Climate Control Issue

[white06lacrossecxs]

I am having a climate control issue. I recently had to have an afterblow module installed on my car. After using the car and the A/C has been used. The afterblow module will work ok. But when I get into the car after it has sat for a little while and I start the car again the air will only come from the floor outlets no matter what setting I choose on the controls. I have the automatic system btw. But if I turn off the system for a few seconds by pressing off and turning it back on it will work normally. Its getting annoying. A friend of mine said that the system might be out of calibration or that I will just have to live with it. Any ideas?

[imidazol97]

I am having a climate control issue. I recently had to have an afterblow module installed on my car. After using the car and the A/C has been used. The afterblow module will work ok. But when I get into the car after it has sat for a little while and I start the car again the air will only come from the floor outlets no matter what setting I choose on the controls. I have the automatic system btw. But if I turn off the system for a few seconds by pressing off and turning it back on it will work normally. Its getting annoying. A friend of mine said that the system might be out of calibration or that I will just have to live with it. Any ideas?

Why do you need an afterblow module? What exactly is that to do--leave the blower running for a few minutes?

I would expect that the original programmer for the car would have the capability of leaving the blower motor running for a set period. For some reason, I thought our cars could have that set with a Tech II.

[ddalder]

I am having a climate control issue. I recently had to have an afterblow module installed on my car. After using the car and the A/C has been used. The afterblow module will work ok. But when I get into the car after it has sat for a little while and I start the car again the air will only come from the floor outlets no matter what setting I choose on the controls. I have the automatic system btw. But if I turn off the system for a few seconds by pressing off and turning it back on it will work normally. Its getting annoying. A friend of mine said that the system might be out of calibration or that I will just have to live with it. Any ideas?

Who installed the module?

Why do you need an afterblow module? What exactly is that to do--leave the blower running for a few minutes?

I would expect that the original programmer for the car would have the capability of leaving the blower motor running for a set period. For some reason, I thought our cars could have that set with a Tech II.

Afterblow allows the HVAC fan to remove some of the accumulated condensation and avoid a musty smell in the cabin. There is also a chemical available to kill anything already growing in there. Not all GM vehicles have the afterblow option available. Yes, the 2K+ Bonneville does (I've turned mine on) and likely some other GM's but there are many that don't.

[CMNTMXR57]

Sounds like either the module you had installed and/or the wiring/installation...

You shouldn't need to install a separate module to do this. As mentioned, our cars have this feature already in the HVAC system, it just needs to be turned on. It is off from the factory. It can be turned on/off with a Tech2.

But even then afterblow will only work for 4 seconds as long as the following criteria are met;
1) Engine has been off for at least 45 minutes.
2) At least 12 volts in system (battery)
3) Temperature is 70*F minimum
4) The A/C was on for more than 3 minutes the last time the engine was on.

[white06lacrossecxs]

A GM dealer installed this and they said that the Afterblow feature isn't included in the lacrosse (if somebody can check this it would be great) and it was because mold was growing on the Evaporator.

[CMNTMXR57]

Sorry, I thought you had a Bonneville too and were talking about that. :D

The only way to find out unless someone has a 2006 service manual would be to hook up their Tech2 and see if the option exists in the PCM's parameters. I can't with mine cause I'm a wee bit away from California.

[ddalder]

A GM dealer installed this and they said that the Afterblow feature isn't included in the lacrosse (if somebody can check this it would be great) and it was because mold was growing on the Evaporator.

I would talk with them about this because what you've described for operation just isn't acceptable. Do you know if they added the chemical I mentioned?

Chances are good that if the parameter does exist it'll be in a/the BCM. In the Bonneville, it's in either the DIM or IPM (can't recall off the top of my head which it was). Unfortunately I no longer have access to some resources I once had so I don't think I can tell you anything more regarding your vehicle. I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear the Lacrosse doesn't have this built in (many vehicles don't).

Have you talked with anyone on a Buick/Lacrosse forum who's had one of these installed? The dealership installed one in my parents Montana. It seemed to basically work, except for the occasional flash fog while driving in the winter. I ended up taking the module out because it was hazardous when they all of a sudden couldn't see. Sometimes I think these "after-thoughts" aren't any better than the orignals

[imidazol97]

A GM dealer installed this and they said that the Afterblow feature isn't included in the lacrosse (if somebody can check this it would be great) and it was because mold was growing on the Evaporator.

Did a Buick dealer install the after blow unit?

I'd call a dealer and ask the question about whether it's a setting that can be turned on in your car to operate the blower to help dry the evaporator.

Things I'd check, but I realize I'm in a different climate:

Does the drain tube for the evaporator water drip that water out easily? Is it open?

I don't know where or how you park your car..., but I park ours in our garage and I leave the windows down to allow air to more easily move through the HVAC box and help dry the evaporator.

I also park the car outside on the driveway and leave the windows down fully on low humidity sunny days to dry the moisture. I also will leave the car parked outside with the windows down an inch--sometimes all windows, sometimes windows on the leeward side when there's a breeze so that the slight vacuum created can draw air in through the cowl and through the HVAC box.

I also turn off the AC for the last 1/2 mile home and turn the blower on high to help avoid parking the car with an evaporator that is completely wet.

Occasionally I've had smells from sitting wet in various cars. I've tried Lysol (terrible stench afterwards for a while that I left windows down to try to air out). I've tried Febreeze which helps any smells but probably doesn't disinfect the evaporator. I believe there are other things that can be sprayed into the cowl vents while the heater blower is ON to suck the air through the HVAC box and hope to kill the mildew or mold.

If I recall, GM had a spray that they used to foam the evaporator cores on H-bodies (Bonnevilles/LeSabres). They used the hole for the blower motor speed control and sprayed it in. Then after sitting a while, it was slowly sprayed with water to rinse it out through the regular evaporator drain. I do not want to recommend that because I don't know if the evaporators were originally coated to resist mildew/mole--I read posts about Toyota having problems with a coating they placed on the original evaporators flaking off. Don't know if GM used that kind of process on certain vehicles.

[white06lacrossecxs]

I took it to a Chevrolet dealer. The guy said he was sure it didn't because according to him its a very similar system on the Impala. It is covered under warranty. I took it in and they said the smell was caused by a clogged drain. They did spray the coating onto the evaporator. But I have noticed that Im getting a sight wisp of the smell again so I don't know if the drain is clogged again. If the Chevrolet dealer can't figure it out, I might take it to a Buick dealer to figure it out because im starting to get really annoyed.

[00Beast]

Is there a specific reason you took it to the chevy dealer in the first place (IE: 30 miles closer)? I would have taken it to the Buick dealer in the first place, if possible.

[white06lacrossecxs]

In hindsight I probably should have taken it to the buick dealer to start with but they said they had no information how do deal with my original issue and just kept returing the car. Got fed up and called the Chevrolet dealer and they said they knew what to do.

[white06lacrossecxs]

I called the dealer that I took my car to. (Chevrolet) They said that they didn't install the module because the Lacrosse already has that feature built into the A/C module and they enabled it. I explained about the door issue and spoke with the Service Manager and he said he will check out the issue personally. So we shall see.

[white06lacrossecxs]

A little up date. The dealer had this car for 4 days. They said the mode door actuator went bad they changed it. They also said that they were having problems "programming the actuator" but gave it back saying it was fixed. Took it home and it still doesn't work. I called the dealer friday evening and they said to bring it back again. Im starting to wonder whats going on with this thing. I called an indie mechanic. He said he thinks its the module memory is messed up. If pressing off and hearing the door reset and the fact they said that they had "trouble programming" it probably means the control module is gone. What do you guys think?