A/C Temp Sensors

[Steve2150]

Have a 1990, do not need these now but read both high and low A/C Temp Sensors are the same and are not available at any vendors. Is there a list of these in compatible cars since the junkyard near me has no Reatta so this way will have them if needed. Needed the A/C programmer that opens and closes the heater door and found a list that showed most caddys, toronado and reattas from 1986 to 1993 used the same part and got one from an Allante.

[Machiner 55]

Steve,

The sensors from the same vintage Riviera should work. If you are searching auto parts stores online, you might try performing the look-up by putting "Riviera" in the box for the model. Sometimes parts show up that way when they don't show for "Reatta".

John F.

[Steve2150]

Wondering what other GM cars might be the same, there is a 1990 allante in the junkyard near me I got the ac programmer from

[KDirk]

Almost anything of the same vintage as the Reatta with a 3800 will have a nearly identical HVAC system. this would include Pontiacs (Bonneville, Grand Prix/Am) Olds and Buicks w/3800 power plants (read "a lot"). Cadillacs with the 4.5L or 4.9L V8 (Deville 88-95, Eldo 88-92 and Seville 88-92) should be good for these parts as well. Cannot say for sure on the Northstar equipped models, as there may have been changes I am unaware of. Of course, Allante also had the 4.5 (88-90) or 4.9 (91-92) until 93 when the Northstar was intro'd in that model. Might even be the same on the later model year Cimmarons, if you dare to use one as a parts donor and risk transferring "the curse" to your car. Probably not many to be found in the yards now though, they were probably crushed quickly as vehicular mercy killings.

GM was not known for being too creative in their A/C designs - among other things - in this era, and so most of the cars used common parts for expense reduction and reducing engineering time. Since AC was a feature common to almost all cars, unless there was some really strange requirement for a design change (space constraints or some such issue) I'd think they would almost all be the same from 1987 through at least 1995. The same sensors were used on both R-12 and 134a systems. I don't know if OBDII/class 2 (intro'd in 1996) dictated a change in these sensors or not, so have not considered trying them.

KDirk

[padgett]

I thought only the ones with ATC ised the temp sensors, regular a/c just had a low pressure switch. Not certain since I only had ATC cars in that era but was an option on most. SImilarly only ATC had the blower module, standard ones had a resistor network.

[KDirk]

Padgett,

On further thought you may be right, these may only be on models with auto temp control. I know I grabbed some off a 1990-something Pontiac Bonneville at Gibson's in WI when I visited Dave a a while back, but then the Bonnie was a well optioned car and probably had electronic climate control much like the Reatta. Even figuring this is the case, the Rivi, Olds Toronado/Trofeo and all the Cadillacs I listed would be so equipped. Thus, there is a pretty decent number of possible parts donors to choose from, especially the Caddies (lots more of these in the yard then any of the other models listed, typically). Would bet the early to mid 90's Regals had these too, they were usually well optioned cars with such luxury appointments.

KDirk