Cost of replacing climate control--92Q45?

[kdkrone]

For the past month or so I had noticed that intermittently the light (LED) display for the climate control would occasionally not display on startup, occasionally cut out while I was driving, or be normal. The function of the climate control was not affected.

The light display finally clapped out a few days ago, so I brought it to the dealer today. The pronounced the light dead and said the only way to fix it was to replace the whole unit, for a total of about $800.

Now, that is one expensive way to fix this problem.

Does anyone have any other suggestions? Is it worth trying to find a used part? Is this a part that has a history of failure?

ThanksKen Krone

[elwesso]

Occasionally, they have used ones on ebay..... It isnt too hard to install, so you could just buy the unit and DIY.......

Maybe http://www.car-part.com would have what your looking for.......

Also, try checking out your local junkyard......... You might be able to pick one up for $50 or so........

And yes, it is a fairly common problem.........

[natsoundup]

there's a guy in San Diego...I believe...Jerry Tucker...who will fix it for 100 bucks.... other members can chime in...

When I needed a replacement...I made an offer to a guy in a junk yard...I think I paid 50 or 60 bucks...it's been working for three years or so...but I suppose it could go any day....

[autotech43]

Most likely a cold solder joint on the circuit board is the culprit. Dealers have to replace the unit due to warranty issues. There have been folks that have resoldered the pins to the board and resolve the problem, but that is also putting a band-aid on it as well.

[90Q45blue]

Jerry Tucker WILL fix your unit for 100 bucks. He works out of San Diego but you can ship it to him if need be.

Visit http://www.jerrytucker.net for details and contact info.

Good luck!

Nick

[kdkrone]

Thank you SO much for the information. I will be contacting him in the AM.

I am very grateful.

Ken K

[SOCAL91Q45a]

"There have been folks that have resoldered the pins to the board and resolve the problem, but that is also putting a band-aid on it as well."

But isnt a bad solder joint the design flaw? How else to fix? With another baord with a design flaw? Im confused by this ... please help a newbie with a bit of elaboration on the PROPER way to fix.

[elwesso]

Im sure its been covered already..... Try searching...... If you come up with no avail, let us know!!

[Q45tech]

A design flaw is something that happens while the unit is in the 4/60k warranty. An acceptable design is something that last 7 years and/or 100k. Longer life costs money and cars are throwaway items.Who can complain about a car/unit that lasted 12 years.

Very few new cars buyers would pay 25-100%% more if they had the option to double component life..........otherwise everyone would be buying a new LS430.

[kdkrone]

Q45tech,

As what you say is certainly true (with regard to a certain planning of obsolescence), in that I LOVE driving my '92 Q45 and plan to keep it for a while, where are the weak spots?

I know that the transmission is one (I had to replace it at 80K miles) and having spoken to Jerry Tucker, the timing chains guides will all universally crack by about 12-13 years (average about 125-140K miles). What else may represent common points of failure from 100 to 150K miles? (the way I look at it is that I would probably replace this car with a 2001 Mercedes 430, which would cost me about 45K, so there is lots of repair money available. The main issue is whether I develop that uneasy feeling when I think about taking the car on a 1000 mile trip and begin wondering if it may not make it without a major repair....)

ThanksKen K

[SOCAL91Q45a]

"But isnt a bad solder joint the design flaw?"

My apologies for the improper "semantics".

I thought I read where someone firedane? ..... found the solder joints that are the cause of this lack of display and also discussed the leaking "capicitors/resistors????" that perhaps leads to the solder joint issues. Seems this same person indicated that he ordered new parts and they were replaced with a diffrerent kind of item and an explanation that those parts replaced some "faulty" ones - this from the electronics mfg'r. Hence my use of the term - "design flaw". Certainly Nissan should have relied on the mfg'r to produce a part that met spec's ...

So now that that is out of the way .... there was a thread that had pics of the Gen 1 Circuit Boards in question and the solder joints that are the culprit - but the pics no longer are avaiable. I ve searched pretty hard but no "HOW TO ..." step by step - other than Remove and Ship to Jerry Tucker.

I figure if I have it out ... why not solder it? Since seemingly several peeps here know what the problem is. If I can pull it, and put it back in - I can solder it. [or have a friend/client that will ...]

But perhaps there's still more to the story, other than semantics .....

[rod_ontario]

The solder point marked with the yellow circle was the culprit on my climate control unit. Re soldered and it has worked flawlessly for the last couple of years.The area marked with the yellow rectangle had leakage so I cleaned the crud off the solder points and re-soldered as well.

[SOCAL91Q45a]

Rod - thx boss .... that rocks!