FAQ: Warm/Hot Air on Drivers Side, Cold on Passenger Side

is the wiring for it still there? If so can you hook up a replacement? You say the HVAC control unit is giving the interior temp all the time?

who knows.I do know from watchng ac videos that charging the ac with store bought freon cans is not the way to go.inacurate and damaging to the system.Its allmost that you buy your own set of gauges and service yourself.

great video

Natesriv wrote:

is the wiring for it still there? If so can you hook up a replacement? You say the HVAC control unit is giving the interior temp all the time?

Yes I only see interior temp or the temp the I turn my HVAC system to. It also flashes the interior temp. I believe the wiring is still there its just (2) wires without any plug attached.

I wouldn't doubt that an open cicruit (the missing temp gauge) can cause the flashing.
I don't think it would exactly cause your interior temp problem....there's an internal temp gauge too...

Odd..

Definately would junk yard (or Morad auto parts) a "new one"

Natesriv wrote:

I wouldn't doubt that an open cicruit (the missing temp gauge) can cause the flashing.
I don't think it would exactly cause your interior temp problem....there's an internal temp gauge too...

Odd..

Definately would junk yard (or Morad auto parts) a "new one"

Thanks - If it is possibly a blend door not closing or opening - where would that be located and what parts do I need to inspect? I get warm air on my drivers side, middle vent and rear vent.

I wish I had good news guys after completely tearing apart the dash but I don't! I mean I took out the center console, every trim piece under the dash, the cover for the heater core, the top dash pad and you name it. I'll take some pictures but hell if I can find the problem. All my blend doors seem to operate from stop to stop. My next course of action is to remove the entire dash and tear into the hvac unit!

If this wasn't so damm exspensive I would buy it and disect it to remedy the problem.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/95-99-Buick-Riviera-Aurora-AC-Evaporator-Heater-Core-/230360333544

I need to decide if I should go for it and take the dash out or say forget it. What would you do? I'm not sure how much more involved it is. I'm pretty sure it has to be a blockage on the evap core.

Shiiiit! you got this far! why not go all the way!

yep,go all the way....

Well, after tearing out the dash I was able to get my hands on the evap coil inside the hvac box. Get this, only one side of it was cooling so I was like . Decided to go to the auto store and buy a can of freon. Guess what, it's cold as "ICE" now on both sides. So, the morale of the story is this, don't pull apart the dash if you only have ac on the passenger side like I did and waste a whole Saturday!

Lesson learned.

Haha! dont worry my friend we all been there!


But I gotta say..you sure did a thorough job! Oh man!

...was always thinking this.......since everything is taken out,could it be possible to take a Park Ave. dash wiring harness (should fit in the Riv) with HUD,swap them out and this way we have the same harness connecting the dash plus a hanging HUD wire.
Paul is there space in the front for the Heads Up Display?

stan wrote:

...was always thinking this.......since everything is taken out,could it be possible to take a Park Ave. dash wiring harness (should fit in the Riv) with HUD,swap them out and this way we have the same harness connecting the dash plus a hanging HUD wire.
Paul is there space in the front for the Heads Up Display?

Not sure, how big of a unit is it? I still have the dash pad off I could measure if I knew the dim".

Paul

96RIVMANN wrote:

stan wrote:

...was always thinking this.......since everything is taken out,could it be possible to take a Park Ave. dash wiring harness (should fit in the Riv) with HUD,swap them out and this way we have the same harness connecting the dash plus a hanging HUD wire.
Paul is there space in the front for the Heads Up Display?

Not sure, how big of a unit is it? I still have the dash pad off I could measure if I knew the dim".

Paul

So what did you find the problem to be? I have the same issue.

I'm really glad I tried the Freon first.

HOLY SHEET!! I was thiking of doing that...now I'm NOT!!!

So that's the coil...but did you see anything with the doors which the actuator turns? I could never get a good look at that airlow door, which blocks off the heater... OR is that the heater core

I'm having my system vacuumed and refilled properly!

MAN!!!!! Did it all go back together okay? Or were there extra parts left over??

He he only one screw left over and hell if I can remember where it goes. It wasn't to bad but let's just say If I had to do it over again I think I'd pass. The coil you see is the heater core which btw is hot as hell after trouble shooting the servos for and hour. Don't ask me how I know that! Anyway, the sevro doors were all working properly Nate so I'll bet a vacuum refill will fix yours as well. There must me some sort of pressure switch in the evap coil or something like that, that shuts one side of it down. I know it sounds crazy but it's the truth just look at the pain I caused myself when all I had to do was add a can of freon!

I did add a can and it helped, but I will have a pro do it from vacuum to back up.

See if it can hold a vacuum too...

GUYS GUYS GUYS!!!!!

I've had the car at Meineke for two weeks getting a bunch of stuff done (no time table)..

That included the a/c.

They vacuumed out the system, put in some dye, and recharged. It blows very cold air out the center vents!!!

SO... AND I'LL ALL CAPS THIS. IF YOU CAN VERIFY YOUR TWO ACUATORS THAT CONTROL THE CENTER AND AND PASSENGER VENTS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY, HAVE SOMEONE (OR IF YOU HAVE THE TOOLS) VACUUM THE SYSTEM, CHECK FOR LEAKS, AND REFILL THE SYSTEM WITH THE PROPER REFIGERANT. THAT MAY SOLVE IT!!! IT DID ME!!!

Can someone point to me a write up that describes how to add a can of freon? I am clueless. Thank you.

there's a link a few pages back here on how to do it like a pro. If you buy the store bought cans... get one with the tube/gauge. Unscrew the lower pressure cap under the hood (you'll see two ac caps...the low one is the one closest to the firewall, right back by the passenger side). Turn on car and ac to max cold,press that tube/gauge onto the low side and spray. watch the gauge to make sure you don't over pressurize it...and every 30 seconds, tilt the can upside down for a few seconds to add oil as well *( the can is a mix of oil/referigerant).. have someone or you periodically check the vents...see if they get cooler.

BUT, I tried that too...didn't really work well.. I finally had the system totally evacuated and recharged...problem solved (unless I do have a slow leak, and the dye will help find it)

Thanks, Nate. I have hope cause passenger side is still cold!

edited my directions some. You actually press the tube/gauge onto the low pressure part...you'll see.

It doesn't hurt to try that first. Buy a can and put it in. Originally my a/c was warm all over, bought a can and that did the trick. But it got low again...so that's when I let Meineke do it with the right tools.

So, I'd buy one just to see if it works, and if it buys you some time before going to the "pros"...then that's a bonus...