123 CCU Unit worth a rebuild?
 

First the good news:

I fixed my floor vents problem of not opening by replacing the CCU (push button unit) with one I got from a junkyard in MA.

Never imagined what warm air in the winter to the floor boards would feel like in my car.:D

- no bad news-:cool:

Question:

Now, since the junkyard (they'd probably be pissed to hear me call it that) didn't require a core, I still have my old one. I know an electronics shop locally that will fix these (and also cruise control amps) for $150 apiece.

Does that seem reasonable? I know how the cruise control amps just all of a sudden give way, and it would be nice to have some extra parts just in case. Anybody know of a cheaper alternative?

Gil,

I think that these units fail most frequently in the solder joints. Somewhere on the web there is a write up on how to take it apart and resolder. I'm kinda anal about soldering(use RMA flux and high quality resin/solder, then clean with isoporpal alcohol).

Anyway, ppl do this all the time and it work about 2/3 of the time I'm told.
Solder it and keep it for a spare!


Michael

UPDATE!
 

Well, I got a rebuilt unit from a scrap yard in MA. To call it a scrap yard is not accurate, actually. The place was a yard I'd frequented to since I was in high school, but it was recently sold to Greenleaf, which is a national chain owned by Ford.

The bad news is they don't let anybody out in the yard anymore and they have a mininum charge of $55.00. This means no odds and ends picking over a carcass like the scavengers we are.

However, the good news is they are ultra-organized and had exactly what I wanted. They sold me a used CCU they had in the computer and off the shelf for 55.00. This included a six month warranty, extendable to a year for an additional six bucks.

This is amazing, as I never even heard of warranted parts from a junk yard, much less on anyting old and electrical. In fact, the unit they sold me was a rebuilt one from Programma, Inc. It works just fine and saved me a bundle. Now I have heat to the floor boards.

I was very happy. If this is the future of scrapyards, bring 'em on!

Gil

Gil,
Nice job on getting a good deal. I just ponyed uo $250 for a rebuilt CCU for my 124. I called a couple of wrecking yards (preferred term) and they had nothing that would fit or they could guarantee would work. I wish we had more boneyards like the one near you. You could buy 4 CCUs and still be way ahead.

"wrecking yards (preferred term) "


Auto Recycling Center. (said with pinkie finger suitably extended. ;)