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Old Jun 15, 2017 | 07:24 AM
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Default Vent Issue

I have a 69 non-A/C car that is having ventilation issues. When I set the controls on "Air" I assume I should have air coming from the vents in the lower dash? I instead have all the air coming out the defrost vents in at the windshield. I am assuming that I have a diverter door issue in the dash. I am guessing this is a vacuum problem, how much of the dash will I need to tear into to get to the vacuum controls?
Richard
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Old Jun 15, 2017 | 08:25 AM
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Hi Richard,
The round vent in each of the lower dash pads are part of the 'Astro-Ventilation System'. They are opened by pulling **** that's to the side of each vent to open a little 'flapper' door that regulates the flow of outside air. Air flows out of the vent only when the car is moving
The left-side thumb wheel controls a small vacuum pot that opens and closes a door that sends the air driven by the blower motor to either the defroster vent or the heater floor defuser.
Where are you looking for air and under what conditions?
Regards,
Alan

This is the 'pot' that directs air flow to the defroster or floor vent.
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Old Jun 15, 2017 | 09:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi Richard,
The round vent in each of the lower dash pads are part of the 'Astro-Ventilation System'. They are opened by pulling **** that's to the side of each vent to open a little 'flapper' door that regulates the flow of outside air. Air flows out of the vent only when the car is moving
The left-side thumb wheel controls a small vacuum pot that opens and closes a door that sends the air driven by the blower motor to either the defroster vent or the heater floor defuser.
Where are you looking for air and under what conditions?
Regards,
Alan

This is the 'pot' that directs air flow to the defroster or floor vent.
Duh....now I feel silly, Ok still learning this car. Yeah, so you will only have air flowing from those vents while you are moving. Gotcha! Then when set to air mode, I should only have air flowing to the lower heat vents? Mine appears to be coming out defrost vents for both AIR and DEFROST modes.
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Old Jun 15, 2017 | 09:52 AM
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Hi S,
For 69 model year cars, without a/c:
In the AIR position the airflow is mainly directed to the floor outlets with a small amount of air directed to the defroster vent.
In the DE-FOG position the air flow is split between the floor outlets and the defroster vent.
In the DE-ICE position almost all air flow is directed to the defroster vent.
The RIGHT side thumb wheel is rotated to make the air flow hot or cold.
Regards,
Alan

This drawing illustrates how the Astro Ventilation System air flows and that it's not part of the car's heater/defroster system.
It's intent is to supply fresh air to the car without opening the windows.

Last edited by Alan 71; Jun 15, 2017 at 09:57 AM.
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Old Jun 15, 2017 | 05:27 PM
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Interesting, when they removed the rear grilles front behind the window....did Astro Ventilation cease to exist? The air still is coming in from the vents,....but nowhere to go? Not that it matters to me much since I typically run with the T-tops off, or if not, the windows are down.
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Old Jun 15, 2017 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi S,
For 69 model year cars, without a/c:
In the AIR position the airflow is mainly directed to the floor outlets with a small amount of air directed to the defroster vent.
In the DE-FOG position the air flow is split between the floor outlets and the defroster vent.
In the DE-ICE position almost all air flow is directed to the defroster vent.
The RIGHT side thumb wheel is rotated to make the air flow hot or cold.
Regards,
Alan

This drawing illustrates how the Astro Ventilation System air flows and that it's not part of the car's heater/defroster system.
It's intent is to supply fresh air to the car without opening the windows.
If I remember correctly, the two rear "Astro Ventilation" vents behind the back window are only vacuum operated into the open position when the right thumb wheel is in the C or cold position.
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Old Jun 16, 2017 | 07:51 AM
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Hi CC,
You're right.
When the right-side thumb wheel was moved to 'H' the thumb wheel also sent a vacuum signal to the small vacuum pot on the 'flapper mechanism' to close the doors so the air flow was stopped and the air in the interior would begin to warm.
Regards,
Alan
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Old Jun 16, 2017 | 09:08 AM
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Originally Posted by Alan 71
Hi CC,
You're right.
When the right-side thumb wheel was moved to 'H' the thumb wheel also sent a vacuum signal to the small vacuum pot on the 'flapper mechanism' to close the doors so the air flow was stopped and the air in the interior would begin to warm.
Regards,
Alan
Alan,
Is there a way to visually tell if the "flapper mechanism" is closing? Can you see it from the top vent area? Just curious what else on my car needs troubleshooting.
Rich
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