car shopping

Wed Jun 23 12:08:16 EDT 2004

So, are all the "two screen" cars equiped with these servo motors. In
particular, the 4.2 V8 cars have that system, while the earlier ones use the
"normal" type44 controls.

Tony Hoffman

-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of Mike Veglia
Sent: 23-Jun-2004 10:53 AM
To: quattro at audifans.com
Cc: v6-12v at audifans.com
Subject: Re: car shopping

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
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