Fix for 1990-1993 Q45 Climate Controller Found!

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Lokim
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OwnerCS wrote:Heath - Great post and very helpful. I just received a 60006 from a junkyard as the display on my 91 has an intermittent display problem. This one was sold as working. I would like to just swap units to determine if this recently purchased unit is fully operational.

When I first saw the unit I thought I could just unplug the two connectors from the unit. I’m having some incredible difficulty removing the connectors. Here are two pictures below.

Also, I would like to get the unit that is presently in the car repaired as I know it works properly.

Can you tell me what I need to do to remove the connector plugs? It really seems odd the plugs cannot be removed after I push in the tabs.

All suggestions are welcome. :-)

:

Image

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Try a bit of spray silicone. It won't harm the connector or wires, and evaporates quickly.

To Heath: Great post! Way to go, you've made lots of people very happy... :dblthumb: :woot:


OwnerCS
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Thanks for the info. I used the silicone and a screwdriver. Now it works! I just needed to push the release tabs in all the way with a screwdriver while pulling out on the connector.

OwnerCS
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Tonight I installed a "corrected version" of the climate control unit from our resident Q club expert. It works perfectly!

Also, to set the unit for another 20 years of operation, I ordered all new bulbs from IOS. The new bulbs and the corrected unit are installed and working fine.

So here's one more restoration project milestone to mark off the list. :biggrin:

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Q451990
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I'm glad to hear it's working well for you! I'm sure it's much happier in your Q than sitting in a box on my office floor...

Heath

RBUTLER
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HELLO. I HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH A Q CONTROLLER FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND BY PURE LUCK FOUND YOUR POSTINGS. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME.

MY CONTROLLER WENT BAD AFTER A MECHANIC RETROFITTED MY AIR COND TO RUN ON R134. AFTER LESS THAN 2 HOURS RUNNING, THE COMPRESSOR( THE ORIGINAL COMPRESSOR NO LESS) FAILED AND LOCKED DOWN. BOUGHT A REMAN COMPRESSOR AND HAD INSTALLED. AFTER INSTALLATION, NOTICED THAT COOLING WAS NOT GOOD. THEN NEW MECHANIC NOTICED THAT SYSTEM WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THE CONTROLLER- COULD NOT ADJUST TEMPERATURE. THIS WAS IN MIDDLE OF SUMMER SO NEEDED AC. HE WAS ABLE TO GET THE AC ON BY RUNNING THE SELF DIAGONOSTIC PROGRAM. BUT ONCE IN AC COULD NOT ADJUST TO GET HEAT.
THE LIGHTS ON THE CONROLLER WORK. I TELL YOU ALL THIS SO YOU CAN ADVISE ME AS TO THE ODDS OF ANYONE ( MR. TUCKER PERHAPS) OR YOURSELF BEING ABLE TO BRING THIS THING BACK TO LIFE OR IS IT JUST HOPELESS.

THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE WILL BE MOST APPRECIATED. OH, I FORGOT- CAR IS A 1990 Q, 225,000 MILES. ALSO, I AM NEW TO THIS FORUM SO AM STILL LEARNING MY WAY AROUND.

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Q451990
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:welcome: to NICO!

I don't think your problem is related to the display problem I'm talking about in this thread - especially if you can see the temperature on the display. I would start by putting it through it's diagnostics to see what results you get. Do you have the factory service manual? If not, the '94 uses a slightly different controller, but the procedure should be close enough to get it into the diagnostic mode. You can check it out at www.nicoclub.com/FSM/

Heath

PPaul
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Car: Infinity Q45 1991

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Hello,
I have Q45 91 I took my car to service rebuild the engine Only 105K. (got messed up in K-Mart overfill engine with oil ) After I picked up my car the A/C not working (no freon), Cruse control , A/C control module display, Engine lite and who knows what else I'm going to find is not working. I would like to ask you for info. I pull out my A/C controller and I like to test it on bench there are 2 connectors 20 and 16 pins What is the pin out? where to connect +/- 12V? Do I need to connect anything else then 12V? I do not have diagram.

Thank you for your help

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Q451990
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:welcome: to NICO!

On the 20 pin connector, the yellow, brown, and green wires go to 12V, and the black wire goes to ground.

Looking at the back of the controller.


Image

Green = 12v
Black = Ground
Brown = 12V +
Yellow = 12v +

If you happen to have a "pull it yourself" style junk yard nearby with a 90-93Q, it's worth your time to go cut the connector out of the car to use for bench testing... I can't imagine trying to get aligator clips on those tiny pins. Of course you'll want to check to make sure your controller is getting voltage... if the buttons aren't lighting up either - I would suspect an issue with the voltage going to the controller.

Good luck!

Heath

noize
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just did this on my 92 Q climate control. worked perfectly. thanks!

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Q451990
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:welcome: to NICO and you're welcome!

Heath

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Infinitiguy19
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Heath thank you for this write up! I destroyed one display learning how to solder. It was a 1991-1993 Q45 display. But the second one, My cars display I actually soldered the capacitor without making much mess. And it works and has been working for more than a week. Again thanks Heath!

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Brew Q
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Great writeup and fix!

Question for Heath or anyone that knows:

Heath mentioned he never had problems in his first Q and it had a capacitor from the factory in the "trouble" spot. What year car was that or is there a way to tell without pulling the climate control out?

I have no issues currently with mine, but I'm only at 84k miles.

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Q451990
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My "factory fixed" controller was out of my first very early production 1990. My current 1990, made a few months later did not have the "fix"

I have no idea how it got the "fix" at the factory, but I'm sure that's what happened because I bought that car while the 100K bumper to bumper warranty was still in effect, so no one would have DIY fixed it or paid for a fix with that warranty in place.

Heath

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Brew Q
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Very interesting... thanks for the info sir!

OwnerCS
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Has anyone seen a controller with a drop of red paint on the outside of the case? I haven't been inside to check the circuit board, but it appears the red paint was added as a marker to indicate a working controller. I tested it a couple of years ago and found it to be working. I keep it as a spare.

CalvinQ45
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Location: Cookeville TN

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Thank you Heath for your information and work solving this problem. You can add me to the list of successful repair stories. The display on my 91 Q went dead but all the functions still worked. As per your instructions I replaced the bridge capacitor with a ceramic one and it worked great. The only thing I did different was I couldn't find a 180pf capacitor, the closest was a 200pf. The 200pf works and if it burns out I'll let you know.

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Q451990
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That's good to hear... you're welcome!

Heath

1991_Q45t
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Heath,

Hi I'm Jason, I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this "fix/repair". I soldered in a 150pF cap (could not find a 180pF) I got from Radio Shack a while back, that I had not used in any of the many other projects I build. I put the A/C controller back into the car and the field illuminated once again.

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Q451990
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I'm glad it helped, and :welcome: to NICO Jason!

Heath
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Heath, nothing like bringing a thread back from the dead... Do you still do these repairs or know of someone that does?

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Q451990
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Let me check to see if I have any capacitors left. If so, I can fix yours - or just send you one of my already fixed spares if you'd rather do that.

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Q451990
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:bigthumb: I have capacitors. Check your inbox.


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