Last Friday (a typical hot Texas day) I was driving our 93 850 GLT and
a large puff of smoke accompanied with the smell of burned wires came
out of the interior vents of the car. The fan continued to run, but
cold air was no longer coming out.

About three years ago we had a similar problem happen and it turned
out that the dash console for the Automatic Climate Control had
burned out. Our mechanic at the time found us a replacement unit for
a couple of hundred dollars and we had no problems until now.

Our new mechanic (we moved) verified that the console is once again
toast. He found that a new unit is almost $1000, and is looking for a
reconditioned unit. My fear is that there is something causing this
to happen.

Does anyone have experience with this? What could be causing this to
blow out?

I know that I can find this part used for under $200, should I just
buy a used unit and wait and see if it happens again. I cannot afford
the new unit, and I don't think my mechanic is having luck for
reconditioned units....

Thanks
Patton