Does anybody else go through the a/c heater control switches every 2 years? First the dash lights flicker, and I know that means the days are numbered. Then I lose some of the blower speeds. Today, I had it go a different way. The fan is on high, and I can not shut it off. In addition, the a/c button doesn't work. Generally I get one from Rock Auto for about $130. But they are out of stock. And everywhere else on the internet it costs about $250. There is a used one on ebay for 60 bucks, but how long will that one last? I am going to check my local Chevy dealer tomorrow.

 

Send hellshotrod a pm , he will have one, lately he’s been asking you to just pay the shipping, but I suggest throwing in so funds for his trouble to remove and package the part.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/www....ad.php?t=63306

 

i have a lot of them lmk , color heated non heated ,,, thanks blue ,,,,,,

 

But the big question is why does mine die every 2 years. Is this normal?

Before it craps out, my dash and gauge licks begin flickering. And the dimmer control for them acts very touchy. I just remembered that about 14 years ago I did a modification that was popular back then. If I remember correctly, the 06 dimmer control did not turn on the interior lights. People on the forum were replacing the switch with one from the newer HHRs and I think adding some wiring. Could that have messed things up causing my control panel to keep burning out?

 

Depends on what wires got messed with and how. but yes, probably.

 

I just went back to the how-to and looked at the schematics. I think you tapped into the wrong gray wire. There is one that goes to the AC control.
Note that it is the new WHITE wire that taps into the BCM gray wire. The NEW gray wire should go to ground.
See post #19 in the how-to.

That might explain all of those other weird problems you have had.

 

I did the dimmer switch mod to my 2006 so I could turn on the dome lights.

I still have the 2006 (230K miles) and the HVAC controls are still good.

Only one HVAC control has failed on any of my other 4 HHRs. That one had the fan speed control switch stop working. It had actually melted internally. After getting a replacement from the junkyard, no problems.

So I would say that there is something else causing your failures. It's not normal to have the unit fail that often (based on observation of my 5 HHRs).

Steve

 

I just reread the tutorial and see the problem I may have had. It says that it doesnt matter which wire goes to ground or the A10 terminal . I am going to check mine right now.

And thanks Don. You are the MASTER!!!​​​​​​

Now the fan control wouldnt turn. I replaced it with an old one I saved and saw that it had melted 2 of the terminals. Not good. I disconnected the wire going to A10 and will disconnect the ground wire now.

 

That is weir5d! the fan speed switch handles GROUND it should not ever have hot wires in it. Something is feeding juice to the ground wire at the left end of the dash.

Did you tap into the fan lead at some time thinking it was hot? It is misleading because the wire from the fan to the switch is Orange but goes to ground via the resistor pack. So, if you had spliced into that wire to hook an LED (or anything else) up you would cause havoc. Maybe when you installed the radio you needed an Orange wire oir a switched wire, the fan would appear to be switched.

 

Here is the really weird thing. I did the dimmer mod 17 years ago. I only began having problems with the HVAC control about 5 years ago. None of the previous 4 panels had any melted plastic or burnt connections-the tan just would not work. And I have not touched any of the wires on my car in over 5 years. So why suddenly this issue?

Anyhow, both the wires from the dimmer mod are now disconnected. I installed an old panel I had and everything works except for the mas speed setting.

All so strange. Is my HHR haunted???