Air Conditioning Problems: Only MAX Cold works in LX470 (8 Viewers)

[RAMf1]

I'm finally getting around to getting my AC fixed after noticing it wasn't working earlier this year... You know the story, had to get new tires after a large nail took one out and had to replace a broken windshield...
Well anyway... Took it into a shop that knows Land Cruisers and they ended up finding some leaking O-rings so replaced those and recharged the system. All good, right? No... The AC does not blow cold except when in MAX Cold... I touch the TEMP button to go up 1 degree and the system switches to heat mode... Take a look at the following photos.

When I first start my 2006 LX470, this is the mode the AC starts at... Blowing really cold but note that the AC light is Yellow and not green.

I can touch the AC button and it will turn green with no noticeable change the the MAX Cold setting. Still blowing cold air...

I hit the "UP" side once on the TEMP button and the system goes to full heat (and note AC is now Off indicated by the yellow light)

Blowing hot air at my feet... I can switch the Air Flow Control Switch to other exit ports but it is still blowing Hot Air.

The Shop thinks in must be "The Brain" and wants me to swap the entire unit with a known "good" used one he just happens to have. He put the "TESLA" unit in his 2006 LX470 and gave me his old unit.

We tried to do access the AC Diagnostic Mode by simultaneously pressing and holding the AUTO and Recirculation buttons while turning the ignition to the "ON" Position. Nothing came up even thoough we got this to work in 2 other Lexus vehicles. We also tried to pull up codes on a few different hand-held diagnostic "code" readers and the AC does not show up.

Any ideas on how to get this to work?

 

[3_puppies]

have you tried it with the auto button not on?
I don't like using the auto function

 

[RAMf1]

have you tried it with the auto button not on?
I don't like using the auto function

Yes.... Same result. I've been using the Auto function since I bought the car. 5 years ago.
I think I tracked down the issue...

 

[RAMf1]

Here is what I came up with... I was able to access the in-car diagnostic. I watched a short video and saw what I was doing wrong.
The code came up #11 : In-Vehicle Temperature Sensor .

I located where that was... an lo-and-behold, it is behind the No. 1 Lower Dash Panel. I had the shop also install my Telescoping Steering Wheel Motor since my back wouldn't let me twist into a position to do it. I think they unclipped the Temperature Sensor when they removed that panel for access and didn't clip it back together when they reassembled the dash.

I noticed that #1 Lower Panel wasn't sitting flush when I went to see the location of the sensor. Turns out the lower clip is broken...
Thanks to all of the information available of this website, I was able to spend a couple of hours figuring out the problem. The shop wouldn't do it...