Right Kick Panel Vent Door Will Not Open.. Help!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 216
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From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
Right Kick Panel Vent Door Will Not Open.. Help!
Hi All,
Good morning. Just another day in Paradise. The work continues on my '72. Anyway, My right side kick panel vent door will not open. What should I first replace? The air inlet plenum actuator?? Thanks and would appreciate any advise.
Have a great day,
Fred
Good morning. Just another day in Paradise. The work continues on my '72. Anyway, My right side kick panel vent door will not open. What should I first replace? The air inlet plenum actuator?? Thanks and would appreciate any advise.
Have a great day,
Fred
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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First, are you getting vacuum to that actuator? If you put a small line on the actuator and suck on it. (Create your own vacuum) does it then open?
Do you have a bad vacuum switch in your console?
Long before you start throwing parts at the problem. Why not take a little time to see what is actually not working?
Do you have a bad vacuum switch in your console?
Long before you start throwing parts at the problem. Why not take a little time to see what is actually not working?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 216
Likes: 107
From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
Hi Guys,
Good morning. Just another day in Paradise and Happy Spring! Thanks, I will check the vacuum at the kick panel and then see if the actuator works.
Thanks,
Fred
Good morning. Just another day in Paradise and Happy Spring! Thanks, I will check the vacuum at the kick panel and then see if the actuator works.
Thanks,
Fred
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 216
Likes: 107
From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
HI All,
Good morning. Just another day in Paradise. Ok, I removed the kick panel cover and the vent door will open and close manually. I took off the vacuum hose and opened the vent door and put my finger on the actuator nipple and the door stays open until I remove my finger. I also started the engine and the door does not open in the vent mode but when I put the consol dial in the off mode the vent door opens?
I am thinking it could be a bad 9 pin vacuum port in the dash?
Thanks,
Fred
Good morning. Just another day in Paradise. Ok, I removed the kick panel cover and the vent door will open and close manually. I took off the vacuum hose and opened the vent door and put my finger on the actuator nipple and the door stays open until I remove my finger. I also started the engine and the door does not open in the vent mode but when I put the consol dial in the off mode the vent door opens?
I am thinking it could be a bad 9 pin vacuum port in the dash?
Thanks,
Fred
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I think the door operates differently than you are expecting.
I believe (and I do NOT have a/c)
There are 2 different doors into the core, one from outside and one on that kickpanel.
When the HVAC is on maximum cooling, the outside door closed and that inside door opens, this is to keep the air going into the core from the inside of the car... recirculating the cold air around again.
When in non-max settings, the outside door opens and the inside one closes, bringing in fresh air from outside
If that's correct then the door would open probably in off and MAX-A/C and then close in Normal, bi-level, vent, heat and defrostmight open in defrost? (I think maybe defrost might open that door and recirculate the hot air.... maybe)
M
I believe (and I do NOT have a/c)
There are 2 different doors into the core, one from outside and one on that kickpanel.
When the HVAC is on maximum cooling, the outside door closed and that inside door opens, this is to keep the air going into the core from the inside of the car... recirculating the cold air around again.
When in non-max settings, the outside door opens and the inside one closes, bringing in fresh air from outside
If that's correct then the door would open probably in off and MAX-A/C and then close in Normal, bi-level, vent, heat and defrost
M
Last edited by Mooser; Mar 20, 2024 at 08:25 PM. Reason: looking at the control the door is closed in defrost after all
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
This is from a 73 but I believe it will be the same
The vacuum line (orange) that opens that kick-panel door is the same as the one (green) that closed the outside door. When that door is open, the inside one is closed so it's open only in OFF and MAX-AC
That door is actually taking air OUT of the interior into the system not letting fresh air in like the non-AC cars
At least that's what I make out if it.
M
Last edited by Mooser; Mar 20, 2024 at 08:26 PM.
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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All this above is correct. The upper door in the far end of the wiper tray, above the blower motor is open to bring in fresh air, closes on Max air to recirculate inside air. Lower door opens in Max air ONLY.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 2,328
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From: Marietta GA
My 73 with factory air has both doors that I have refurbished. The air door in the outside wiper valley closes after the engine starts pulling a vacuum, so it’s open all the time when the engine is off. I thought this was backwards, but seems to work correctly. The air doors have a thin rubber seal, I found a detailed tutorial on how to replace it. You may get the flat rubber from Michaels Craft Store, they are 8 x 10 maybe 1/8 thick.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 216
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From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
HI All,
Good morning. Just another sunny day in Paradise. I appreciate all of the feedback. I am learning a lot... Ok, so my next question is when the system is in the off position and I ope the astro vent I get nothing. When I put it is vent mode and open the astro vent I get nothing... The only time I get air through the astro vent is when the a/c in on. Which vent allows air to the astro vents??
Thanks again,
Fred
Good morning. Just another sunny day in Paradise. I appreciate all of the feedback. I am learning a lot... Ok, so my next question is when the system is in the off position and I ope the astro vent I get nothing. When I put it is vent mode and open the astro vent I get nothing... The only time I get air through the astro vent is when the a/c in on. Which vent allows air to the astro vents??
Thanks again,
Fred
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 216
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From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
Hi Kansas123,
Good morning. Just another day in Paradise. It is a '72 with A/C and it has astro vents. Because of the A/C it does not have the vent in the deck for letting air out.
The windows even have Astro on them...
Have a great day,
Fred
Good morning. Just another day in Paradise. It is a '72 with A/C and it has astro vents. Because of the A/C it does not have the vent in the deck for letting air out.
The windows even have Astro on them...
Have a great day,
Fred
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
If you have AC, the "Flow-Thru" astrovent was none functional. The flapper doors in the rear deck vents that were to let he air out are riveted closed, the dash vent ***** are connected to the heater/AC plenum. Kickpanel doors are closed and the passenger works like above.
The closest thing to letting air in through the dash ***** would be in the vent position with the fan turned on... At least the way I understand it
M
The closest thing to letting air in through the dash ***** would be in the vent position with the fan turned on... At least the way I understand it
M
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 216
Likes: 107
From: Lake of the Ozarks MO
Hi Mooser
Good afternoon. Just another day in Paradise. Well that explains why I am not getting any air through the astro vents except when the HVAC is working. I also have a '68 Camaro and the astro vents work on it and it also has kick panel vents on both right and left. No A/C.
I was expecting to get fresh air when i put it in Vent mode.
Gotta love the engineers and their ideas...
Thanks and have a great day,
Fred
Good afternoon. Just another day in Paradise. Well that explains why I am not getting any air through the astro vents except when the HVAC is working. I also have a '68 Camaro and the astro vents work on it and it also has kick panel vents on both right and left. No A/C.
I was expecting to get fresh air when i put it in Vent mode.
Gotta love the engineers and their ideas...
Thanks and have a great day,
Fred
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,817
Likes: 470
From: Wichita Kansas
Yes, mine is like his, I knew that even though the windows say Astro Ventilation that I did not have it, as mine is air conditioned also..