climate control question

by **Laurie** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 11:51 am

I have a 2000 Solara and last week the nob that digitally changes the temperature setting got stuck on 74 degrees. Everything works, it's just that the nob sensor or whatever isn't working. I took the nob off and the moon shaped shaft turns just like the nob, but the temp is still stuck. So I brought it to a Toyota dealer expecting this to be a quick, easy fix. They want to replace the entire climate control assembly for just under $1000. They also wanted to do the transmission fluid flush and said my injectors needed to be cleaned - something about carbon deposits. I took the car to Midas who said I didn't need either of those things done. So I think I don't need this whole climate control assembly either. I'm wondering if this has happeded to anyone else or if y'all have any suggestions. $1000 for a bunk nob is outlandish. Thanks for reading.

by **Ilovemylara** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:10 pm

hmmm... before you do anything unhook your battery for a min or two... then reconnect and try it again...

by **Ilovemylara** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:11 pm

I always hear about toyota's having h-vac problems.. on my lara for example.. even though the air would be completely off i can still hear the h-vac motors actuating...

by **Eye8Pussies** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 1:01 pm

yeah...if you're lucky, it could be an electronic thing, and maybe pulling your batter may work.

otherwise, start looking around jukyards and ebay. they still won't be cheap, but it'll be better than 1K from the dealer

by **Mr_Chunkz** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 1:10 pm

HVAC Units pulled from junkyard cars should not be TOO bad...
I wonder how hard it would be to swap an Auto Climate control unit into where an HVAC unit sat before? If its not too hard LatinUSMC Has an Auto Climate control for 50 shipped

http://www.solaraguy.com/viewtopic.php?t=38594

by **Camry Racing** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 1:54 pm

Mr_Chunkz wrote:HVAC Units pulled from junkyard cars should not be TOO bad...
I wonder how hard it would be to swap an Auto Climate control unit into where an HVAC unit sat before? If its not too hard LatinUSMC Has an Auto Climate control for 50 shipped

http://www.solaraguy.com/viewtopic.php?t=38594

I also will want to know that I will prefer to have a digital climate control rather than my current nobs

by **lilm** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:08 pm

when i had the digital climate control in my sle it was colder than the a/c in my se now...

by **gnegroni** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:27 pm

If you want, find somebody who works electronics to take a look at it. Maybe he can find a damaged component, pick up one from Radio Shack, remove old and solder new in.

by **Eye8Pussies** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 5:30 pm

nice...50 bucks for a replacement is a great price for sure...should be plug and play

as for the people who want the sle digital unit- you could...but I think most people who have tried gave up, since you'll have to find and wire the climate control sensors as well....don't remember what it was that made it so hard, but I think there were just a lot of components

and in regards to people wanting it....it's ironic...because I'd rather have the manual knobs one...the digital one is not that user friendly when you're driving and you have to really look down to change the settings. That, and for the automatic climate control to really work, the a/c has to always be on so that the unit can cool down the temp when it needs to

by **Laurie** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:51 pm

Good thought on the battery. I'll try that in the morning. Thanks a lot for the replies.

by **rt9101** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:42 pm

I can't believe they told you that you're fuel injectors have carbon buildup. On any port fuel injected car, if you really do have carbon buildup on anything, valves included, you have other problems. They most definately think you're stupid. That makes me mad

by **Laurie** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:56 pm

"They most definately think you're stupid. That makes me mad "

Yeah, i'm all bent out of shape about the whole thing with the dealer. I knew those things didn't need to be done at 40k miles. What's worse, is my husband went ahead and made the appt. to get the new climate control, so I gotta go there and be like, "yeah, you got me by the balls go ahead and shiester me for the grand". I was ready to freeze out the winter out of spite. My husband wasn't gonna let that happen though.

Thanks for the suggestion of unplugging the battery. To bad it wasn't that easy.

Thanks for all the replies.

by **JamesT** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:36 pm

Anyone else find it interesting that they were able to tell the injectors were dirty just by looking at the climate control? Those must be some amazing mechanics!

by **Solorange** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:09 pm

I believe the plugs on a climate control unit vs. the manual unit are slightly different. I actually found one at junk yard for $20 bucks. I think that was the only thing that was good in the interior since the windshield was cracked and the windows were down. Unfortunately I didn't have $20 bucks when I was out there. Otherwise I would have bought it for one of you lucky fellers!

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