure the harness is plugged in nice and tight.
As an aside, the AC system will work, just won't blow where you want.
Contact vette2vette.com for a used one.
Any why is the 96 part different? I have heard this but don't have any personal experience... why won't a 95 programmer work? it's just a vacuum manifold.
I agree... check the vacuum source. On the right side of the intake, under the black plastic fuel rail cover, is a check valve. It is black, has one line in, one line out and a central barrel about 1" round. They break and they are cheap. $5.00 at any part shop.
The Programmer is under the dash and has a bunch of vacuum lines going to it. Make sure the harness is plugged in nice and tight.
As an aside, the AC system will work, just won't blow where you want.
Contact vette2vette.com for a used one.
Any why is the 96 part different? I have heard this but don't have any personal experience... why won't a 95 programmer work? it's just a vacuum manifold.
05-06-2015, 02:43 PM
#20
Race Director
Member Since: Feb 2002
Location: Compound in the Grove, Ga.
Posts: 11,328
Received 910 Likes
on
583 Posts
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2018 C4 of Year Finalist
2015 C4 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '16
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Food for thought.... If you get an opportunity good reads on the issues you are having. If nothing else you will have some knowledge when you speak with a shop.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...schematic.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1585305121
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...schematic.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1585305121