The air delivery description and operation is divided into 7 areas:

HVAC Control Module

The HVAC control module is a GMLAN device that interfaces between the Operator and the HVAC system to maintain air temperature and distribution settings. The battery positive voltage circuit provides power that the control module uses for keep alive memory (KAM). If the battery positive voltage circuit loses power, all HVAC DTCs and settings will be erased from KAM. The body control module (BCM), which is the vehicle mode master, provides a device on signal. The control module supports the following features:

Auxiliary HVAC Control Module (without RSA)

The Auxiliary HVAC Control Module uses a set of three potentiometers to control rear fan speed, temperature, and mode settings. The Auxiliary HVAC Control module has inputs for 5V and low Reference that is used by all three potentiometers. There are three signal circuits between each of the potentiometers and the HVAC Control Module.

Auxiliary HVAC Control Module (with RSA)

Auxiliary HVAC Control functions are integrated into the Rear Seat Entertainment Module. The Rear Seat Entertainment Module communicates Rear HVAC settings over serial data.

Auxiliary HVAC Control Functions

All Auxiliary functions and DTCs are handled by the HVAC control module. There are two ways the rear functions can be controlled.

Control from the HVAC control module: If the AUX button on the HVAC control module is pressed, the rear HVAC system will be enabled. The settings for the rear will mimic the Driver settings on the HVAC Control Module.

Control from the auxiliary HVAC control module: If at any time any of the three Auxiliary controls are adjusted, control of the rear HVAC System will transfer to the Auxiliary controls. If the Aux button is not currently enabled, adjusting the Auxiliary controls will enable it, even if the front system is Off.

Auxiliary Mode Actuator

The auxiliary Mode actuator is a 5-wire bi-directional electric motor that incorporates a feedback potentiometer. Low reference, 5-volt reference, position signal, and 2 control circuits enable the actuator to operate. The control circuits use either a 0 or 12-volt value to coordinate the actuator movement. When the actuator is at rest, both control circuits have a value of 0 volts. In order to move the actuator, the HVAC control module grounds one of the control circuits while providing the other with 12 volts. The HVAC control module reverses the polarity of the control circuits to move the actuator in the opposite direction. When the actuator shaft rotates, the potentiometers adjustable contact changes the door position signal between 0-5 volts. The HVAC control module uses a range of 0-255 counts to index the actuator position. The door position signal voltage is converted to a 0-255 count range. When the module sets a commanded, or targeted value, one of the control circuits is grounded. As the actuator shaft rotates the changing position signal is sent to the module. Once the position signal and the commanded value are the same, the module removes power and ground from the control circuits.

The auxiliary HVAC control module uses a range of 0-255 counts to index the actuator position. The door position signal voltage is converted to a 0-255 count range. When the module sets a commanded, or targeted, value, the control signal is changed to either 0 or 5 volts depending upon the direction that the actuator needs to rotate to reach the commanded value. As the actuator shaft rotates the changing position signal is sent to the module.

Once the position signal and the commanded value are the same, the module changes the control signal to 2.5 volts.

Blower Motor Control Processor

The blower motor control processor controls the speed of the blower motor by increasing or decreasing the voltage drop on the ground side of the blower motor. The HVAC control module provides a low side pulse width modulated signal to the blower motor control processor over the blower motor speed control circuit. As the requested blower speed increases, the HVAC control module increases the amount of time that the speed signal is modulated to ground. As the requested blower speed decreases, the HVAC control module decreases the amount of time that the signal is modulated to ground.

Auxiliary Blower Motor Control Processor

The auxiliary blower motor control processor controls the speed of the blower motor by increasing or decreasing the voltage drop on the ground side of the auxiliary blower motor. The auxiliary HVAC control module provides a low side pulse width modulated signal to the auxiliary blower motor control processor over the auxiliary blower motor speed control circuit. As the requested blower speed increases, the auxiliary HVAC control module increases the amount of time that the speed signal is modulated to ground. As the requested blower speed decreases, the auxiliary HVAC control module decreases the amount of time that the signal is modulated to ground.

The blower control switch is integrated into the HVAC control module. The 2 rocker type switches provide the vehicle operator the ability to select several blower speeds. The HVAC control module uses a bar graph type display to indicate the selected blower speed. The blower motor control processor supplies a 5-volt reference to the HVAC control module on the blower motor speed control circuit. The HVAC control module pulls the 5 volts reference low towards ground to provide a blower motor speed signal. As the voltage decreases the blower speed increases. Power and ground are provided to the blower motor control processor through the battery positive voltage and ground circuits. When the HVAC control module is operating in AUTO mode, the system automatically controls the blower speed. If an OnStar® call is initiated while the blower is in the high speed position the blower speed will be lowered to reduce background noise.

