The control panel of your car's air conditioning system is the interface with which you and your passengers interact to control its operation. Contained in it are various buttons and switches that control different functions, such as fan speed and temperature levels, to ensure that your drive isn't overly hot or cold. These buttons and paneling can get damaged and become eyesores, or worse, result in the failure of certain features. If you're experiencing issues like this or just want to learn more about A/C and heater control panels in general, keep reading.

Components of the Control Panel

The control panel of your A/C and heater contains several key controls.

Temperature Control

The temperature control allows you to adjust the temperature of the air from your A/C system. In a manual control system, this can take the form of a knob that can be rotated between warmer and cooler settings. In automatic systems, the A/C system automatically adjusts various settings to meet the desired temperature.

Fan Speed Control

The fan speed control regularly takes the form of a knob, push button, or digital interface with a fan icon. Turning the fan speed control will either increase or decrease the fan speed, and rotating it entirely in the designated direction or pushing the power button will turn it on or off.

Mode Selection

Some A/C systems and control panels will feature various modes to choose from. These could include "vent," which will direct air through vents on the dashboard panel; "floor," which will direct air through vents placed near the vehicle floor; "bi-level," which directs air through both the dashboard and floor vents; and "defog," which will direct air through the windshield defrost vents.

A/C Button

This turns the A/C system on to either cool or warm the car up.

Recirculation Button

This recirculates the already-cooled interior air through the cooling system to cool it further and then back into the interior of the car instead of drawing in outside air that might be warmer.

Types of Systems

Various types of A/C and heater systems differ based on the level of input required from and available to the driver.

Manual Climate Control

In a manual climate control system, most of the settings, such as fan speed and temperature, are controlled manually.

Automatic Climate Control

An automatic climate control system is able to monitor levels such as air temperature, solar load, interior humidity, and vehicle speed and direction to maintain the interior of the car at a desired temperature.

Dual-zone Climate Control

With a dual-zone climate control system, both the front passenger and driver are able to select different settings. Dual-zone climate control can also be extended to the rear in some vehicles, allowing three-zone or even four-zone control in luxury models.

How to Choose an A/C & Heater Control Panel

Vehicle Compatibility

Ensure that you're getting an A/C and heater control panel specific to your vehicle, as A/C and heater control panels will have different fits and connectors and will differ in general based on the type of system.

Aftermarket or OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) A/C and heater control panels are typically made by authorized manufacturers, whereas third-party manufacturers make aftermarket A/C and heater control panels.

We recommend investing in an OEM A/C and heater control panel to return your vehicle to its original look and level of performance. Because of the more stringent levels of manufacturing, you'll likely get more use out of an OEM replacement. Not to mention, aftermarket units may void your vehicle's warranty.

Symptoms of Failing A/C & Heater Control Panels

Inconsistent Cooling

The A/C system might intermittently blow out cold air, or the air might fluctuate between a range of temperatures. Faulty switches or a bad A/C control module might cause this.

A/C Blows Hot Air, or Parts Overheat

Hot air from your A/C might be a sign that there's a blown fuse, low refrigerant levels, a faulty compressor, or frayed wire, which has resulted in parts, including switches on the control panel, malfunctioning or overheating. Send your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible.

Uneven Air Distribution

If cool/warm air is not blowing out evenly across all the vents, there might be a clog in the vents, dirty air filters, and/or faulty blower motor.

Unresponsive Settings or Compressor Won't Turn On

If the A/C system is unresponsive or the compressor doesn't turn on, there could be a fault with the compressor, switches, control module, or wiring.

Maintenance

The following are some measures that you can take to reduce the likelihood of your car's A/C system failing.

1. Keep your vehicle clean to prevent dirt and debris from entering the vents and reducing the efficiency of the A/C.
2. Avoid straining the A/C by keeping the windows up when the A/C is on and parking your vehicle in shaded areas.
3. Keep your ears open for noises coming from the A/C. Doing so can help you identify any potential issues.
4. Regularly change the air filter to avoid any airway clogs and inefficient operation of the A/C.
5. Keep refrigerant levels topped up (to be done by a qualified technician).

Replacing Your A/C & Heater Control Panel

If your A/C and heater control panel needs replacing and you're feeling up to the task, you can follow the steps to switch yours out for a set that's working well. Please note that these steps are general and may vary depending on the make and model of your car.

1. Get the right A/C and heater control panel designed specifically for your vehicle.
2. Disconnect the car battery.
3. Remove the dashboard panel and then the A/C control panel from the dashboard panel by disconnecting the wiring and undoing any screws holding it in place.
4. Install the new control panel by fixing any screws that were removed and by reconnecting the wiring.
5. Reconnect the car battery and then test the new control panel.

Where to Buy Quality New & Used A/C & Heater Control Panels

For used A/C and heater controls in excellent condition and at great prices, shop here with BE FORWARD Auto Parts.