Heat Control Problem

[bigcritter]

When I first got my car, when I changed the temperature adjustment from the lowest point to the highest point (with the A/C turned off), the air coming from the vents became progressively warmer, as it should be. In the last few days though, it's blowing cool air until the very top (hottest) position at 80 degrees, and then it's super heated air! Has anyone else had this problem? It seems that the adjustment or cable might have slipped or something, because now the range is off!

[Karl Roth]

Don't think you will find any cables that are manually operating valves in the system on this car. there are more likely dampers in the air path that vary temp. Not having a shop manual I can't point to a section and not having taken mine apart to see I don't know for sure and would probably take it to the dealer to get looked after. This is the first car I have ever owned that I could not get the shop manual for and the only thing I don't like about the car.
karl

[Evilution]

There is a cable that leads from the centre knob that directs the air.
Unlikely to come off but when mine did (I took the heater controller out of the car) it took me 45 minutes to reconnect, it's in an impossible place to reach.

[bigcritter]

O.K. Thanks to you both! I will be contacting the dealer today to set up an appointment to have it looked at.

[moleto]

as BigCritter. Had to move the temp dial up to 80 to get any heat. Guess I'll take to the dealer too.

[John_H]

As I mentioned on another thread (only get cold when they turn the dial *all* the way down) if anyone gets the repair done and gets the control module back, I'd love to have one to figure out how to rip it apart and to trace the signals.

Please PM if you get the module replaced and get the original part back from the service guy.

[SuperGeek]

I understood this to be normal... if you need heat in the summer, the climate control says, "Ok, you've set the dial to 78 degrees. It's 82 in here, so I'll give you outside air, and if you want A/C I'll cool it down further." But if you want heat, you have to set it to 80. I haven't had the car in the winter so I don't know how it works. The temp control doesn't control the air temp coming out of the vents. It controls the point at which the A/C compressor turns on and off, and whether automatic Recirc is activated. It's not the same as a red-blue dial, it's like your central A/C at home. It turns on when needed, off when not. Fan speed control is separate.

[moleto]

It was 57 degrees outside and the top was down, still no heat flow until turned to 80. Is that how it is supposed work?

[bigcritter]

Originally Posted by John_H

As I mentioned on another thread (only get cold when they turn the dial *all* the way down) if anyone gets the repair done and gets the control module back, I'd love to have one to figure out how to rip it apart and to trace the signals.

Please PM if you get the module replaced and get the original part back from the service guy.

If they have to replace the module, I'll ask if I can keep the old one! If they agree, I'll PM you about sending it down your way. Unless you're coming to the Prosser Rally............if I can get it replaced in time!!

[bigcritter]

Originally Posted by moleto

It was 57 degrees outside and the top was down, still no heat flow until turned to 80. Is that how it is supposed work?

When I first got my car in May, I used the heater sometimes at night going home from work. It worked just like it should, and I was getting heat at around 68-70 degrees. Now, even (as you said, such as last night) it was 55 degrees, and I even checked by rolling both windows down. Made NO difference whatsoever! Nothing but cold air until the temp control was ALL THE WAY to the top at 80-82 degrees. THEN, I had way more heat than I would probably EVER want!
P.S. Supergeek. If I remember correctly from when I read the manual, the "Climate Control" feature really only works with the Air conditioner, where it actually maintains a certain temp. I don't believe it works the same way with the heater. With the heater, the control lever seems to work more like the blue/red control on most vehicles. The farther up you move the control, the warmer the air becomes! :>)