There are 2 separate operator controls for the auxiliary HVAC system. There is the front auxiliary HVAC control assembly and the rear seat audio (RSA) control module. If the front auxiliary blower motor switch is in the AUX. position, then the system will only function with inputs to the front auxiliary HVAC control assembly. If the front auxiliary blower motor switch is in the OFF position, then the RSA control module does not respond to input. The auxiliary HVAC control module can not request A/C operation from the PCM. A rocker type switch on the RSA control module provides the operator the ability to select several blower speeds. The RSA control module uses a bar graph to indicate the selected blower speed. The auxiliary blower motor control processor supplies a 5-volt reference to the auxiliary HVAC control module on the auxiliary blower motor speed control circuit. The auxiliary HVAC control module pulls the 5-volt reference low towards ground to provide a blower motor speed signal. As the voltage decreases the blower speed increases. Power and ground are provided to the auxiliary blower motor control processor through the battery positive voltage and ground circuits.

Afterblow

Afterblow is a feature that dries the evaporator core by operating the blower motor after the engine is turned off. This reduces the amount of microbial growth that can create undesirable odors. The vehicle does not come equipped with the afterblow feature turned on. If the afterblow feature is required due to an odor concern, it must be turned on by the scan tool.

The following conditions must be met for afterblow to operate:

Once the above conditions have been met the following sequence of events will occur:

The HVAC control module controls the distribution of air by the use of a mode actuator. The modes that may be selected are:

The mode actuator is connected to the mode door by a cam type linkage system. Depending on the position of the door, air is directed through the HVAC module and distributed through various ducts leading to the outlets in the dash. If the HVAC control module detects a fault with the mode door the HVAC control module will try to drive the actuator for a predetermined amount of time, to defrost, which is the defaulted position for the mode door actuator. When the mode switch is placed in the defrost or defog positions the A/C is commanded on and the recirculation door is moved to the outside air position to help reduce window fogging. A/C is available in all modes and recirculation is only available in the panel and bi-level modes.

Mode Actuator

The Mode actuator is a 5-wire bi-directional electric motor that incorporates a feedback potentiometer. Low reference, 5-volt reference, position signal, and 2 control circuits enable the actuator to operate. The control circuits use either a 0 or 12-volt value to coordinate the actuator movement. When the actuator is at rest, both control circuits have a value of 0 volts. In order to move the actuator, the HVAC control module grounds one of the control circuits while providing the other with 12 volts. The HVAC control module reverses the polarity of the control circuits to move the actuator in the opposite direction. When the actuator shaft rotates, the potentiometers adjustable contact changes the door position signal between 0-5 volts. The HVAC control module uses a range of 0-255 counts to index the actuator position. The door position signal voltage is converted to a 0-255 count range. When the module sets a commanded, or targeted value, one of the control circuits is grounded. As the actuator shaft rotates the changing position signal is sent to the module. Once the position signal and the commanded value are the same, the module removes power and ground from the control circuits.

Front Defrost

When defrost is selected, the A/C compressor is activated. The A/C compressor clutch will engage when ambient temperatures are above 3°C (38°F). The blower motor will be activated, regardless of the coolant temperature. The HVAC control module will override the auxiliary HVAC control module so a high volume of air is delivered to the front defrost vents. The rear window defogger does not affect the HVAC system.

The auxiliary HVAC system provides ventilation for the rear seat occupants. The rear seat occupants will exercise control of the auxiliary air delivery modes, air speed and air temperature setting.

When the auxiliary mode switch is toggled, a signal is sent to the auxiliary mode actuator through the auxiliary mode door control circuit. Power and ground are supplied to the auxiliary mode actuator through the ignition 3 voltage and ground circuits.

When the HVAC control module is ON, the air that is delivered to the auxiliary HVAC system is the low auxiliary blower speed. When the operator selects medium blower speed, power is delivered to the auxiliary blower motor through the auxiliary blower motor medium speed control circuit.

When the operator selects high blower speed, power is delivered to the auxiliary blower motor through the auxiliary blower motor high speed control circuit. Ground is provided to the blower motor through the ground circuit. Power and ground are provided to the auxiliary HVAC control module through the ignition 3 voltage and ground circuits.

The HVAC control module controls the air intake through the recirculation actuator. The recirculation switch closes the recirculation door in order to circulate the air within the vehicle. The outside air switch opens the recirculation door in order to route outside air into the vehicle. Regardless of the blower motor switch position, recirculation is available only in the panel and bi-level mode switch positions. Including the OFF position. The mode switch must be placed in either the panel or bi-level position before the blower motor switch is placed in the OFF position. In order to reduce windshield fogging, outside air is circulated when the mode switch is in the defrost or defog positions. If the recirculation switch is pressed into the ON position when the mode switch is in an unavailable mode position, then the recirculation switch LED will flash 3 times. If the HVAC control module detects a fault with the recirc door the HVAC control module will try to drive the actuator for a predetermined amount of time, to outside air, which is the defaulted position for the recirculation actuator.

In automatic operation, the HVAC control module will maintain the comfort level inside of the vehicle by controlling the A/C compressor clutch, the blower motor, the air temperature actuators, mode actuator and circulation.

To place the HVAC system in Automatic mode, the following is required:

Once the desired temperature is reached, the blower motor, mode, recirculation and temperature actuators will automatically be adjusted to maintain the temperature selected. The HVAC control module performs the following functions to maintain the desired air temperature: