Problem with Automatic Climate Control
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,952
Likes: 2,668
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Problem with Automatic Climate Control
This winter my automatic climate control has been acting strange- with the interior temp selected at 72', as the engine warms up the interior gets too hot and I have to select the temperature down to 65'-68'. Then after about thirty minutes, the interior gradually becomes too cool and I have to keep selecting higher temps until after an hour of driving the selected temp is up to 80'. The situation seems to stabilize after about an hour and the 80' setting is good until the next time I drive the car. I always leave the passenger side temp set in the middle position.
The dealer replaced the "Control Assembly", part #9380441. They said that there were no codes. That helped somewhat, but I still need to fiddle with the temp control too much. Any suggestions for the next attempt?
I'll be out of town for a few days and not able to reply til I get home, thanks in advance.
The dealer replaced the "Control Assembly", part #9380441. They said that there were no codes. That helped somewhat, but I still need to fiddle with the temp control too much. Any suggestions for the next attempt?
I'll be out of town for a few days and not able to reply til I get home, thanks in advance.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (Gearhead Jim)
I am having similar "issues" and so far I have chalked it up to operator error. When it is about 40 degrees outside, I seem to get cold air, and I am never cold it is always my wife who is cold. I have been shutting off the compressor and turning down the fan. But I do have to crank the temp request up to get heat similar to your situation. I just figured I don't know how to use it and have brought the owner's manual into the house to read.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,952
Likes: 2,668
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (vettenuts)
Changing the setting on the passenger side MAY effect the main (driver's) temp, but that is not a factor with my case- the passenger temp is always in the middle position. If my system can't be made to work any better, then I don't want the Dealer messing with it. But if I have a problem that can be corrected, then I want it done.
I've read the manual twice and watched the video three times, so I don't think that I have "pilot error."
I've read the manual twice and watched the video three times, so I don't think that I have "pilot error."
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 0
From: The Usual Suspects Yorba Linda Chapter
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (Gearhead Jim)
Jim
My 2002 works the same way....very strange. I think this subject has been posted before and that's just how it works. :confused:
My 2002 works the same way....very strange. I think this subject has been posted before and that's just how it works. :confused:
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas USA Texas
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (Gearhead Jim)
My car used to work great, then one day the drivers side blew hot and the passenger side cool. The control assembly was replaced to fix this. Now it acts just like yours, drives me nuts....
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (Gearhead Jim)
I guess mine is working as designed and I hate the damm thing. I really wanted the manual system after test driving a 99 with both systems but like most C5's not ordered by an individual the dealers load all this crap on it. Looks like getting a manual system is even harder today if you want things like the HUD and memory etc.
Tom
USAF Retired
Tom
USAF Retired
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,952
Likes: 2,668
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (AFVETTE)
Well, I could put it in Manual and store that as my memory setting, but since mine worked OK for the first winter, I'm still hoping to get it right.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Falls Church,Va
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (Gearhead Jim)
Mine works the same way when the weather is cold-first too hot then after a while it finds the right temp. It seems to work fine in hot weather though. This is the first GM car I have owned with automatic temperature control and I have to say I'm not too impressed. Other manufacturers seem to do better.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
From: Elkridge MD
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (2thDr)
I think either GM has changed something or they have been calibrated differently at the plant. The '98 I had was great. Whatever I set the temp to, it worked! On my '02 I am constantly turning it up and down. I asked my dealer about it and he said they would "re-flash" it, but I don't think they did. Oh well :rolleyes:
[Modified by MVP, 9:05 AM 4/18/2002]
[Modified by MVP, 9:05 AM 4/18/2002]
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 3
From: Southern NH
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (Gearhead Jim)
Jim:
It's possible your interior temp sensor is not working properly. If your temperature does not adjust according to the setting, then one of three things can also play a role in the temperature of the air coming out of the system:
- Outside Air Temp Sensor - likely not a problem or you'd see strand readings for the outside temp on your climate control disply.
- Sun Load Sensor - it adjusts HVAC controls based on the the strength of the sun (and maybe heat). It sits on the top of the dash to the right of the defog vent.
- Inside Air Temp Sensor - Adjusts HVAC controls based on the difference between the temp setting and what the sensor is measuring. It sits right next to the ignition.
