Heater and A/C Control Assembly
The heater and A/C control assembly allows the vehicle operator to communicate with the system. The heater and A/C control assembly includes soft-touch buttons for the various system operating modes (OFF, AUTO, DUAL ZONE, HEATER, ECONOMY, DEFOG, DEFROST), fan speed control (AUTO, LO, HI), temperature control (COOL, WARM), rear window defogger and outside air temperature display. Each operating mode button (except OFF) contains an LED indicator which illuminates when that mode is selected. The rear window defogger also has an LED indicator.
The heater and A/C control assembly includes a vacuum-fluorescent display.
Passenger Climate Control
The passenger temperature control includes 2 soft-touch buttons and a bar segment display. The buttons (COOL, WARM) are used to raise or lower passenger side outlet air temperature. The bar segment display is made up of 9 LEDs (4 green, 1 amber, 4 red) and indicates passenger-side outlet air temperature relative to driver-side outlet temperature. The passenger climate control assembly is activated only when the system is operating in the dual zone mode.
Temperature Knob/Button
With the system in any mode but OFF and SET temperature between 18.9°C and 28.9°C (66°F and 84°F), turning the temp knob one detent in either direction, or pressing the warm or cold button, increases or decreases SET temperature one degree. If the knob is turned in the decrease direction or cool button is pressed, to achieve the lowest setting, with the SET temperature at 18.3°C (65°F), SET temperature drops immediately to 15.6°C (60°F.) If the knob is turned in the increase direction or the warm button is pressed to achieve the highest setting, with SET temperature at 29.4°C (85°F), SET temperature will jump immediately to 32.2°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 discharge temperature) to bring the passenger compartment temperature to the new SET temperature.
With the system in OFF mode, turning the temperature knob in either direction or pressing your warm or cool button, causes the system to turn on in the AUTO mode.
Fan Speed
The fan speed button is used to manually change fan speed. Pressing the fan speed button once will increase or decrease the fan speed one level. Pressing the fan speed button and holding it will increase or decrease the fan speed to the maximum.
If the system is operating under AUTO fan speed control, pressing the fan speed button, causes AUTO fan speed control to stop and manual fan speed control to begin. Fan speed remains constant, unless one of the speed control buttons are pressed again.
With the system in OFF mode, pressing the auto button causes the system to turn on in the AUTO mode with AUTO fan speed control.
Mode Selector Buttons
The mode selector buttons utilized by the Buick control head are AUTO, AIR FLOW (up down rocker switch), VENT, RECIRC, FRONT DEFROST and REAR DEFOG.
Pressing AUTO tells the heater and A/C programmer to set the air intake point, air 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.
AIR FLOW Button (Buick)
The AIR FLOW button is used to change the air flow direction in the vehicle. Selection of the AIR FLOW button when in AUTO mode will lock in the air flow direction that AUTO was controlling and in not active, activate the VF display for that direction. If an air flow direction is being displayed the next air flow direction will be selected either up or down depending on operator selection. The air flow direction will sequence upward through the following modes:
^ FLOOR.
^ FLOOR/MID.
^ MID.
^ WINDSHIELD/FLOOR.
The downward sequence will be in reverse of the upward. These will be the only air flow directions available by the AIR FLOW button.
VENT (Buick)
When the button is activated the VENT LED will light and the system will request that the A/C compressor be turned off. VENT and RECIRC can never both be enabled at the same time. If VENT is enabled, selecting RECIRC will cancel VENT. If RECIRC is enabled, selecting VENT will cancel RECIRC. This button will have no effect on the system when FRONT DEFROST mode is selected.
RECIRC (Buick)
This button is used to activate the air inlet valve. When the button is activated, the RECIRC LED will light and the system will request that the recirc door close. The main function is to limit the amount of outside air that is brought into the vehicle. VENT and RECIRC can never be enabled at the same time. If VENT is enabled selecting RECIRC will cancel VENT. If RECIRC is enabled selecting VENT will cancel RECIRC. This button will have no affect on the system when FRONT DEFROST mode is selected.
When the RECIRC mode is active, any manual mode change will cancel the RECIRC function.
Once activated the RECIRC function will operate for a period of ten minutes. After the ten minutes the function is automatically canceled.
FRONT Defrost Button (Buick)
When the FRONT defrost button is pressed the LED in the switch is illuminated and the SET temperature is displayed for five seconds. The FRONT defrost directs air to the windshield. This is a manual only mode.
VACUUM FLUORESCENT (VF) INFORMATION DISPLAY PANEL
The VF panel provides system operating information for the driver.
A three digit temperature readout is located near the center of the display. With the system in OFF mode, outside temperature is displayed continuously.
When any other mode is selected, SET temperature is displayed for five seconds; the display then returns to the outside temperature. Turning the temperature knob or pressing any mode button except OFF while the system is operating also causes SET temperature to be displayed for five seconds.
SYMBOLS
Arrows appearing in the center of the display are used to indicate air discharge location relative to the seat (Pontiac) or relative to the words windshield, MID and FLOOR (Buick). An upper (windshield) discharge arrow, a lower (floor level) discharge arrow, a middle (instrument panel) discharge arrow, or a combination of these discharge arrows may be illuminated, depending on the current system operating mode. This area is blank if the system is turned OFF. The display then returns to outside temperature. Turning the temperature knob or pressing any mode button except OFF while the system is operating also causes SET temperature to be displayed for five seconds.
The word AUTO is located to the right of the temperature display. With the system operating in AUTO mode, AUTO is illuminated.
The word OFF is located to the left of the temperature display. With the system off the OFF and OUTSIDE indicators will be illuminated with the outside temperature being displayed. The system will wake up from the OFF mode when any button or rotary switch is activated except for the RECIRC, AC or REAR DEFOG buttons.
At the far left of the display is a fan speed bar graph which is activated when fan speed is in manual mode. The number of bars illuminated indicates fan speed. When the fan is operating at its lowest speed, one bar is illuminated. When operating at maximum speed, all bars are illuminated.
When the system is operating in AUTO mode with AUTO fan speed control, no bar segments are illuminated.
When the system is turned OFF, the fan speed display area is blank.