Flashing Climate control (What ! again i hear you shout) stuck on 'Auto'

[actionvin]

I have a 2004 Galaxy Ghia, although there are plenty of posts in relation to 'flashing' climate control panel, I've not seen any answers similar to mine.
The unit flashes, when it stops flashing it's on AUTO at 23 degrees and you can't change any of the fan speeds or temperature. If you hold the Auto button you can (and the fan speed changes etc) as soon as you let go of the button it goes back to AUTO 23 degrees ....... i have to drive with the window down it's so hot !! I took the car to a garage who said they couldn't top up the AC as they couldn't get the unit to change.
any help?

[johnnyroper]

Sounds like you need a new ECC panel to me.

[insanitybeard]

You could try removing the unit and disconnecting all the electrical multiplugs for a couple of minutes to see if by some miracle it resets itself but as above it does rather sound like the control panel has gone kaput. There's usually a few secondhand units for sale on the bay.

[actionvin]

forgot to say, i had removed the unit and cleaned it (fan and housing) it made no difference

[insanitybeard]

In that case then barring some bizarre wiring short or something like that then it sounds like an internal control panel fault.

[actionvin]

guys...... off to the 'bay' then ! i'll update when the unit arrives

[actionvin]

well, the new unit arrived, assured by the seller it would fit and i changed it, re connected everything and it had a 'dead panel' ...... disconnected it all checked the fuse and it had blown. replaced my old unit and fuse (same old problem) .... re connected the 'new' unit and it blew the fuse again !!
after i changed it all over again and replaced the fuse, i now find the brake lights are not working
and the glow plug light flashes ..... if it had blown the fuse could it have rendered the brake switch U/S too ? I'd like to know your thoughts.
(unit on the way back to the seller)

[gregers]

could it be as simple as replacing the dreaded brake switch.the spawn of the devil for a lot of problems??

[insanitybeard]

Does the vehicle have an auto or a manual gearbox? Which fuse is it that has blown (what number)?

[actionvin]

manual 6 speed and it's the 5 amp fuse number 3

[actionvin]

after changing the foot brake switch, it appears to have fixed the problem caused by the duff climate control unit (eBay special) ..... i'm still perplexed as to how a blown fuse can make a foot brake switch fail, i took the old unit apart to inspect it and couldn't see anything that would make me feel it was U/S.
Still looking for a CC unit now.

[gregers]

you would be surprised on what the brake switch actually covers.and for some strange reason when it throws a wobbly it causes no end of trouble.

[actionvin]

In a moment of boredom, i managed to fix the issue with the CC head unit.
I stripped the unit down to the circuit boards and found a shed load of sticky coffee residue on the board. Gently with soapy water (minimal) i scrubbed the board with an old toothbrush, drying immediately; Left overnight in the airing cupboard, assembled and install it. now it works perfectly.
That saved me a few quid !!!

[Mirez]

Great work

I love the easy fix feeling, coupled with the repaired not replaced feeling lol!

[Chrispb]

The drinks holder idea over the radio and climate control has got to be a recipe for disaster, not one of there best ideas.

[actionvin]

Couldn't agree more, I've only had the car a few weeks, most of the issues that i managed to knock the dealer down Ã,£700 on were down to a coffee spillage of epic proportions.
new radio (Ebay Ã,£20)
repaired CC unit (Free !!!)
cleaned and stripped centre console including cup holders.
all instructions came from the forum so thanks to the contributors for sharing so we can all benefit (i'm sure i'd have broken the cup holders without these instructions) there are few more jobs that need to be done .. N/S wing mirror N/S rear window not working and a mega clean of probably the dirtiest inside of a car i have ever owned.