Sorry bit delayed getting back to you. If the buttons are lighting up then the ignition position 1 and 2 lives are ok.
The system as garioch43 mentioned, does wait until it reaches a safe operating temperature. This prevents the evaporator from freezing.
You really need to connect up some kit to it and look at the inputs to the hevac unit. Unfortunately even though the book symbol isnt on doesnt mean we dont have any faults.
For instance if either the engine coolant temp or the Evaporator temp sender is showing -40, to the Hevac unit this isnt a fault. To us it is because it is preventing the unit from working correctly. The Hevac unit would sit there all day long waiting for the temperature to warm up and it never will.
The serial data on the diagnostic kit can paint a very clear picture on how the system is operating.
It is frustrating because this info doesnt fix your fault but it would be a case of peeing in the wind without knowing what Values the Hevac unit is seeing.