I have no HVAC control. The display currently reads " - - - " (and nothing else). I've checked my fuses (all under the dash) and all appears to be well.

I have also swapped the display and control head with another from my "other" 92 SSEi and got the same result.

Any ideas?

One other clue- this occured after the car had sat for a couple of weeks resulting in a dead battery. Once the car was restarted, I noticed the head unit being dead (or at least non-responsive).

Winter is coming, I can deal with the cold, but the defroster would be aweful nice!

Thanks,

Tony.

Tony, can you please put '92 SSEi' in your signature by editing your profile? It'll help us help you.

The second most likely suspect for a 'dead' system is the HVAC controller located above the passenger footwell hush panel. Below the glovebox next to the PCM. Black sucker with a red wire connector.

Considering you have a parts car, I'd try swapping that first. It'* really the only other component in the system other than a wire or fuse that can cause no data to be displayed.

If you had a flashing temperature display, it might be a different story.

Shouldn't he be able to enter the diagnostic mode and get fault codes being a pre-94 system?

Do you have a radio connected, or have you added a aftermarket radio? If I am not mistaken, the 92/93 ECC got power from the radio harness, and if not connected you will get "---".

Plus with the "---", you will not be able to enter the diagnostic mode.

I've tried to get into diagnostic mode but the panel appears to be non-responsive.

The fact that it lights up ' - - - ' is making me crazy. If it were completely dead I think I could deal with it better (and assume it was just dead). The message is just taunting me.

Tony.

The radio is connected and does work just fine. It is the factory unit but I cannot say whether or not someone had monkeyed with it in the past.

Thanks for the lead.

Diagnostic mode is impossible with --- displayed, which is why I didn't even mention it.

The only link between the OEM radio and the ECC is the dimmer circuit. The radio (aftermarket or oem) will have no negative effect on the ECC'* ability to display.

Go after the HVAC controller first. It'* the most likely culprit, and should be ruled out since you have a spare car of the same year.

Well guys, I have a functional HVAC system now. The only problem is that I have no idea what I did to fix it.

Per the provided advice, I went to swap the controllers between my two cars to try to narrow down my problem. After about an hour of fighting to get one of the controllers out, it was getting dark so I started to give up for the night. For giggles, I plugged in the main connector and keyed up the car and like magic it worked. I've had heat for two days now and it acts like nothing was ever wrong. ''


While the advice didn't prescribe the actual fix, it at least motivated me to tear in a little deeper and get it up and running on accident.

Could it be that there is a memory in the controller that simply needed to be powered down and reset? My intellectual side isn't satisfied just knowing that it works, it wants to know WHY as well.

Thanks again and if you have an explanation as to the why, I'm all ears (or in this case, all eyes). ''

THE SAME THING happened to me. I unplugged the HVAC programmer and started doing some voltage tests, and when i plugged it back in, voila: working ECC. This was about 5 years ago and no problems since, so you'll probably be alright.

For the record, my ECC did not become dead as a result of a dead battery...I just started the car one day and it said ---.


is right.

The HVAC programmer has no memory.

Both of you had corroded or loose contacts on the red connector.