okactuary

I have noticed a few times the following and would like to know if this is normal or something that should be looked at before the warranty expires.

Yesterday it was about 73 degrees outside in the morning and I had the climate control on full auto but turned the air to about 68 to cool it down, then I set it to 74. Several miles down the road it felt pretty cool so I turned it up to 76. Still quite cool. I turned it up to 78 with no change, so then I turned it up higher and higher and it never got warmer until I turned the thermostat to 90. Then the heat kicked on and I turned it back down to 74, but now it was not as cold as it was when I had it at 74 the first time. Now it was comfortable. It was as if it needed to be turned up all the way to kick start the heat.

Any thoughts?

georgy_d28

Mine has done that every once in a while kinda like the air mixture door is stuck but its done that for about three or four years now so im not really too worried about it

MikePA

You might want to read your Owner's Manual, it's all explained there. And, yes, your system is working as designed. There's a low temp setting that 'forces' the AC on and a high temp setting that 'forces' the heat to come on. Between those 2 temps, it's all automatic, including whether Recirculation is on or not.

okactuary

Well I looked at the owner's manual and I don't think it addresses the issue. The issue is that I get one temperature coming out the vents one minute and when I turn the heat up to 90 then turn it right back down it's blowing a different temperature. In fact after reading the manual I am more convinced this is a problem, so I'll call the dealer in a few days to ask about it.

MikePA

How fast do you expect the system to respond? Turning the temp up to 90 takes it out of auto mode. Dropping it below 90 puts it back in auto mode.

2001TL4KCdude

It is working as designed. with a 10 degree increase, you climate will adjust the outside air + what is in the cabin to gradually mix the temperature to a desire output. When your climate control 'senses' that you set it to 90, it then kick in with hot air. You should try this next time. when your outside air is 73 and you inside air is 74, gradually adjust the Up button till it hits 80 and wait. I can guarentee that you will notice a warmer blend of air coming in within 60 seconds.

Let me know what the dealer says. Good luck

Maximaboy1

I have the same problem with my 01 TL. The heater won't become activated until I turn it up to 90. I leave it at 89 for about a minute, and no change. It blows cold air.

fla-tls

Yeah - I think the mixing doors stick every once in a while. I've heard of people having to get them fixed. It's because of that, that I make sure I run the temp control settings through it's full range at least once a week. It would suck having that mixing motor burn out because it was trying to adjust it aonly a little bit - but the door was stuck.

acurabum

Try to clean or remove all dust at the inside ambiant temp sensor....
locate under the dash instruments ( right side knee level)
It might make the temp reading faulty if has to much dust ..........

cyde7399

I have this same problem with my car (99 tl). Except mine doesn't work correctly as some of you seem to say it does. If i have it at 74, it will blow cold air and i turn it up and it will still blow cold air. Regardless of how long i let it blow cold air, it doesn't ever take my car to a comfortable temp and my legs are freezing. I have to turn it all the way up to 90 and back down to 74 to blow a temperature that is actually comfortable.

Just kinda frustrating when i have to turn it all the way up and back down to where i want to get a comfortable setting. If anyone has found any resolution to this (assuming its possible) i would love to hear about it. Thanks.

erik

i have the exact same problem and have learned to live with it. if you have a navi, hold down the auto then off button and to see if any of the AC temp 88 digits flash, its a diagnostic mode that will tell you if its the mix motor or a short somewhere. if anybody needs i can look up and determine what to check in my service manual.

schen72

My 99 TL had the same problem. Basically, the air mixture motor was busted, and would only periodically move the "gate" to hot or cold. So it would get stuck.

