Heater Blower

[Vettefan87]

Well yesterday I got my vette out, and since the outside air temperature was 11 degrees I had to use the heater, but when I put the climate control on the htr button I think its called, a little came out of the floor, and a lot came out of the front difroster vent and im like.... :confused , so then I turn it on bi-level, and the same thing :confused . I did not try running the AC, but I think that spits it out of the vents anyway. Anybody know whats going on? Thanks

 

[redc4corvette]

I would check your vacum and resavor at the front of the drivers side wheel well.

 

[Ken]

It's most likely a vacuum leak alright, but answer a few questions first. Is the vehicle equipped with an option C60 (manual), or option C68 (electronic) control system? It makes a big difference.

 

[Vettefan87]

It has the C68 Electronic Climate Control. I will have to check for vacuum leaks when the snow melts again, thanks.

 

[Vettefan87]

Ok, well today I decided to back the car out let it run. Since it was running I figured I might as well check for leaks or what not to cause this problem with the heater. Well I found that it was leaking out of this thing. What is this anyway?

When I started looking closer I noticed it was leaking out of this hole. On the one side there is like sticky stuff stuffed in there, but on the other side nothing.

So then my brother shoved a towel over it, and it started throwing heat out of the bottom, then switched to the defroster, and it came out of the top. So I took the towel off, and it was still working on both settings, but I could still feel air coming out of that hole on the one side. Now I am not sure what is going on.....

 

[Ken]

You will lose air (pressure) without that insulation in place all the way around the opening.

 

[Vettefan87]

But was that the reason for the heater not blowing out of the right place? Or did I just find a leak?

 

[Vettefan87]

Anybody have any suggestions? I have not started the car since then to see if the problem is back or not, I might do that tomorrow.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Yeah. I know what is going on.

The vacuum operated door inside your heater box that switches the air flow is FROZEN. At 11 degrees it's not too surprising either. I always leave my switch in the Defrost position, because it happens all the time. Let it warm up for a long time and it will loosen up again. It's the faom rubber gaskets inside the box that stick. You could spray some silicone on the flapper, but that would mean taking the box apart.

 

[Vettefan87]

Yeah. I know what is going on.

The vacuum operated door inside your heater box that switches the air flow is FROZEN. At 11 degrees it's not too surprising either. I always leave my switch in the Defrost position, because it happens all the time. Let it warm up for a long time and it will loosen up again. It's the faom rubber gaskets inside the box that stick. You could spray some silicone on the flapper, but that would mean taking the box apart.

Yeah, I had never thought about it sticking, but the weird thing is, that when my brother stuck a towel over the part that didn't have any of that foamy rubbery stuff, it stopped and all came out of the heater, or the defroster which ever one I picked, was that just a coincedance? The car at this time had been running for like 15-20 minutes.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Yep. The extra pressure blew the flapper door loose.

Like I say, it happens all the time to me. Shove some extra foam rubber in the gap by the A/C line and maybe you will get lucky. That's the Evaporator line for the A/C that goes into your heater box. Any leak will cause a loss of air flow in the cabin.

 

[Vettefan87]

Thanks I will definetly do that tomorrow if it doesn't snow again..... :cry

 

[wishuwerehere82]

You don't REALLY want to drive it in 11 degree weather anyway, do you? Wait till spring, it's only 8 weeks away. I hope.

 

[Vettefan87]

what will driving it while its cold outside hurt? Are they that much of a garage queen of a car? It is supposed to be around 30 tomorrow anyway...

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Do what you want to do. My Vettes are not coming out until there is zero salt on the roads. A Corvette is a terrible thing to rot!

 

[Ralph58]

Heater problems

I am new to this forum and was reading some of the info about heater problems encountered. I have a problem with my heater. 1990 with climate control standard 350 power.
My system works just fine in the summer time but I cannot get heat out of it when it is cold. This car is only used when weather is good, never in rain or snow. I leave it in the garage during most of the winter, but it would be nice to use it on some of those nice winter days.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Vettefan87]

First of all Welcome to the site. Mine was doing this for a while, and it turned out it was low on antifreeze.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I am new to this forum and was reading some of the info about heater problems encountered. I have a problem with my heater. 1990 with climate control standard 350 power.
My system works just fine in the summer time but I cannot get heat out of it when it is cold. This car is only used when weather is good, never in rain or snow. I leave it in the garage during most of the winter, but it would be nice to use it on some of those nice winter days.
Any help would be appreciated.

You can break it down to two categories.
Air flow
Heat
If you have no air flow it can be that the diverter is stuck or broken in the heater box. This can be caused by vacuum leak in the control unit or on the actuator.

If you have air flow, but no heat, it is probably that the solonoid that controls the coolant flow to the heater coil is blocked or malfunctioning. The control to that solonoid is from the selector switch on the dashboard. It is Vacuum operated, and thermostaticly controlled.

 

[Ralph58]

Thanks for the help, I will check out these ideas, as soon as I get some time.