car shopping

[Mike Veglia]

Ti Kan wrote:

<< Hmm, you really must have a fairly bare-bones model.  The "regular"
auto climate control on the C4 cars is soooo much better than the
GM unit on the type 44. >>
 
Not sure I agree, having owned (and worked on) both. The auto climate control system in the C4 uses 3 (or is it 4?) DC "servo motors" which are encased in a plastic enclosure with a gear drive and potentiometer for position feedback. These motors cost in the range of $125-150 each depending on where you get them. One controls warm and cold air blending (that's the easy one to change). The other two control the vent flaps that direct air flow to the floor, dash, and defrost vents. Those two are the problem with the system. They are burried some 8, or so, hours worth of labor deep inside the dash. IIRC, Bentley says remove the dash. I "chickened out" on this job (perhaps a mistake) when our '95 A6q avant needed the motors replaced last year. The Tech managed to do the job without removing the dash, but it was very labor intensive and ugly. Cost (including the two motors) was well over a grand.
 
On the type 44, yes there are/were problems. However, having owned a couple of type 44 cars for many many years and miles, I would much prefer to resolder connections in the little black box with the solenoids ("programmer"?), repair broken recirc flap springs, etc. than go through the "motor" replacement ordeal on the C4. Granted, when working the C4 CC system is quite good though, and it does use 134a in the case of our '95.
 
Suffice to say, I would much prefer the manual controls mentioned above on a C4.
 
The motors will set failure codes when they are acting up. The problem starts as an intermittent before one (or more) of the motors get stuck for good. Symptoms include no air flow control, no air temp blending control, etc. The codes can be read from the CC display and are much more comprehensive than the type 44. Overall, agreed the system is better--but those motors are buggers. When looking at used C4 cars, be sure to check climate control failure codes and for proper operation. My .02 worth....
 


 


Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com