Climate control buttons
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Climate control buttons
My '87 vert has that option where you set the temp and the car thinks for you. :smash: drives me nuts... anyways, periodically when I push on the climate control buttons they don't do anything. Sometimes I need to push the button 5 times before it works. On my former Laser XT the trip computer had a similar behavior, and it ended up being a bad contact on the buttons. They were little plungers impregnated with some conductive paint. They completed the circuit when pushed in. I was able to disassemble them, paint with conductive paint (I forget what metal now, Id borrowed the bottle from a friend, this was over 10 years ago).
Before I rip apart the 87 climate control, can anyone tell me if this problem is fixable? ~Juliet
Before I rip apart the 87 climate control, can anyone tell me if this problem is fixable? ~Juliet
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 14,130
Likes: 7
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Climate control buttons (Juliet)
First things...does the buttons seem to get harder to press as the car warms up?
(spill any soda there lately?) :D
Anyways,the only tip I know of is to clean the contacts of certain parts with a pencil eraser but im unsure if that will work there or if it can be done.This was a tip I heard but never tried.
(spill any soda there lately?) :D
Anyways,the only tip I know of is to clean the contacts of certain parts with a pencil eraser but im unsure if that will work there or if it can be done.This was a tip I heard but never tried.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Re: Climate control buttons (Bill's86Coupe)
Well, the car had 95k when I got it. So I supposed someone along the way goobered soda on it. I haven't though. The button pressing doesn't change it's feel at all. It's more of a random how many times to I have to press it before it works. Sometimes it works right away, other times not. :crazy: Thanks. ~J
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 44,773
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From: 63.8% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
Re: Climate control buttons (Juliet)
My 90 does the same thing. Sometimes while I have the button depressed I give it a little wiggle and it helps. I think it must be like you suggest a bad contact in the switch but I haven't taken it any further.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Re: Climate control buttons (Juliet)
I did the following on my 88, with sticky buttons:
Remove the unit from the dash.
Gently pry the unit apart (I seem to remember 2 clips that held it together)
Soak the buttons and the rubber contacts, etc to remove the crud.
DO NOT soak the electronic circuit board
take a damp cloth and clean all the contacts
Reassemble
Mine, now displays info 80% of the time, but always works. For example if I set it for 70 it cycles and keeps the cabin about 70.
Good luck!
Remove the unit from the dash.
Gently pry the unit apart (I seem to remember 2 clips that held it together)
Soak the buttons and the rubber contacts, etc to remove the crud.
DO NOT soak the electronic circuit board
take a damp cloth and clean all the contacts
Reassemble
Mine, now displays info 80% of the time, but always works. For example if I set it for 70 it cycles and keeps the cabin about 70.
Good luck!
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Re: Climate control buttons (Juliet)
Had the same problem with my vert.
Applied a gentle shot of "Industrial Contact Cleaner" between brezel and button - worked great.
You should apply a drop of this stuff at an invisible spot to make shure that it doesn't harm the surface.
Applied a gentle shot of "Industrial Contact Cleaner" between brezel and button - worked great.
You should apply a drop of this stuff at an invisible spot to make shure that it doesn't harm the surface.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 430
Likes: 1
From: Beavercreek OH
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Climate control buttons (Juliet)
Same with mine. My LT-1 started doing it early and still under GMPP and the head unit was replaced by dealer, no more problem. The ZR-1's just started to act the same way at 38,000.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Co
Re: Climate control buttons (Juliet)
I had same problem. It is easy to take apart. The contacts are contained in a rubber strip looks like little carbon circles under the buttons attached to the underside of the strip. My strip had elongated by about 30%. I figured i would have to replace the module anyway so i cut the strip so i could take out the excess due to the elongation. I cleaned the board contacts and glued them in place because the little plastic studs holding the strip had disintegrated. This worked fine for about 6 months. Now, the only buttons working to control the heater ac are the bilevel and economy. All other controls on temp and fan speed still work fine. What we need is a new rubber strip and i don't know if you can purchase them.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Re: Climate control buttons (89convt)
Wow. Thanks. Why does the strip elongate? Is it going across all the buttons, or is the strip across each individual button? Guess I'll have to disassemble mine to see what it looks like. ;) ~Juliet
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 76
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Co
Re: Climate control buttons (Juliet)
Along the bottom is a 2 button strip i believe for the auto and fan speed Then a longer 3 or 4 button strip that matches the rest of the buttons, heater, auto, bilevel econo etc. I have wondered if the contact cleaner some folks are using isn't what contributed to the elongation. Another problem could be the little plastic type rivets seem to get brittle with age and when they break there is nothing to hold the strip in place to makje contact with the buttons.
Advanced
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: tyler tx
Re: Climate control buttons (89convt)
I just fixed mine today.
None of the buttons would work on a regular basis, so pulled the unit out and took it apart. I removed the rubber strip/cover over the contacts on the ciruit board and used electric motor cleaner and Q-Tips to clean the circuit board and the carbon discs on the underside of the rubber strip/cover. I'm proud to say it works like a charm.
Hope that helps.
Rob
None of the buttons would work on a regular basis, so pulled the unit out and took it apart. I removed the rubber strip/cover over the contacts on the ciruit board and used electric motor cleaner and Q-Tips to clean the circuit board and the carbon discs on the underside of the rubber strip/cover. I'm proud to say it works like a charm.
Hope that helps.
Rob
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
From: Newport News Va
Re: Climate control buttons (Juliet)
Check the tech tips section under electronic climate control Intermitent. I had a problem w/ my display (and the buttons as well)randomly working. Turns out it was cracked solder conecting the faceplate to the larger circuit board. This fixed all problems w/ mine. ('89) Since you're taking it apart anyway you might as well follow the procedure I did while you're in there for a little preventative maintenence. :)
Good Luck
Good Luck
