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2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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comnavguy
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May 15, 2012, 12:49 AM
Post #1 of 19
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2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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This is a 2003 Buick Century 3.1 V-6 with 128,000 miles. It has dual, manual air. With both passenger and driver's controls at max cool there is only warm air coming from the driver's center and left vents. We replaced the blendoor actuator and the blendoor is working properly, but still only warm air on the driver's side.
What else can be causing this problem?
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Hammer Time
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May 15, 2012, 3:00 AM
Post #2 of 19
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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Try doing a complete evacuate and recharge with the correct amount of refrigerant. These are known for this symptom when off the correct amount of charge by even a couple tenths of a pound.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
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May 15, 2012, 4:22 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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Yep - many when charge is off will cool better on right/passenger's side with system working ducts properly. Simply left side has farther to travel. Do as suggested and get the charge to exact weight. You can only make educated guesses otherwise but pressures do tell a story too,
T
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comnavguy
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May 25, 2012, 10:07 PM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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I would not have believed it had anyone else told me, but I'd believe either one of you two before I'd believe that from dozens of others. I had started to wonder if the driver's side control was inop. Kinda of a silly setup to begin with.
It's vacuum time and re-charge zackly the amount of 134 called for in the book. It may have to wait til after Memorial Day, but it's gonna get done. And I'll let you know the results.
Thanks to boffa you.
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Hammer Time
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May 26, 2012, 3:14 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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We aren't guaranteeing anything but I have seen that cause that symptom in the past so it has to be checked before throwing parts at it. It still could end up being an actuator but you can't condemn that unless you know the charge is correct first.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
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May 26, 2012, 3:38 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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It's somewhat common for driver's side even without dual controls as it has more distance to go and picks up heat along more duct work. I'll never understand the popularity of dual controls in ordinary vehicles to just complicate systems. Shoot - run a large house with ONE control and just adjust the ducts! Never mind two feet away in a car!
Hope that's all it is and at the age could even be normal that it's a bit low if not touched along the way. If that doesn't work then we can go from there,
T
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comnavguy
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May 30, 2012, 7:48 PM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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Yup. I think it's marketing and psychological that the passenger "believes" it's control. What a waste AND something else to go wrong for no good reason.
The vehicle was on vacation for Memorial Day, so we haven't re-charged it yet.
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Tom Greenleaf
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May 30, 2012, 11:02 PM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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Too true. So much goes into psycho-marketing in cars and not enough common sense and quality materials. It's nothing new. Fins in the 1950s with real marketing that said they were for stability - ya right! Those cars weighed 8 tons so at realistic speeds on ground that was a joke.
Let folks buy what they want that doesn't hurt me but don't complain when it's nasty expensive to fix............
Tom
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comnavguy
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Jun 13, 2012, 12:35 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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Went through a complete evacuation. flushed lines and re-charged per the book. Still no cold air on driver's side. It's not even cool.
We are really lost.
What is the exact mechanism that controls the temp difference between the two sides on a dual automatic system? How does it work when the passenger wants warm air and the driver wants it as cold as possible? Logic would seem to suggest that something more is at work besides just the blendor.
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Hammer Time
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Jun 13, 2012, 3:23 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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It has independent blend doors and actuators. You will have to see if they are working.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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comnavguy
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Jun 15, 2012, 1:07 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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We found the first blend door working OK, but didn't know about the second one. I also found out that there are two temperature control modules -SOMEWHERE under the dash. We'll check both of these issues.
Any help on locating the temp control modules would be thrilling, indeed.
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Discretesignals
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Jun 15, 2012, 5:00 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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The module that controls the blend door actuators is the actual control panel. You need to get hold of a high end scan tool that can access the HVAC module, so you can look at the desired and actual door positions and check for any trouble codes.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 15, 2012, 5:01 AM)
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Hammer Time
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Jun 15, 2012, 6:52 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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Or you could just look and the actuator and see if it's trying to respond or if the door may be stuck.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Discretesignals
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Jun 15, 2012, 6:00 PM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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If the HVAC module fires off a code for a door fault, it will inhibit the door from moving till the code(s) is cleared. Just understand that when you go to check it out.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Hammer Time
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Jun 15, 2012, 6:09 PM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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it will inhibit the door from moving till the code(s) is cleared. Just understand that when you go to check it out.
I don't believe it ever gets disabled, even after setting a code. It is monitored but not shut down.
CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
The following DTCs are for the HVAC door actuators:
- B0361 - left air temperature actuator
- B0365 - right air temperature actuator
The HVAC control module controls the HVAC door actuators to regulate the airflow through the HVAC system. Each actuator is a 5 wire bi-directional electric motor that incorporates a feedback potentiometer. Ignition 3 voltage, low reference, control, 5 volt reference and position signal circuits enable the actuator to operate. The control circuit uses either a 0 , 2.5 or 5 volt signal to command the actuator movement. When the actuator is at rest, the control circuit value is 2.5 volts . A 0 or 5 volt control signal commands the actuator movement in opposite directions. When the actuator shaft rotates, the potentiometer's adjustable contact changes the door position signal between 0-5 volts . The HVAC control module converts the voltage values to count values where 1 V is approximately equal to 51 counts. The HVAC control module uses a range of 0-255 counts to index the actuator position. The door position signal voltage is converted to a 0-255 count range. When the module sets a commanded, or targeted, value, the control signal is changed to either 0 or 5 volts depending upon the direction that the actuator needs to rotate to reach the commanded value. As the actuator shaft rotates the changing position signal is sent to the module. Once the position signal and the commanded value are the same, the module changes the control signal to 2.5 volts .
CONDITIONS FOR RUNNING THE DTC
The ignition is turned ON.
CONDITIONS FOR SETTING THE DTC
The air temperature door position signal circuit stays at or near 0 volts .
ACTION TAKEN WHEN THE DTC SETS
No driver warning message will be displayed for this DTC.
CONDITIONS FOR CLEARING THE DTC
- The DTC will become history if the HVAC control module no longer detects a failure.
- The history DTC will clear after 50 fault-free ignition cycles.
- The DTC can be cleared with a scan tool.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jun 15, 2012, 6:14 PM)
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Sidom
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Jun 15, 2012, 9:15 PM
Post #17 of 19
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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I'll just add that if the battery was changed or there was any kind of power interruption prior and this problem surfaced right after that, then more than likely it's a broken actuator.
GM is good for older cars & trucks breaking actuators during the relearn process and anytime the power is disconnected and the memory is cleared, they go thru a relearn.
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Hammer Time
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Jun 16, 2012, 3:09 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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Good point Brian. That recalibration process it goes through often causes problems with doors getting stuck at either end.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Sidom
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Jun 16, 2012, 8:04 AM
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Re: 2003 Buick Century no cooling on driver's side
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Yea I've seen it a lot when guys forget to use memory savers when swapping out a battery..... usually it the mode door actuator that goes but I suppose any actuator would be suspect with that process.....
But now that I think about it, the cust may not notice a broken blend door actuator right away like they do with the mode door..... They know right off the bat when air is only coming out the defrost but might not change the temp right away.
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