How to remove 64 Climate Control Dash unit?

[Norman Silverman]

Hello All

I think I have determined that the rheostat in the temp control wheel is broken in my Comfort Control unit-either that, or I tinkered with it so much that I threw it out of adjustment and may have rendered it unusable. I have Tim Groves' book and it seems the unit is not giving the correct signal to the transducer. Maybe. 

How do I remove the Comfort Control dash control (photo  attached)? I have the dash top off and the headlight switch out, but it looks to me as though the only way to access this unit is by taking the whole dash apart. Someone PLEASE tell me I am wrong and there's a much more direct and simple way of doing this.

Thanks

Norm 

[Russ Austin]

The only problem with Tims book is the ohms chart. Follow the specs in the shop manual as they are correct. 

To remove the dial, just look for the screws holding the part in the panel.

[Norman Silverman]

Russ

Thanks for the heads up.

Tim's book is terrific, other than one or two syntax irregularities which make his instructions conflicting or confusing. Noted on the ohms. 

I see the screws on the wheel/rheostat assembly but the horizontal one in the back seems to pose access challenges. Have you done this with the unit still in the car? If yes, what's the trick?

MUCH appreciation

Norm

[Jason Edge]

It is probably going to be easier to remove the control panel as an assembly. That is the approach I would take if dash still in car. Once other disconnections are made there are just 2 screws holding the assembly to the instrument panel. page 15-9, Ch 15, section 17 for removal procedure for Comfort Control control panel.

[Norman Silverman]

Jason

All noted with much appreciation-especially the courtesy of your having called out the exact chapter and section that describes removal. The only real caveat I see is the disconnection/re-connection of the armored slide cable that operates the defrost function-it has to be placed with some spatial consideration. Before I attempt this, I think I may connect the spare rheostat/temp wheel in to the system by removing the wire on the installed one, and grounding the test one to the car and connecting the wire to the prong on it. That way (I think) I can test my theory of what's broken before I go to the considerable effort of removing the HVAC quadrant (which is easier to do when you are not 80 with a bad back). 

Norm

[Norman Silverman]

UPDATE: It is not possible to remove the cc temp wheel while it is still in the dash. The reason is that you have to disconnect and move the circuit boards that impede access to and travel of the lower bolt on the CC temp wheel. So, the unit has to come out if that part is going to be replaced.  

[Norman Silverman]

I found the Cadillac Service Film that explains the entire system.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSu3M-r5cII&t=1658s

[Jason Edge]

That is one of the Cadillac Roundtable Slidefilm training films converted from record and 35mm film to digital video by our Chapter Member Christian Doerk. This one titled "Weather Forecast" was the January 1964 training subject.  They would feature different subjects each month. 

Christian had also converted the March 1964 Roundtable Training Video called Private Eyes. We had a viewing of that one at the 2024 Grand National with Christian on hand. We have both of these videos posted here on the site and just bumped them both up to top.

I loaned Christian a large collection of my slidefilms and albums to scan and record and combine into digital formats like the one reference here but believe work has kept him busy. I hope to see some of the others soon. I inserted a picture of some of my collection at bottom.

[Norman Silverman]

Well, THANK YOU CHRISTIAN, and THANK YOU JASON-watching this video made many things MUCH clearer to me! I may actually tackle it. Today, I purchased a tester that purports to mimic the original factory one shown in the video. It plugs in to the back of the amplifier circuit board (like the one shown) and  I intend to utilize it, Tim's book, and (most importantly) advice and encouragement from those in this group to try to get my system working as it should. Oddly, the refrigerant part of it is perfect-not usually the case in my experience. 

Norm