Hi guys,

I have a '96 A4 2.8L/ MY A/C stopped working, and since I'm living in Florida it's a problem right now...

Any way, here's what I have been able to tell up to now:
1) A/C does not complain and blows air correctly, but the air is outside temperature
2) Heating does not work either (outside air temperature in that condition as well)
3) VAG-Com gives me two HVAC codes:
01271 - Positioning Motor for Temperature Flap (V68)
41-10 - Blocked or No Voltage - Intermittent

01274 -
41-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent

I don't habe the description for 01274 because I have not had the time to register VAG-Com yet (I'll do it as soon as they have restocked the A4 repair manual to get the discount at the same time. This tool rocks !). Anyway, it's supposed to be the Positionning Motor for Air Flow Flap (V71) and I am assuming it is the same kind of problem (since it is the same sub-code).

4) When running A/C, one of the rigid metallic pipes (the small one) entering the passenger compartment on the left of the engine compartment is indeed cold, so A/C seems to be trying, at least.

I gather that this V68 temperature flap is blocked close, which prevents A/C from regulating temperature. Now, is it achievable to check that part by joe somebody, and maybe even try to change it (unless it is electrical)? What would you advise me to do?

 

Sorry to thread jack, but thats not the only problem in florida.
Problem #2 is the Buckeyes are coming for the gators in the ncaa tourney.
Brace yourselves down there, were still mad about losing the football game, so here comes the basketball team and greg oden.

 

Sorry, but being French (recently arrived around here) I have no idea what you are talking about

NP with the thread jack, although when I saw one answer I thought I might have been lucky... Bah.

Anyway, to get back on topic, I found where that Temperature Flap is (I should have searched the forum for "Temperature Flap", not for the specific DTC, mea culpa).

I got rid of the glove box, and it's all the way down in the central console. Unplugged the sucker and now I have a "temperature flap, static open" error (so I found the right one).
This does not tell me how to test if that thing is working or not, though. I have no idea what the A/C head is supposed to send on those pins, so I can even test if the voltage is adequate.
The only thing I know is that I can't move this thing manually, even when it is unplugged. Don't know if this is normal or not.

I think VAG-Com gives you an option for "output tests", and I guess I should try that and see if that thing moves, but I need to register it first (no idea if that is gonna be of any help though).
And removing that thing if I need to is not gonna be easy.

I'm no auto wizard, I just thought I'd give it a try before having to go to the stealer. If someone has any experience on those things, please give some pointers...

 

Sorry man, just excited about my team making it to the championship college basketball game! Ohio State, and Florida are playing tommorow for the championship.
Ohio state and florida played for the championship for college football, and Florida won, so i am hoping we at least win the b-ball game! If you have not guessed, i am from Ohio.
Sorry, I dont know the answer to your post. try some searching if you have not already, seems like this has been out there before.

 

No problem. All the luck to your team !

I have done some searching, and the problem is out there. No one has ever given a complete answer though (unless I missed some post). That is partly why I try to describe my problem and give the steps I'm following here. This way, the next guy might find this usefull (I hope). For those who are interrested, here's what I came up with today:

- V68 is still not working, HVAC still shows a 01271 problem (V68 Temperature Flap Motor blocked)
- I tried looking at the HVAC command sent to that servo through the Block Measure feature. Group 02 is for V68. It shows
Field 1: Actual Feedback Value (a representation of the position of the servo, should be similar to Field 2)
Field 2: Specified Feedback Value (a representation of where the servo should be)
Field 3: "Full heating" feedback value (a representation of the servo position when heating to the max, should be between 5 and 55)
Field 4: "Full cooling" feedback value (a representation of the servo position when cooling to the max, hould be between 200 nd 255)
When changing the temperature setting, you can see Field 2 changing value. The servo should change position accordingly and Field 1 should change in response.
There is definitely a problem with it, since I can't see it move even though vag-com shows the A/C unit changing it setting (field 2) when changing the temperature.
In comparison, changing the air direction (up/down/console) definitely makes the other servo (air flow, with a blue lever, Fiplay Group 3 in Vag Come/HVAC) move.

- I tried hooking up V68 in place of the working servo: no change (this to see if there was a problem with the servo or with the A/C unit itself). I guess the problem is with that servo.
BEWARE: this is actually not so good an idea, I just realised those two parts are NOT identical, and thus you should not hook it up there. I gather those units are protected against an error in the wiring, but better not try that.

Conclusion: I need a new V68 servo, and I need to install it. Getting a new one is pretty easy. Changing it is a rather gloomy prospect. The bentley manual (online edition, 3 days subscription, very useful) wants me to remove
- The rear console (easy)
- The front center console (PITA, means removing the radio, I don't have neither the tools, nor the radio code...)
- some other stuff I don't remember right now, but I stopped at the front center console anyway.

I guess I won't be doing that myself, unless someone around here already has changed one and can tell me how to do it easily.

Someone on the board mentionned sending 12V directly to the servo because sometimes they get stuck. I might try that. I won't damage the servo any more than it is right now anyway, so it's worth a try (but I'm not too hopeful about that)..

Anyway, that was instructive. I'm not 100% sure there is nothing else wrong with the A/C, but at least I can find a mechanic and get this changed.