using the buick r/m a/c control

[69hemi]

was recently told about the switch to the buick a/c controls to 94 fltwd brhm., and how it gives you more range and control of heating/cooling, what are the pros and cons...thanks...

[kevm14]

Aw come on. I looked at a 96 Roadmaster wagon a couple weeks ago but didn't buy it. It had the auto climate control (it was standard for 96 actually). Now I'm getting a 95 FWB and finally will have a car with auto climate control, and you're telling me the Buick one is better? NOooo!

[69hemi]

lol, well another member and fellow mopar guy, was just telling me about the swap, and it gives you control of the dash vents when heating, and also more control of the fan speeds, he swears by it...

[kevm14]

I am surprised they are different. Are they directly swappable one to another or are there wiring differences?

You know, in a way, I am not surprised. Going by the tone of the car (options, features, etc), I can see why GM stripped a lot of tweakable things. Look at the dash. There's nothing there. No buttons to confuse old people. Maybe it was the same thing for the HVAC.

[caddycruiser]

YES. The Roadmaster controls are MUCH better.

Why:
-Unlike the Fleetwood's basically all auto control with either Low, Low Auto, High or High Auto...the Roadmaster unit gives you 5 specific fan speeds to choose from AND still an auto setting that will take that over if wanted.
-Unlike the Fleetwood's unit where you have zero control over where you want the air flow to go, other than the Defog setting which will blow floor and windshield, the Roadmaster unit lets you pick Floor, Middle, Blend (Floor & Middle), or the same Defog function (Floor & windshield). This is the biggie for most people, because as stock, the Fleetwood will only give heat out the floor vents and blows all else as a split.

The only "con" is that the Roadmaster unit doesn't have the same chrome ringed buttons and is a little narrower top to bottom--the latter not an issue, you just mount it at the right height and all looks OEM when the center bezel is back on.

Here's a thread it was first covered in:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums...tem-works.html (It WORKS new roadmaster heating system works on fleetwood!!!!)

And there's many other threads people started about it if you just search for Roadmaster climate control, etc.

Here was my personal page on doing the swap:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2242633/5

BEST thing I've still ever done to the car, and so easy. I could never stand the Fleetwood climate control from the first day of it with our '93...but this solved it all and I get operation like a "normal" luxury car now.

The only issue is that it works for '94-96 Fleetwoods ONLY and not the '93, which was different without the Defog function, etc. You just need an auto climate unit from a '94-96 Roadmaster, similarly.

[Cadillacboy]

I'm still running stock climate controls lol .I don't think I will swap Buick's buttons but since you're happy with that swap that's just fine

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by Cadillacboy

I'm still running stock climate controls lol .I don't think I will swap Buick's buttons but since you're happy with that swap that's just fine

It's the functionality...once you have 5 selectable fan speeds, can blow the air of any kind in 4 different selectable ways, and still go all auto, you'll never want to go back.

I was fine with stock too until I knew it could be changed, and done so easily with such a huge improvement in functionality.

[kevm14]

This is the first time I've seen an auto climate system that did NOT allow manual over-riding. That's just the kind of car this is, though. Or the intended demographic, I suppose.

Also, maybe 93 FW owners can run a 93 RM auto climate head. I happen to have a picture since I've always fantasized about converting my 9C1, but it's a huge project.



Hmm, I see an integrated defrost button. Is that a problem?

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by kevm14

This is the first time I've seen an auto climate system that did NOT allow manual over-riding. That's just the kind of car this is, though. Or the intended demographic, I suppose.

Also, maybe 93 FW owners can run a 93 RM auto climate head. I happen to have a picture since I've always fantasized about converting my 9C1, but it's a huge project.

Hmm, I see an integrated defrost button. Is that a problem?

I had actually thought about this before, as the '91-93 cars were pre-Defog (defrost is different) function and should work.

The issue with the '91-93 Roadmaster unit is it's larger and incorporates 3 warning light panels along the bottom of it. If those could somehow come off without affecting the climate control functionality, it could work. But I've never had one to play with, and no one else has tried.

So it's just the '94-96 compatibility we know of for sure. This is the feature my father despises MOST when he gets in his '93, something noticed immediately because his everyday driver is a '92 Roadmaster.

And yes, you're right on the apparent "demographics". The stock thing was setup just to need a click or two and take over. Problem is, that takeover is annoying, and you can't control airflow or specific fan speeds if you want, like a normal car.

Then when someone here tried the swap and it worked...it's become one of the most common things to do.