HVAC controller out - Help!
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 72
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From: Bedford TX
HVAC controller out - Help!
Been having trouble with the AC in my '96 LT1. Thanks to advice I got in this forum I was able to take apart and clean the console control unit. Unfortunately, that didn't solve the problem. The AC has a mind of its own. Blows hot, then cold air regardless of what setting I have the controls on.
Finally broke down and took it to the dealer. He says it is the internal AC controller, and quoted $1100 for the part and $300 for labor.
Where can I get a controller for less than that? It doesn't have to be new, just work like new.
Does $1100 sound reasonable for an AC brain box? Seems like he should be arrested for attemped robbery.
Please respond - I need advice !
Finally broke down and took it to the dealer. He says it is the internal AC controller, and quoted $1100 for the part and $300 for labor.
Where can I get a controller for less than that? It doesn't have to be new, just work like new.
Does $1100 sound reasonable for an AC brain box? Seems like he should be arrested for attemped robbery.
Please respond - I need advice !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
In GM's electronic a/c world, the '96 Vette must be unique to the Vette as the Programmer is about 3 to 6 times the list of all the others ($500 to $600). You can replace it yourself and save the labor. I think the last time I was at the NAPA web site, it looked as if they were going to start carrying their own brand, so you might check there. Otherwise the Last Detail - www.tld-corvette.com - was usually the cheapest.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 744
Likes: 2
From: Homestead Florida
well, i listed this without realizing that 94 and 96 may be different due to obdii stuff.
are you talking about the digital type ac controller or something else?
My friend recently replaced his thinking it was bad. When replacing it didnt solve the problem, he took it to a dealer. Turned out to be something under the dash. He still has the used one, and told me to see if I can find anyone who need it. I think he bought his from ecklers for around 300 and would let his go for somewhere around 100. Let me know if you are interested and I will be seeing him at work tomorrow.
email me at sirlancair@yahoo.com
thanks.
sam
are you talking about the digital type ac controller or something else?
My friend recently replaced his thinking it was bad. When replacing it didnt solve the problem, he took it to a dealer. Turned out to be something under the dash. He still has the used one, and told me to see if I can find anyone who need it. I think he bought his from ecklers for around 300 and would let his go for somewhere around 100. Let me know if you are interested and I will be seeing him at work tomorrow.
email me at sirlancair@yahoo.com
thanks.
sam
Last edited by torchred96; Dec 11, 2006 at 11:08 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 8,183
Likes: 3
From: Santa Maria, CA
If you are up to it, you can crawl into the driver side footwell and remove the hush panel. Look on the firewall next to the steering column. You will see the programmer there(black box). I'm not saying it's easy, but you can remove it.
That's what I did, but went one step further and opened up the programmer to see what was actually going on in that thing. Made a minor quick fix and had a correctly operating HVAC system again.
You don't have to spend the kind of money they are asking for on this repair.
That's what I did, but went one step further and opened up the programmer to see what was actually going on in that thing. Made a minor quick fix and had a correctly operating HVAC system again.
You don't have to spend the kind of money they are asking for on this repair.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 7,839
Likes: 22
From: San Diego, Ca
I believe the '96 is buried a little deeper. It does interface with the CCM, but as far as I know, that's for diagnostics only and on some Years - or maybe it's the ZR1 - the radio is in that CCM link too. It sends the A/C signal to the PCM which then grounds the compressor relay. And it also sends the Blower signals to the Blower Module. Essentially, after '89, GM ditched the Dash Controls as the Processor and assigned everything to the Programmer. Controls communicate with the Programmer via serial data lines. I wouldn't take it apart - but than I wouldn't know what I was looking at anyway.
