Hello all,

I own a 91 SE (automatic), and need some help with the temp control. It seems as if it is stuck (it IS stuck) about halfway across. It's far enough that it blows out warm air once the car heats up. Have any of you taken the dash apart to fix such a problem? What might I be in store for? Is there a nice way to fix this and replace my non-functional BOSE stereo at the same time?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Seth

 

i gpt the same problem with my 91 max the controler between the ac and heat is busted the nissan dealer told me it would be 300 bucks to fix. its not a heater or ac or the switch its the mechanism that controls all that that is messed up

 

I think we're talking about two different issues here. The lever between hot and cold is physically stuck right in the middle. It will slide all the way to HOT, but why would I want that when it's been 90º here the last few days.

-Seth

 

Check all your Vacuum lines, make sure they are pluged in, there is this thing on the firewall that has hoses running into it, check all of those, without Vacuum it will stay on. Also spary a little lubricant in the hole where the lever goes, it can't hurt. My old name davis4004 will not let me post anymore so I'm back to a lurker, if anyone knows how to fix this let me know.

 

Same thing with me about a year or two ago. The whole climate console in mine had to be replaced. $300 bucks or so. looks nice and new though now

as for the Bose i had my amps sent off to be replaced and kept the bose speakers and added a cd player and 200 watt amp, sounds really good, i installed it myself, but i think i am the only one on here who kept the Bose speakers.

 

I think I have this listed in my FAQ page, but the solution is quite simple. I bet you a coke, this is your problem, as I had the exact same thing happen with my 92 SE. The problem is basically lubrication. The lever needs to be lubricated. I went out to a junk yard and almost bought a used climate control unit for $45, but luckily it wasn't necessary.

No matter how hard I pushed, I could not move that lever.
After taking the unit out and analyzing it, I realized I was thinking too hard. Basically, all you need is a Q tip and some grease. Apply the grease from the front of the unit where the slider lever is. I didn't have grease at the time and used some Neosporin! It worked also. I am almost sure this is your problem. Let me know how this fix works.

 

That happened with my 93 SE. Exactly what he said though, but mine physically broke. I had to shove a pen into the lever to make it move back to cold. I ended up going out to a junk yard and finding a used unit for $50 and riping my whole dash apart one afternoon to put in back in. Luckily, my new car has the AUTOMATIC climate control and I don't have to slide levers anymore!

 

How does this make sense if his lever is physically stuck on the climate control unit?

 

Well, the lever that you slide back and forth (between hot and cold) has a little plastic guide about half-way down the shaft. This guide is part of the the housing to the control unit and over time it becomes unlubricated and it stics to the sliding lever. With mine, I stupidly forced the hot/cold lever to the cold side and broke the guide and snaped the shaft of the lever making it inoperable. This is the same problem you are encountering. Like Brian said, if you can still move the lever around, get some type of grease (not oil) and smear some on that plastic guide using a cue tip. That ought to fix your prob.

 

mine's stuck too! i actually broke off the little **** now too trying to force it over!

 

I too broke it off. There is a screwdriver in my glovey that works great. I stick it about halfway in and force it over. It's ghetto but the reaction I get is pretty funny.

 

Hi All,

I have had the same stuck temp lever since I owned the car. At first it was stuck between Cold and Mid-way. After numerous slides one day it jumped to go full Heat and Mid-way. Okay summers here so I need to keep the heat out etc. I have read as much as I could find on the subject. I tried the grease trick but when that didnt work I decided to really get into it. I was going into the dash for the clock fix anyway so I went the extra mile.
The problem was worse for me is why the grease trick did not work, but otherwise try it. My problem was that the previous owner had worked a soft spot(groove) into the center section. This is the reason for the mid-way symptom. The lever behind that is connected to the actual cable(small wire)that works the flap door rotates in an arc. The slider piece that is connected to it behind and then out to the front slides in a linear motion. So there is a pivot point there to make it look like its just sliding back and forth. The temp slide control moves along a rectangular plastic piece(grease point)behind the dash. When the arc path crosses the straight rectangular guide it exerts the most perpendicular pressure(to the front of the car). With no lube it will wear the guide to the point of destroying the plastic itself(my case). It would work fine if I stuck my fingers under and actually moved the arcing lever(one connected to the wire actuator) but sliding the lever would stick center either direction.

If Grease didnt work:

The TEMP fix is to keep some flat skinny object handy and insert it on the LEFT/RIGHT side of the slide control(right next to it) and use it as a support to get it by the center stress area. Keep in mind that the best would be to actually pull the lever to back as you slide(towards the rear of car)to unstress the center of guide.

The PERMANENT fix would be to get a replacement or construct a metal bar to fit and melt in the ends, or epoxy etc. This appraoch would require disassembly of the Unit(kind of a pain).

I know this explanation was long and hopefully not too confusing, but I dont have access to a digital cam to provide pics(I wanted to). I hope this helps someone stay cooler this Summer(me included).

**Note Do not think of just cutting away the guide! Since it pivots back there you will have a worse situation.
***It just occurred to me that if a thin metal sleeve was to be snapped over the guide and there was enough clearance for the slider this could also be a PERM fix.
I will see if I can do some crude diagram of the area.
Glenn
Chipburner90GXE
PS. I emailed Craig a .jpg for him to post here...very basic but gives a better idea for us new people.
http://maxima.cardomain.com/member_p...18_69_full.jpg

PSS. Sorry Jarfoot I didnt see your screwdriver fix that will most likely be me when I need to slide mine...lol.

 

its not nice but if you have no possibility to fix it for some time
take of the two hoses from your heater core connect them with a
small pipe and two clamps.
its five minutes and it helps until you can repair you problem.

 

Hi NineZero
Thanks but my temp fix will be good enough. At least I can move it by some means from the interior.

 

I have my complete Bose system including amps and all that im not using anymore and probably wont use again. the only reason why im holding onto it is because if a take out my stereo, i need to replace it with something.
send me an offer
Shawneepo@hotmail.com
MrGone

 

here is the pic, I used the wrong url before

 

OK. I can't seem to move this lever with a small flat screwdriver or knife or key, or anything else, so I've got my whole dash ripped apart (going to repair the clock, speedometer, CD player and replace BOSE headunit too), but I have not idea how to get the heater control unit out. Any thoughts on actually removing / replacing this thing? I think that there is something jammed in the little gear i nthe back, and if I can just get it our of the car and pop it open, I know I could fix it. If not, at least replace it with one from another max.

Please let me know if anyone has instructions on how to get the unit out of the car. The heat's been stuck on all summer, and it's finally driving me nuts. Sure, I can turn it off and roll down the windows, but it's been 90+ like every day now.

 

I just had this problem last week. I tried to fix it on my own but the lever was broken. I took it to a mechanic and it cost me 300 dollars to install a new component into the dash and a week without my car. Was not a fun process since i just got my license and i was maxless for a week.