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Pontiac Bonneville Heating/Cooling Problems

231 messages,  Last post on Feb 13, 2013 at 8:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Pontiac Bonneville, Heating / Cooling, Sedan

Messages Page 23 of 24

#218 of 231 Heat is constantly on by nburkholder

May 26, 2012 (2:36 pm)

Hi,
I have a 96 Bonneville and got the a/c fixed a few summers ago and then it went out again the next summer. I don’t want to dump a ton of money into it but it allows heat in on the floor board all the time. When i turn the blower on i can switch between floor, vent, and defrost, but when everything is off heat pores in from the floor board making summers miserable. What can i do so that when the unit is off no air comes through any port?

#219 of 231 Heat flows through vents by nburkholder

May 26, 2012 (6:56 pm)

Hi,
I have a 96 Bonneville and got the a/c fixed a few summers ago and then it went out again the next summer. I don’t want to dump a ton of money into it but it allows heat in thru all vents, floorboard vent, and defrost at all times. When i turn the blower on i can switch between floor, vent, and defrost, but when everything is off heat continues to flow in thru all vents though the blower is off. Please help!!!

#220 of 231 96 Bonneville no heat by tgonya

Nov 26, 2012 (8:35 am)

I have a 96 Bonneville with 200K milage and have been experiencing the heat issues that evidently many other bonneville owners have suffered. (i.e. the system closes the blend door after about a minute of operation and only cold air comes out after that).
 
Reading through all the various discussions on this particular issue (and trying all the various solutions offered), I've come to the conclusion that it's something that is a) quite common to this particular heating system, and b) even if I replace all the electronic parts (have replaced the "head unit" already), there's no guaranteeing this won't happen yet again.
 
So, my question here is simply how do I go about disconnecting the actuator motor (hopefully without damaging it) to where the blend door stays in the "heat position"? Any pictures would be GREATLY appreciated!
 
Thanks in advance for any and all help offered!
 
Signed,
 
Tom, aka Cold in Allentown, Pa

#221 of 231 Re: 96 Bonneville no heat [tgonya] by tgonya

Nov 26, 2012 (9:23 am)

Replying to: tgonya (Nov 26, 2012 8:35 am)
By the way, just so we're on the same page so to speak, this is a picture of the dashboard...
 

#222 of 231 Re: 96 Bonneville no heat [tgonya] by imidazol97

Nov 26, 2012 (5:41 pm)

Replying to: tgonya (Nov 26, 2012 8:35 am)
Most likely your actuator has had a gear inside crack which reduces the pressure fit it has on the axle which extends out of the actuator to actually push and pull on the rod to the blend door.
 
The Buick has easier access to this actuator than the Bonneville due to a different design of the dash. Some had pulled the glovebox door forward so they can see through to the top of the heater box or removed the door. There is a view to the rod which has a brace rod in the path but there is a hole in the brace allowing a view of the rod. They have actually ducttaped (IIRC) a clothes hanger wire to the rode to be able to manually adjust it, i.e., keep it from moving on its own.
 
The actuator can be removed by two screws and disconnecting the electrical connector, but space is tight. Use methods to avoid dropping the screws or losing the sockets if they come off your wrench.
 
Here's a link: link title

#223 of 231 Re: 96 Bonneville no heat [imidazol97] by tgonya

Nov 26, 2012 (6:57 pm)

Replying to: imidazol97 (Nov 26, 2012 5:41 pm)
Thank you VERY much! The link you provided gave me the clue to look through the inspection hole behind the glove box...
 

 
The actuator rod is (barely) visable through the left (drivers side) hole which I circled in red.
 
Here's a close up, although, I couldn't get my camera to focus on the rod itself.
 

 
It was a simple matter to take some bailing wire, loop it around the actuator rod end, pull it towards the passenger side of the glove box (which opens the door for heat evidently), and tie it off. That will keep my wife (not ot mention my marriage) warm for the winter.
 
To actually get at the actuator motor looks to be a real challenge and if my 200k Pontiac makes it through the winter at all, MAYBE I'll attempt to replace it come spring.
 
Thanks again!

#224 of 231 Re: 96 Bonneville no heat [tgonya] by imidazol97

Nov 26, 2012 (7:58 pm)

Replying to: tgonya (Nov 26, 2012 6:57 pm)
I took the slipping actuator off my leSabre and used superglue between the white nylon gear and the gray plastic axle to hold it. I figured if it didn't hold, I just remove it again and replace. But the car has nearly 200,000 miles and I never know how long I'll keep it.

#225 of 231 '96 Bonneville-No heat by robonnie96

Nov 28, 2012 (7:10 pm)

This is great timing! My 96 Bonneville SE has 135K & has the same post battery replacement/ACC issue as mentioned by "tgonya". I have just replaced the thermostat & heater issues not fixed (wish I had been on here 1st). The dealer diagnosed it as the A/C Programmer & $700 for the part just today. Not going there! Will try the Air Mix Actuator recommended by "imidazol97" & pictured by "tgonya". Thanks a bunch guys! Will let you know the outcome.

#226 of 231 Re: '96 Bonneville-No heat [robonnie96] by imidazol97

Nov 28, 2012 (7:30 pm)

Replying to: robonnie96 (Nov 28, 2012 7:10 pm)
If you do anything that disrupts power in your car, use the key ON and turn the HVAC controls to OFF and let the unit shut down. Many people think that when the unit is left mid position and then power is restored it breaks the gear or forces a slipping as it does the startup movements to max heat and then max cool to locate the positions for the computer. This may only apply to the auto control unit, but I'd shut down the manual unit too to protect its actuator.
 
I'm really glad that something I've learned from the past adventures with my H-body and reading other's posts has helped someone here. I appreciate it when someone comes back and says it did help.

#227 of 231 98 Bonneville SSE by stew20

Dec 13, 2012 (2:37 pm)

Hi, I've owned this car since new. A couple of years ago the blower started working intermittently. I would set it and it would come on when it wanted to. I have noticed that it would seem to speed up as the engine RPMs increased. That makes me think vacuum leak. I just put up with it, but now it has it has pretty much ceased to function, though it did come on last weeks for a couple of seconds. I had frost on the windshield so I had it in the defrost mode. Eventually, the warm air rose on it's own and partially cleared the windshield. I don't think I have a heat issue, just getting the fan to work. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks

Messages Page 23 of 24

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