Automatic Climate Control Probs

Tiny
OUWXMAN4
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  • OLDSMOBILE
I have a 1996 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, 137000 miles, 3.8L V6, 3800 series II engine. I have an automatic climate control. The air heats and cools properly but the air will only come out of the defroster and floor. It will not come out of the panel vents. Where is the location of the part that controls this?
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Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 AT 7:27 PM

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Tiny
CHEVY22
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There are basically two parts, the head on the dash and some blend door motors under the dash controlling which doors open and or close to direct air, check for vacuum leaks, if your head is the electronic one which I think it is and you can read a volt/ohm meter I can tell you how to check the head
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Thursday, February 22nd, 2007 AT 7:06 AM
Tiny
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Thanks for the advice. I will see if I can find any vacuum leaks. I haven't spent much time on it yet.

I found the temperature blend control behind the glove box. I also found several colored vacuum tubes going in it as well. I have not torn the dash apart yet. Is this appartus where the colored tubes go in where the air direction is controlled? Should I assume the other end of those tubes goes to the control head on the dash?

I do have the electronic climate control. I think its working properly as the air direction responds slightly to when I change it, but pretty much air comes out the defroster and floor no matter what you choose. I can try the voltmeter, however.

I do appreciate your help as I have not worked with automatic climate controls before.
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Thursday, February 22nd, 2007 AT 10:34 AM
Tiny
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OK, so there is vacuum to the programmer box. There are two choices, either the progammer box is bad, or the vacuum motor is bad on the panel vents. No matter what is chosen on the climate control air always comes out the defroster and the floor. Sometimes one side is a little more than the other depending on what u pick. But not much.

I am not really wanting to tear out the entire dash to get to the vacuum motor. Any gut feelings on which is the more likely? Since nothing really moves at all I lean on the programmer box, but again I am not that experienced with these things. Also how do you get that darned vacuum plug off the programmer? That long screw makes it tough on a standard socket.

Anyone have thoughts or comments?
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Friday, February 23rd, 2007 AT 8:09 PM
Tiny
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The problem was the vacuum connection at the programmer box. It was getting vacuum but at the connection on the programmer box all the connectors were crimped and shut. No vacuum was transferred to any motor. This can be fixed by taking out the connector completely or taking a very thin metal rod (i.E. Straight pin) and forcing inside each hole to open them up. I also used a can of compressed air to force air through each one. Everything works fine now.

The only problem I have now is that the temperatures blinks for about a minute when the car comes on. It runs from full hot to full cold, then to whereever its set for during this time. After that, operation is fine. I guess I must have done something it didn't like. I don't know if this was a pre-existing problem or not but the passenger side is colder than the driver's side during a blended temp. Both sides still go full hot and full cold. Strange car that I have.

Anyone have any ideas?
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Sunday, February 25th, 2007 AT 9:03 AM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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Good fix im glad you have gotten that far, simply you can ht the sontrols are lay under the the quickly to see if the bend doors are opening or moving at all, if you have doors opening on both sides which they probably aren't you either have a blend door issue on one side or since the contol head is whacky it may be there, hope this helps

thanks
jim
oh and leave some feedback if you were happy with your help, we all donate our time here helping others free of charge
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Sunday, February 25th, 2007 AT 10:07 AM
Tiny
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They both operate correctly. Both passenger and driver go to full hot and cold, but its when the hot and cold is blended the passenger and driver blend differently. Yes, the passenger control is diasbled and both are operating on the same thermostat setting. I honestly don't know if this was a pre-existing problem or not. I never had air out my vents to even know. The temperature never blinked before I removed the programmer box yesterday. Apparently I must have done something it didn't like. I do know that when I reinstalled the programmer box I accidently forgot to plug in the passenger actuator motor. I thought that once I plugged it back in it would be fine. Apparently not. Is there a way to clear the climate control of its fault code - if it has one?
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Sunday, February 25th, 2007 AT 10:58 AM
Tiny
CHEVY22
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You can try to pull the batt neg cable but I think the problem may be in the head if all doors are opening

thanks
jim

oh and leave some feedback if you were happy with your help, we all donate our time here helping others free of charge
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Sunday, February 25th, 2007 AT 11:19 AM

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