# Buick Heating & cooling

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/buick-heating-cooling/13034>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 18, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buick-heating-cooling/13034 "2008-04-18T22:13:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rsrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5a626/32.png) [@rsrose](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rsrose)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buick-heating-cooling/13034/1 "2008-04-18T22:13:56Z")

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I have a 1996 Park Avenue that only expels air from the windshield vents regardless of the dashboard setting. I took it to my dealer and after he checked it out ($80)I was told that it needs a new computer chip to the tune of $1200. Is this chip platinum gold? Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![Beefy\_Norm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@Beefy\_Norm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beefy_Norm)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buick-heating-cooling/13034/2 "2008-04-18T22:24:00Z")

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Yep, never go to the dealership for repairs unless the repair is covered under warranty. All those mechanics are are parts replacers anyway.

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**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buick-heating-cooling/13034/3 "2008-04-18T22:24:34Z")

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Go to a different shop and get a second opinion. Also, $80 for a diagnosis is pretty steep.

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**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buick-heating-cooling/13034/4 "2008-04-18T22:29:47Z")

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I agree that you need to have another shop check your car. The likelihood is that you need a new servo motor for the HVAC system or perhaps you only need to have a vacuum line repaired. Either of these scenarios could result in a repair bill that is…perhaps $1100. less than the quote from the dealership.

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**Author:** ![rsrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b5a626/32.png) [@rsrose](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rsrose)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buick-heating-cooling/13034/5 "2008-05-01T02:05:47Z")

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You guys were right on! I took the car to a local mechanic and after some searching he found a damaged vacuum hose. Total cost $84. I wasn’t savy enough to dispute the initial $1200 cost cited by the dealer so you guys made my day. Thanks

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**Author:** ![Jad2007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dec6dc/32.png) [@Jad2007](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jad2007)\
**Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/buick-heating-cooling/13034/6 "2008-05-01T02:23:49Z")

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Please go back to the dealership and let them know what the REAL problem and solution was, and that you won’t be utilizing their services again. I would.