The blinking number means that you have a stored diagnostic code that will tell you exactly what is wrong with your system. Only the dealer can get it out for you.

Thanks a lot for the pictures uri, i can see what you are talking about but I am afraid I would have to remove the whole dash to get to it. I can't reach it from below and all I see in the glove box is the plastic assembly that carries the air to the glove box vents and the air bag directly above it.
Thanks fuddy I might have to go to the dealer. The only other thing I might try is to see if a wreckers will let me swap control panels.
Can you tell me if you have a phone number for ZZP. I want to get a sc coupler and I can't get a response by e-mail and their 1-877 number doesnt' work from Canada. Or can I get a coupler anywhere else? Thanks

Okay, wait a minute here...

First of all, don't waste your time swapping control panels; that would be like shooting the messenger. The blinking temperature display (it will blink at you for two minutes after startup, then light constantly after that) means that one or more error codes have been stored. If you get the codes out, that will give you a large clue about what's wrong. If the mixing door is hung up (which it sounds like it is), it may tell you that. There's certainly no point in ripping out half the dash without first extracting the error code(s).

I think there's a TechInfo article on how to do that; follow the link at the top of this screen... Wait, here you go:

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/techinfo/?article=45

So if you haven't got your error code(s) out yet, do that before you do anything else.

Whoops, I see FuddyDuddy's note about how that procedure may not work on 1996 models... What the heck, try it and see.

In any event, get the codes out however you need to _first_; that's what they're there for.

Yes, someone tried that on the 95-99 models with no success. I don't think the problem is the control head. The stored code will tell you the problem.

Problem solved!!. Did a little more troubleshooting on my own and found the actuator motor that controls the air mix door was faulty. Uri sent a couple of good pictures of the dash apart showing where it was located but is is impossible to reach on cars with the air bag. I could see only two solutions. Remove the whole dash as Uri did or cut through the air duct behind the glove box. I cut through the air duct just to the right of the left outlet, removed it, and glued it back in place when I finished. This makes the job quite easy. Now if I can just figure out how those little black boxes fit back up under there I will have everything back in place.
Thanks for the help guys.

It's good to hear you got it solved :-)

btw, did you ever get my reply to your email from a week ago or so?