Climate control not working - 1993 Volvo 850 GLT

[teresa26]

I got my car pretty recently and since I've gotten it the climate control doesn't work at all. When I put the fuse in for the unit it starts blowing air (even when the car is not running) I leave the fuse out so it doesn't drain my battery—I got a new unit from eBay and no difference. It's winter now so I kinda would like to have heat when I'm driving and be able to defrost my windows, so it's in a Volvo shop right now. It's been in the shop for a month because they are having a hard time finding a part that is specific to the 93 Volvos. I don't know what part it is, I'm gonna call them tomorrow to get more info but for now, I was hoping someone on here could have ideas of what the issue is or any tips or had a similar thing happen to them.
I've done some research before sending it to the shop and was thinking its the blower motor resistor (maybe?) but I'm also unsure because it seems like there is no power getting to the unit.

any help would be appreciated, thanks

[scot850]

Parts for 93 Volvos are getting scarce. Let us know what it is and someone may be able to find one.

Are you in Washington D.C. or Washington State?

If you are in D.C. your repair shop could try calling Erie Vo-Vo in NYC to see if they can help with a used part.

If you are on the west coast, they can try Chapman Motors in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island for used part.

When asking the repair shop for what the part they are looking is for, can the confirm if you have ECC (Electronic climate control) or MCC (manual climate control). It is most likely the first, but they use different resistors in their systems.

Neil.

[teresa26]

Firstly, I am from Washington State, near Seattle.
I just called the mechanic. They are unsure of the issue but also think it is the climate control unit. They are also unsure if it's an ECC (he said automatic on the phone but I think he meant the electric one) or MCC. They replaced the blower motor resistor, but he said just in case they are going to try another one. There is power getting to the ports but the unit isn't working still.
He also called a dealership to try and figure out if it's MCC or ECC but they couldn't help.
So he thinks the best bet is to find a control unit from a 1993 Volvo 850, unfortunately not easy to find. I'm gonna call the place you mentioned and ask if they have a 93 850 unit, fingers are crossed!
I don't know what else I can do, what the issue could be, or how I could fix it besides an exact part from a Volvo of the same year.
Any other tips or help is always appreciated, thanks for the help and any future help.

[scot850]

They did change the units over the 850 years. I've not had an 850 for many years, but I think 93-94 had a different ECC control unit to the 95-97.

The ECC unit can easily be removed from the dashboard by removing the radio (make sure you have the code) and then pushing up at the rear of the ECC unit and then wiggling it out. At the rear there are only 3 electrical connector blocks and the unit is maybe 9" x 9" looking from the top.

The MCC instead of using electric motors to move the flaps to change where the air flow is going, has cables that run to the flaps and are manually controlled.

This is what the front of an MCC unit looks like. Note the fan is manually operated:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/405334232197?_ ... BMjMSV_Ixl

This is what the ECC unit front looks like:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/286053154199?_ ... R4zElfyMZQ

Now, in spite of the seller saying this is good for 93-97, I would check. Chapmans will likely know. Go by the part number label on your unit if it is still attached.

Neil.

[abscate]

Welcome to MVS, teresa. We pride ourselves here over being adult and non-toxic, which seems to be challenging for a lot of auto Fora.

The ECC comes with numbers of the front temp dials, the MCC just had red/blue stripes around the dials.The ECC also has an AUT position on the mode dial in the middle which gives you closed loop temperature control of the cabin.

A fan stuck on problem does sound like a climate controller (either MCC or ECC) fault. I dont remember if there are any services left who resolder these units or check them, there used to be guys in FL , Programma, who did this.

FCP shows this unit is available rebuilt from them but pricy - $650

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 50-9166551

Programa offers a repair service at a bit better price

https://www.programainc.com/item_list.a ... ategory=28

[teresa26]

I found a place nearby that has a remanufactured part for $800, but i found one online that says it’s an ECC but it looks like it has the manual slider on the bottom, the back looks like an ECC (there is only one picture it’s hard to tell) but i’m thinking that might be the part i need?
https://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/1993/ ... panel.html
do you think this part would work? i want a second opinion before i buy it because it is still a lot of money

[jmartin919]

Have you determined whether you need an ECC or MCC?

[teresa26]

When I got the car it came with an ECC and when I got an ECC unit from eBay it matched the ports that were in the car. So I'm pretty sure its an ECC

[abscate]

The fan speed switch on the later ECC has a variable slider , not fan speeds 1 2 3 4, I’m not sure about the 1993

MCC will have cable. Control on the back like a bicycle shift cables. I think the GLT Model was a high trim line and probably came with ECC. You should be able to find a ECC head cheap, like $100 at a pick and pull like LKQ online?

[scot850]

Teresa, sounds like you have this handled. A used unit is a bit of a crap shoot these days with the age of the parts. Components start to fail. Like I said, worth trying Chapman motors in Vancouver Island as they specialize in Volvo parting out. If you look on this list of recent new cars into the yard there is a 93 GLT! :

https://www.chapmanmotors.ca/partscars.html

Neil.