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95 Grand Am Climate Control Issue
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TinyTiger
New User
May 8, 2013, 4:41 PM
Post #1 of 4
(3418 views)
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95 Grand Am Climate Control Issue
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I have a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am
The issue I'm having is with the climate controls.
It's made up of 3 dials,
-Fan Speed Low to High
-Temperature Cool to Hot
-Vent/System Settings
The fan speed control works fine, the fan changes speed as it should.
The temperature dial also seems to work fine. Puts out good heat in winter and cool vent air in summer
The issue is with the 3rd dial. It is basically stuck on panel vents. I know it's not simple a knob issue because the "Off" setting does turn the system off. But other than that no matter which setting I put it on, I get panel vents. It can put out good heat in winter but that doesn't help much since it's not on the floor or defrost, my windshield frosts up and my feet are freezing. And since it won't go on AC, on summer days the air can only get slightly cool.
The defroster vents always put out a very small amount of air, enough to clear in winter about an 8 inch half circle. Rear defroster also works fine.
I checked the fuse which is fine, I figured it was since the fan and rear defrost works. I also took apart the dash and checked the wiring to make sure everything was connected securely, it certainly seems to be, though it was hard to tell as there was no extra wire to pull it out properly, I had to pull out the radio instead and just stick my fingers in there, more disassembly would seem to be required to get a proper hold of everything...
Anyone have a past experience with this sort of thing? I've tried Googling and find a lot about people with fan speed issues, but that's not my problem, or people who can only get defrost which is also not my issue.
Would appreciate any help. I'm no car genius but I'm willing to learn as my budget is tight enough that I need to learn to fix more things on my own.
Thanks in advance.
(This post was edited by TinyTiger on May 8, 2013, 4:48 PM)
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HT
User
May 8, 2013, 5:11 PM
Post #2 of 4
(3405 views)
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Re: 95 Grand Am Climate Control Issue
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The mode selection is done through a series of air doors that are operated by vacuum. When there is either a partial or total loss of vacuum, the system will default to either defrost or on some vehicles, heat. Acceleration can also have an effect on the doors for the same reason.
Look under the hood for a small black plastic hose coming through the firewall. Follow it to the vacuum source looking for any breaks, cracks or leaks. Also follow any other lines that branch off because they may go to a vacuum reservoir (storage tank) and a leak there will cause the same problem. Using a vacuum gauge to determine if you have full vacuum at any given point is the best way to find it. You can cut into the line anywhere and splice it back together with a piece of vacuum hose. Find the broken line, you found your problem.
If it's not a leak problem, then you may have a bad vacuum actuator or damage air door.
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TinyTiger
New User
May 8, 2013, 6:19 PM
Post #3 of 4
(3378 views)
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Re: 95 Grand Am Climate Control Issue
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I'll try that tomorrow when it's light out, hopefully I'll be able to figure it out. Whoever owned this car last did a poor job of maintaining it, everything under the hood is filthy :(
Is it possible that there is a larger vacuum leak affecting more than just the climate controls? There is a hissing sound that seems to be coming from under the hood on the driver side near the front of the vehicle. I tried to figure out what it's coming from but honestly I don't really now how to identify a vacuum line from any other line or hose..
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 9, 2013, 2:05 AM
Post #4 of 4
(3352 views)
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Re: 95 Grand Am Climate Control Issue
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As HT said it's black plastic and could be confused with a wire at a glance. Those are just a tad larger that the common red nozzle on say spray products like carb cleaner etc. Clue is they end up at a rubber end to a vacuum source. If you hear it, it probably is severed. Look for the ends going nowhere. Can usually be spliced with rubber hose. If melted can be cut back to where it is good if just that but cut with sharp razor is better. Wire cutter may just pinch it closed.
Area of troubles are where they move with engine movement or near some item that gets serviced and are so brittle they plain break.
If you had a vacuum leak in something else bad enough to be the source problem it's unlikely the engine would be running properly,
T
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