Blinking Temp

The digital readout on my AC/outside temp blinks for about a minute when I start the car. It is a '96 Riv. Also, while that is happening there is a rhythmic squeaking sound coming from behind the center of the dash, like an air door is trying to seal or move.

Any ideas? Normal for a 96?

Yardley wrote:

The digital readout on my AC/outside temp blinks for about a minute when I start the car. It is a '96 Riv. Also, while that is happening there is a rhythmic squeaking sound coming from behind the center of the dash, like an air door is trying to seal or move.

Any ideas? Normal for a 96?

The blinking indicates there is a fault in the climate control system, what you are hearing is probably that fault. One of the blend door motors is most likely failing.

The blinking and noise started this week with my 97. The noise started when the temp was warm enough for me to turn down to the lowest setting. If I move the temp from 60 to 65, the noise goes away. The blinking generally stops after a few seconds when the gauge adjust for ambient outdoor temperature.

Are you using the climate control on automatic? I leave mine set to 70 most of the time and usually only touch the vent button to run the ac compressor or not.  When the flashing stops is normal, I believe it only flashes for 60 seconds to indicate that there is a trouble code and then goes to normal operation.

stydel311 wrote:

Are you using the climate control on automatic? I leave mine set to 70 most of the time and usually only touch the vent button to run the ac compressor or not.  When the flashing stops is normal, I believe it only flashes for 60 seconds to indicate that there is a trouble code and then goes to normal operation.

I use auto for AC but mostly it is in the off position. When I hit auto, the system goes rock and roll until I can manage temp and fan speed.

Yardley wrote:

The digital readout on my AC/outside temp blinks for about a minute when I start the car. It is a '96 Riv. Also, while that is happening there is a rhythmic squeaking sound coming from behind the center of the dash, like an air door is trying to seal or move.

Any ideas? Normal for a 96?

Is this normal, hmmmmm....?

When I am  trying to figure out if something is normal or not, I think to myself, "if I was buying this car new and it did this during a test drive, would I still consider buying it?"

Albertj

PS: I think this climate control issue is def one for the factory service manual.  I dimly recall some sort of HVAC-self-test-calibration action in the FSM but I don't think this is it.