HVAC control head problem
 

Okay guys, maybe somebody here can help.

On my 2001 Silverado, the backlighting on the right hand side of my heater controller has been "on the blink" for about 5 years. Only really bothers me in the winter time (never gets dark during the summer), and up until now, I could tap on the front of it and the lights would come back on. Makes me guess that there's a cracked solder joint on the circuit board. I know the bulbs are soldered in(took one apart years ago to find out).

Well, now they will not turn on when I tap on it. It's driving my nuts! I hate having burned out lights anywhere, especially right in front of my face. Back when this all first started, a new control head was around $185 my cost, so I kept putting it off.

Fast forward to now........ I called the dealer to order a new one. Give my VIN number for RPO codes, and guess what. Dis-fucking-continued. :bang: You've got to be kidding me. I'm told that they can send it out to a instrument cluster repair shop for around $225 plus shipping both ways. No thanks.

I've also checked all the aftermarket options I can think of, and nobody seems to have picked up making these yet. I expected Dorman to(they usually do this type of stuff when the factory discontinues stuff), but that was a big fat NO also.

I've tried to repair solder joints on circuit boards in the past, and let me just say it didn't end well. :shrug: It's also winter here now, so I can't just send it out for a repair, and wait for it to come back. This truck is my daily.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm hoping somebody is smarter than both of my local dealers. :angel:

Bump! Help a brutha out!

Does yours have rear defog?

I just bought one of the ones without defog for my sierra.

Here is one without
ACDelco 15-72717 Air Conditioning Switch | eBay

Here is one with but pretty expensive
00 01 02 Chevy Tahoe AC Heater Control W Rear Defrost | eBay

The ACDelco 15-72717 is the one I need. The price is also really good, but the bastards won't ship to Alaska.

Thanks for the info though.

I just got shafted too. The guy was selling things he didn't have anymore of. Got refunded.

One the 15-72717? I was trying to find someone to order it & ship it to me. Damn that sucks! What the hell is wrong with people? :confused:

I have one laying in my tool box that was working when pulled, it is from a RCSB without rear defog. I will sell it cheap if you want it.

I'd be interested in that. Are you positive that all of the backlighting works? My control head works just fine, but has one section of backlighting inop.

Also, what year truck did it come out of, and did it have A/C?

Mine are burned out as well, half the radio lights work and the headlight switch lights only come on for about 15 minutes out of a days normal driving.

I replaced the bulb in my headlamp switch a few years ago(you CAN get the bulb). I replaced the stock radio with a nice Alpine around the same time, which also gave me an iPod cable connection, and a USB connection.

I'm still a little shocked that heater control heads aren't available from GM or aftermarket. It's just silly....