Replacing the unit ended up costing approximately $400 (at the dealer).

jimhas

As Fall progresses this year I've noticed this problem on my 2000 TL. Two or three times already this year it should been blowing warm air but I got nothing but cold at my feet. No change when I gradually turned the temp up. Each time though, I moved it to 90 for a few seconds then back down and viola, warm air on my feet. At 97,000 miles I think I can live with that rather than pay $400 to get it fixed.

tomterrific

I changed this control myself. It took approximately 45 min. The control motor was about 80 to 100 dollars. I went to the dealer and told them that I could get it on the Internet, and they sold it to me for the same price. The motor is on the passenger side slightly under the dash, to the left of the glove box. It is held in with 3 small screws, if I remember correctly. The screws have hex heads and you can use a ratchet and socket about 6mm. (not sure about exact size). When you remove the screws the control motor will drop straight down. Anyway it’s an easy job.

jimhas

Tomterrific - Can you provide the Acura part number?

tomterrific

79160-S0K-A01 MOTOR ASSY., A1

At the dealer the part listed for 143.99. I got it for 101.42+tax. I told the parts guy that I could get it on the Internet. I might have saved a little more if I had bought it online but I didn't want to wait.

TpSC3crT

iTrader: (1)

Tom, thanks for all the info... i just purchased my TL from my brother and his car is doing this, and i cant have that in this winter cold. I'll try to look up that part and work on it sometime soon... Seems to be a common problem with our cars...

northshorealan

Am experiencing something similar with a new TL-S. Have to increase temp setting to 28C to feel any heat coming. Temperature outside is <10 and inside certainly <20 so should be wanting to add hot air. Seems to work OK in the morning, but not later in the day.

Where do I find the diagnostic instructions for this (posted by Eric above) and for diagnostics in general?

Thanks. Quite the interesting forum.

GTmkaresh

Where is a good place to buy that specific part online? I can't seem to find "Air Mix Motor" or the part number itself on most of the websites and the ones that I can all seem to be through dealers. Any suggestions? 79160-S0K-A01 is the part number once again.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

The "problem" I see with these new systems is that they are based on a traditional HVAC system for your home. It's supposed to be making the ambient temp in the car comfortable rather than blowing a hard stream of cold air at your face. The reason it's an issue is because a car is a much more volatile environment in the sense that it's for all practical purposes a rolling greenhouse. When the sun is out it's all windows putting in 110+ degrees and at night there's no competing which is why most people CAN'T take ac on coldest on high at night.

I thought there was a problem with TL because it just doesn't blow as hard as my rsx did...or my gf's accord LX...just spent the last 2 months trying to explain how it works to my mother and finally took her new CRV to the dealership so she could have it checked out becuase to her, her 91 Si and 99 GSR were "colder". Remember the days when your face felt ok but you had to put your sleeve to a vent to cool your arm etc and your lower back was still wet with sweat!?! With the new systems...it does't blow as hard...but it does make the WHOLE car comfortable.

About the temp...it's just as with a house system...if it's colder than what you're setting it to...it won't kick on the heat to get the temp up...it'll just cut off cooling until the ambient temp warms up to your "desired" temp.

Complicated explanation, but I'm sure most of you get what I'm trying to say.

Comet2404

My 02 TLS has done this for as long as I can remember. I've ran the diagnostic procedures to see if there were any faults, and nothing came back. The system still works fine other than that. If I get to cold, I will turn it to 90 for 20 seconds, then down to 80, then down to 77 or 74, or wherever I want it. I can live with this. Rather than try to fix something that I don't know whether or not is broken - why not leave it be?

acurabum

Is it normal that both fans run as soon that I put the key on assesories before starting?
Every morning before I start up my TL-P 02 , both fans start to run as soon my key is on position II even the outside temp is colder then the set inside temp .!!!????
I think there's a problem with my auto climate control or a coolant temp sensor somewher . The only time both fans will not run when I set the temp to 32 0C.
Any thoughts , guys .

slider2828

I know this is an old thread, but I just fixed mine without buying a new unit at all! All you need to do is crazy it open by prying on the box. Turn the gear with broken teeth exactly 180 degrees and put it all back together.

The clicking comes from a broken tooth in the gear..... The gear doesn't use all the teeth so flipping it around 180 will give you the teeth you need for the motor.

Takes like 5 minutes.

Hope this helps!

-Ken

Skirmich

^^ I already uploaded a DIY for this.. Dunno if its in the official DIY List Though. https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/diy-c-air-mix-motor-repair-848488/

slider2828

Awesome thanks man! Sorry didn't know if it was there...