My first guess would be to see if Inside Temp Sensor is blocked or not properly seated. If you had any work done that required the removal of the lower dash panel or in the vicinity of that sensor, that could have caused a problem.
Hope that helps.
:cheers:
It's possible your interior temp sensor is not working properly. If your temperature does not adjust according to the setting, then one of three things can also play a role in the temperature of the air coming out of the system:
- Outside Air Temp Sensor - likely not a problem or you'd see strand readings for the outside temp on your climate control disply.
- Sun Load Sensor - it adjusts HVAC controls based on the the strength of the sun (and maybe heat). It sits on the top of the dash to the right of the defog vent.
- Inside Air Temp Sensor - Adjusts HVAC controls based on the difference between the temp setting and what the sensor is measuring. It sits right next to the ignition.
My first guess would be to see if Inside Temp Sensor is blocked or not properly seated. If you had any work done that required the removal of the lower dash panel or in the vicinity of that sensor, that could have caused a problem.
Hope that helps.
:cheers:
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,952
Likes: 2,668
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (JC in XTC5)
John-
The problem seems to exist even when it's dark outside, so I don't think that the Sun Load Sensor is involved.
Your idea about the Inside Air Temp Sensor sounds good- the radio shop removed the center dash panel when they installed a hidden switch for my Valentine. But I mentioned that possibility to the Chevy tech, and he said he had checked it. He also stated that there were no codes indicated and implied that a disconnected inside air temp sensor should show a code. Any thoughts on that, or how I can check it out myself?
The problem seems to exist even when it's dark outside, so I don't think that the Sun Load Sensor is involved.
Your idea about the Inside Air Temp Sensor sounds good- the radio shop removed the center dash panel when they installed a hidden switch for my Valentine. But I mentioned that possibility to the Chevy tech, and he said he had checked it. He also stated that there were no codes indicated and implied that a disconnected inside air temp sensor should show a code. Any thoughts on that, or how I can check it out myself?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 24,952
Likes: 2,668
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (Gearhead Jim)
This morning the dealer worked on my temperature control problem again. I got to watch some of the work; the scan showed no codes, and the electrical values from the interior temp sensor were normal. We also inspected the sensor for blockage or damage but found nothing unusual. The tech called the GM tech line for suggestions but they had nothing else to recommend, and no one could find any bulletins related to this. So I guess I'll live with it.
The problem is better since they replaced the controller but still not a "set it at 72 and forget it" situation like I'd prefer.
The problem is better since they replaced the controller but still not a "set it at 72 and forget it" situation like I'd prefer.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
From: Austin, Texas USA Texas
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (jefffxdwg)
My car used to work great, then one day the drivers side blew hot and the passenger side cool. The control assembly was replaced to fix this. Now it acts just like yours, drives me nuts....
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Panama City Florida
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (jefffxdwg)
MY LCD screen is still out.. I bought a new HVAC unit from someone off this forum, but have yet to have a chance to install it! >:o
So, I guess we'll see. But mine does the same thing too. If I turn it down it blows "hotter" than normal... and then all of the sudden it starts blowing at 10 degress... and the seperate passenger control doesn't work... well, sometimes it works.
So, I guess we'll see. But mine does the same thing too. If I turn it down it blows "hotter" than normal... and then all of the sudden it starts blowing at 10 degress... and the seperate passenger control doesn't work... well, sometimes it works.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
From: Fontana CA
Re: Problem with Automatic Climate Control (Fivo Killer)
The one in my (early) 2001 works excellent. I do adjust it some for optimal comfort but only between 73 and 75. I guess I am one of the lucky ones.
You guys do have me a bit discouraged though. I also have a 2002 Suburban with automatic climate control. It acts like you guys are describing. It has been in once and they found the BCM was full of false codes. They replaced the BCM and said that may be the problem, if it does not do the trick bring it back. I was going to take it back but you guys are making me thing it may be hopeless. I will probably take it back anyway because the retained accessory power only works intermittently.
You guys do have me a bit discouraged though. I also have a 2002 Suburban with automatic climate control. It acts like you guys are describing. It has been in once and they found the BCM was full of false codes. They replaced the BCM and said that may be the problem, if it does not do the trick bring it back. I was going to take it back but you guys are making me thing it may be hopeless. I will probably take it back anyway because the retained accessory power only works intermittently.
