Hey all. For awhile I have noticed that my digital exterior temperature gauge flashes when I first start the car. While its flashing, the A/C won't kick in and instead I get blasts of hot air. However, when it quits flashing, anywhere from 15 seconds to 2 minutes, the cool air pours in. Any ideas?

Hmmm...my '93 SSEi began flashing the temp a few months after I bought it in '99, but I wasn't so lucky...mine never stopped flashing, and didn't blow cold air. My compressor had to be replaced (along with the dessicant unit, pressure switch, etc.), then a leak was fixed, and then the radiator-like unit behind the dash had to be replaced, all within 6 months of ownership. It cost me $1,500 and they did the work on several different occasions until they got everything working again.

The digital climate control unit on my '92 and '93 have built-in diagnostics. You press and hold 2 buttons to start the diagnostics, but I don't remember which ones. I can look it up in the shop manual for you if you want. Anyway, the flashing temp might mean that there'* an error code stored. Mine was code 60 or something like that, which meant that it was low on freon.
Good luck with yours...maybe it'* just low on freon or something simple.

i hope it is too

I have a set of GM shop manuals, I'll look her up!

Lee

Ahhhhhhh The lovely temp flashing. Mine did this for a while, and unfortunately it only blows cold air on rare ocassions. Other than that its Hell on wheels with hot air blowing constantly. According to my dealership they said it was a Door Actuator behind my dash. $450 in Labor only, No parts considering all they have to do is remount the door. Thats gonna be a summer thing for me since I am too lazy to save for that right now.

interesting... I'm taking my car to a friend who has a tech1 and that'll tell me the code, I pray its something cheap or something I can do myself.

Lee

okay, i had my car scanned. After consulting my GM service manuals, it seems I need to replace my HVAC programmer. Anyone know anything about this? It doesn't sound like its going to be cheap!

Lee

can you get the buttons you push for the 92-93 units, i got a 92, and its flashed a couple times, but works great now.

Ryan.

HEY I HAVE A 1996 BONNEVILLE FLASHING LIGHT WITH NO COLD AIR > BUT PUMP IS WORKING. I THINK THAT THE LITTLE MOTOR THAT MOVE THE HOT TO COLD TEMP IS BAD??? ANY IDEAS???

ALSO HAVE A 1991 BUICK PARK AVE SUPERCHARCED WITH FLASHING READ OUT AND NO AC AT ALL?? ANY IDEAS??
KRS2@CHARTERMI.NET

Sounds exactly like my problem(*). I was told it was the air mx doors behind the dash as well, but its gonna cost you alot more than $450, the whole dash needs to come out. I'm doing it myself, I just hope once I put the car and dash back together the frekin thing works!!

Did anyone ever persue this further and find a cause / solution ?