2009 GMC Sierra - Automatic Climate Control "Sticking"

[Sled Driver]

Hello all,

 

I have a 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 6.0L with 122,xxx miles, equipped with the automatic climate control system. Starting in fall of last year I began to have issues with the climate control, where it would become "stuck" on a given setting and temperature. The dash unit will read a given setting, but the system refuses to change modes and/or temperatures. The system will work fine intermittently.

 

For instance, it will get stuck on feet/cold, or dash vents/hot, or any combination thereof. The fan speed works just fine. In fact, if it is on "auto" and the system is stuck, the fan will blow a given speed as if it were trying to work correctly.

 

I have replaced (or had replaced):

Drivers side blend door actuator

Drivers side temperature actuator

Passenger side temperature actuator

Cabin air temperature sensor

In-dash control unit

 

Right now I have about $1500 bucks into this truck just trying to get cold air or warm air when and where I want it.

 

I am at my wit's end. I've searched and searched, but no one seems to have this same problem. Lots of failed actuators, but replacing the actuators fixes the issue.

 

It's almost like it's a short somewhere in the harness. I guess my next step is to take the dash apart and see if I can find a short, and failing that, sell this truck and buy a Ford.

 

[Jsdirt]

That won't help - they're all junk today. "Tupperware vehicles", as Mike from American Pickers called them - I couldn't agree more. Built to barely make it out of warranty. No pride in craftsmanship left in manufacturing, unless you can afford a 6 or 7 figure luxury car ...

 

 

With all that money spent, I'd be hooking up old school choke cables to manually actuate the doors. No matter what you do from this point froward is going to cost money. Alldata or Mitchell's would help tremendously, but all cost money. Same with a good scan tool (not sure that would help here though).

 

Could be as simple as disconnecting the battery for an hour or so - maybe all the new stuff needs to be reset? Never know with electronics.

 

Wish I had an answer for ya. I can only tell you what I would do (choke cables, lol). When my climate controls fail, this is what I'll be doing. This sort of thing infuriates me - they deliberately build systems so complicated that you'll be bilked of thousands, and no closer to a fix.

[Sled Driver]

Could be as simple as disconnecting the battery for an hour or so - maybe all the new stuff needs to be reset? Never know with electronics.

 

Unfortunately no dice there. I've reset the system more times than I can count, both through pulling fuses and pulling the neg battery cable, including extended periods. It works sometimes (or appears to) and then the system stops working again in short order.