I am posting this cause I am mad and maybe some one here can use this information at a later date to not get mad.

But here's the story. I got a full blown stereo system installed by audio express. Great install on the stereo, but I lost my heat/ac. (To be determined if it was audio express.) So, I took it back and they got heat to start pumping out a LITTLE. They did the best they could. After I left and restarted the car. No air.

So instead of taking an air problem to audio guys I took it to the Chevy dealership. They charged me $140 to put the console back together and to tell me the heat was working when they pulled it into the shop. I was furious.

Then I gave it the weekend to mess up. It didn't work ALL weekend. I took it back to the dealership and said FIX IT!

They told me it would cost $860!! to replace the HVAC control module. They told me it was $625 just for the module. I had gotten the service manuals by then (and knew it was only 10 mins worth of work) and I told them to go screw themselves, and I walked 5 feet to the parts department and got the part for $400 with taxes. Replaced it myself within 10 mins and that's NOT EVEN the problem! They even charged me $75 to incorrectly diagnose my car.

But I was looking up in my resources I have since found and am full blown digging into my car starting tomorrow. I have to find out what's wrong. The dealership can shove their overpriced, undertrained mechanic where the sun doesn't shine. I think it's the LH Temp actuator, but not to sure.

I am going to do exactly as their mechanic would and follow the book. Because I feel I am more qualified on my car than they are, and I know nothing.

/rant off.

Edit: FYI. There is no error code on the DIC.

 

If it worked before the stereo install your beef is with the installer.

Should of told them your taking it to the dealer to have it fixed on their dime.

Now had the Stealer installed the module you could argue that point with them but as you bought it and installed it yourself you basically are SOL.

 

And that my friends is why young people shouldn't buy expensive stuff. :P

 

I dont think i understand this, so bear with me...

it sounds like your hvac was working prior to the stereo install. Then after your new stereo was installed you lost the HVAC. That is the same area that was last touched. Why wouldnt you keep going back to audio express for this? They were the last ones to touch the console and work behind that area.

You are then complaining about the dealer doing lousy work but the fact of the matter is the dealer should not have been involved.

 

Yeah I get that. I am just frustrated cause I got screwed. Lesson learned. I guess at the time I didn't want audio express messing it up more. Because I can't prove it, but I think when they reinstalled some of the parts, they broke them because there was little plastic pieces on the floor. And I never checked it before, but the radio bezel's brace was broken. But again, I didn't check it before and there wasn't that much plastic on the floorboard.

And it looked good when I left. I found the pieces later. And by pieces I mean like 2 little pieces. Not like the whole bezel was broke on the floorboard.

And I didn't mean to thrash the dealership or mechanic (although that's what happened.) But come on, $860 for a wrong diagnosis is pretty horrible. I definitely felt MUCH safer with my car being in the hands of the stealership than with audio express.

 

you can't prove it... you don't have to.... Threaten to take them to court and they will fix it... You don't have to prove you HVAC was broken!! because it is.. they would have to prove they didn't break it!! and since they were the last ones in there... its going to be kinda hard!!

And the Stealership will say anything!!! you coulda ****ed them sideways by just getting the wrong dia.... and them making you pay for it!!

 

your beef is with the audio installers good luck gettin a good fix

 

Hi

BTY that A/C controller is about $200 on auction site rebuilt and about $125 used. I replaced mine in about 20 minutes.

 

Home of the $1 install, huh?

 

I gotta go with this here.

I think your so PO'd at the situation your not seeing it clearly. It's understandable, you paid for a modification and got a damaged system back. As stated above, your issue is with the original audio installer.

But now your throwing everyone into the mix, the dealer who rightly so, got you for a few bucks, then you installed a new controller module without performing any of the diagnostics to confirm it was the defective component. and lastly as stated you should have taken it to the dealer with a letter of agreement from the audio installer being liable for the damage.

Sorry your mad at the wrong people.

 

I would at least make the audio installer be responsable for a new radio bezel.

 

I'm going to have to agree with most here. Your issue is with the audio installer. What I would've done is, gone to the dealership, told them what happened at the audio place. Have the dealership check the car for the problem (I'm not sure how they can charge you $75...), and if the dealership said the audio installer broke some stuff (you said there's plastic on the floor) then use the dealership's conclusion to force the audio installer to fix it or pay to fix it.

Good luck!

 

I think you are experiencing mis-directed anger. Dealer did nothing wrong.

 

other then smashing you in the face with there vette tax i feel for you dude it $ucks

 

There is a re-sync procedure for the HVAC controller. I don't know what that procedure is but its posted in the tech section and in your manuals. I'm guessing here that they disconnected it so they could do their radio install and it lost its memory.

 

sometimes you just have to fight Vette tax!!!! Say look here ****ers I'm not paying extra!!!

 

OK here is the fix that worked for me in a similar situation.

i did my own stereo install. Of course to do this you have to disconnect the battery. For some unknown reason this screws with the AC. I spent all day on my install with the entire interior out and got it all back together jamming away and then I find no AC. I was pissed.

Found the following suggestion. Disconnect the battery completely overnight. I thought BS, no way its that simple. But it didn't cost a cent so nothing to lose.

I'll be a monkey's uncle it worked. AC blowing ice cold out of all vents. I even made extra sure and let it sit 24 hours disconnected. The next time it happened i went to 12 hours and it fixed it again.

Try it. I t may or may not work but its cheap and easy.

Good luck

 

I agree with you that the original problem appears to be with the audio installer. I disagree that he shouldn't be upset with the dealer. He paid for diagnostics, was told the controller was bad and replaced it himself based on that information. If the dealer had done the work and it still didn't work, I feel certain the dealer would have said "that fixed part of the problem and now we have to fix the rest of the problem. Oh, that'll be another $700". Rather than admit a misdiagnosis, they'll cover with another story (and charge). Seen it happen many times.

They are some great mechanics and then there are quite a few who should be in another line of work.. So I think the OP has 2 legitimate rants, one with Audio and the other with the dealer diagnostic. After all, "who should know better, than the dealer"? Not.

 

Sometimes the indexing control gets out of sync and many times the above will fix it. Worked for me.

 

Pull up your codes on the DIC and see what HVAC codes you are throwing. This will tell you where to look to fix your problem.