Heater and A/C Control Assembly

The heater and A/C control allows the vehicle operator to communicate with the electronic A/C system. The heater and A/C control includes soft-touch buttons to select operating modes, a fan speed increase/decrease switch, an English/Metric display switch, the rear defog control switch, and a vacuum fluorescent display panel. When the parklamps or headlamps are turned on, the buttons and switches are illuminated.

Mode Selector Buttons

The Buick heater and A/C control has a mode selector button for OFF, AUTO, MID, VENT, MID/FLOOR, FLOOR, and DEFOG.

The Oldsmobile heater and A/C control has a mode selector for OFF, UPPER, LOWER, BLEND, DEFOG, DEFROST and by pressing the mode selector knob the AUTO mode is activated.

Pressing any button except AUTO tells the heater and A/C programmer to set air intake point, set air discharge points, and activate or de-activate the A/C compressor, according to the mode selected.

Pressing AUTO tells the heater and A/C programmer to select the appropriate air intake and discharge points and activate or de-activate the A/C compressor, according to the operator selected SET temperature and information provided by the system's network of sensors.

Temperature Increase/Decrease

With the system in any mode but OFF and the SET temperature is between 18°C and 29°C (65°F and 85°F), pressing the increase or decrease end of the switch once increases or decreases the SET temperature one degree. if the decrease end of the switch is pressed with the SET temperature at 18°C (65°F), SET temperature drops immediately to 16°C (60°F). if the increase end of the switch is pressed with the SET temperature at 29°C (85°F), the SET temperature jumps immediately to 32°C (90°F).

An increase or decrease of the SET temperature signals the heater and A/C programmer to take the steps necessary (change blower speed, change air discharge location, change air temperature) to bring the passenger compartment temperature to the new SET temperature.

With the system in OFF mode, pressing either end of the temperature switch causes the system to turn on in the AUTO mode. The system displays the outside temperature approximately five seconds after the last change on the temperature knob, as well as when the system is in the OFF mode.

Fan Speed Increase/Decrease

The Buick fan speed increase/decrease switch is used to manually change fan speed. Pressing the increase end of the fan speed switch once, increases the fan speed one level. Holding the increase end of the switch, increases the fan speed until the switch is released or maximum fan speed is reached. Pressing the decrease end of the switch, decreases fan speed in the same manner.

The Oldsmobile fan speed control knob is a rotary switch without mechanical stops. In the manual fan speed mode there are nine speed settings, which are selected by rotating the knob clockwise or counterclockwise. The corresponding LED will be illuminated in relationship to the blower speed. By pressing the fan speed control knob, the fan will operate in the AUTO mode where the programmer selects the appropriate blower speed.

If the system is operating under AUTO fan speed control, moving the fan speed knob causes AUTO fan speed control to stop and manual fan speed control to begin. Fan speed remains constant, unless the increase/decrease switch is rotated again.

With the system in OFF mode, pressing either end of the fan speed switch causes the system to turn on in the AUTO mode with AUTO fan speed control.

Vacuum Fluorescent (VF) Information Display Panel

The VF panel provides system operating information for the driver.

Buick vehicles display panel has a three digit temperature display and the letters°C and°F appear on the display. The°C is illuminated when metric units are requested. The°F is illuminated for temperature display in English units. The words EXT TEMP and AUTO appear to the left of the temperature display. EXT TEMP is illuminated whenever outside temperature is displayed. AUTO turns on when AUTO mode is selected.

HIGH, MEDIUM, and LOW are displayed in relationship to the blower speed, with HIGH relating to the highest blower speed, MEDIUM being medium speed, etc. HIGH and MEDIUM are illuminated at the same time when the blower is operating at a medium/high speed; similarly when both MEDIUM and LOW are illuminated at the same time, the blower is operating at a medium/low speed. The display also has car and mode arrows.

Oldsmobile display panels are equipped with a three digit temperature display and the letters°C and°F also appear on the display. The°C is illuminated when metric units are requested. The°F is illuminated for temperature display in English units. The words OUTSIDE TEMP and SET appear on the display. OUTSIDE TEMP is displayed whenever outside temperature is being displayed.

With the blower operating in the manual mode, at least one LED will be illuminated. As the blower control knob is turned clockwise more LEDs will illuminate, and blower speed will increase. Similarly, as the blower control knob is turned counterclockwise, LEDs will be extinguished, and blower speed will decrease. There are 9 blower speeds in the manual mode.

When either system is operating in AUTO mode, with AUTO fan speed control, no indicators are illuminated. Instead, the words AUTO illuminates. When the system is turned OFF, the fan speed display area is blank.