This is another incompetent mechanic/shop saga.

Long story short (kind of).

I had a leaking water pump on my 85. I didn't have the time or shop to replace it myself. I took it to a local mechanic who was recommended to me by a friend. Water pump replaced OK, but AC stopped working. My feeling is that when he disconnected the AC hoses he cranked on them and cracked the fitting at the evaporator because that’s where it was leaking from. He denied it and thinks it was just a coincidence. Right, OK. He says he will replace the evaporator at cost.

I visit the shop to see how things are going. My dashboard is more or less completely apart. I ask what gives? He says while replacing the evaporator he ripped the heater hose connection on the heater core off and was replacing the heater core. Right, OK.


I get my car back and try not to think about the damage that may have occurred to the under dash stuff. Now, not only do I have no AC but I don't have heat either.

I pull the dash apart to try and figure out why no heat. The temperature cable runs to a pivot near the computer on the passenger side. The pivot works fine but nothing is connected to the other side of it. (this part will be my eventual question for this post). Also I notice the kick panel is filled with oil and dye. The new evaporator is leaking.

I drive the car back to the shop with the dash still apart and try to explain to him that the heat doesn't work because the cable is no longer connected to anything except the pivot. And, BTW, the new evaporator you put in is defective.

I get the car back today and the AC works but the heater does not. I'm giving up on this guy. He's had my car for nearly a month in all and I really don't want him to ever touch it again.

OK now my questions for you guys:

What should the other side of the pivot be connected to, and by what means? I assume it would be an air-gate of some kind inside the air distributor. I can see a slot in the air distributor behind the computer but really can't see anything inside it.

If I do have to remove/work on the air distributor, do I do that from the engine compartment or do I need to remove the entire dash?

This really sucks and your help here will be appreciated. Thanks

 

Do you own a handgun?!?

 

you talking about the rod that opens the evac door by the heater core? If it is then it won't blow heat if the door is not in the right position.

 

I'll assume that's not the tool you are suggesting I will need to fix the heater.

 

There is no rod connected to the pivot but I'm guessing that that is what's missing. The pivot end looks like it could have held a rod.

Is the evac door visible from under the dash? All I can see is a slot into the air distributor located behind the computer.

 

Yep theres a rod that clips onto the plastic piece on the pivot and the other end has a 90* bend that goes into a hole in the heater door. When you change the temp on the dash it moves the cable and thus opens or closes the door.

I have not found a place that sells the rod or plastic clips, even vette places. If you cant find yours then a junkyard may be your only hope.

 

I found the clips in the Help section at AutoZone. Only a few bucks.

 

What if the rod fell into the air distributor? How difficult is it to get to it?

Damn...I think I can guess

 

You will have to remove the cover to get the rod back through the slot.
The top 2 screws are a bitch. You will have to remove the diagonal dash brace in order to remove cover.


You can see the arm and clip from door, in this pic.


Here is a pic for all those who have joined the "Heater Core Club"

 

The mechanic replaced the core from the engine compartment (that's what he said). But these pictures (thank you) indicate doing it from the passenger compartment. Is that correct?


BTW, What's that extra Black Box on the right side of the cover in the first picture.

 

You can't do it from the engine side. The black box was part of my Infinity Components(crossovers)

 

OK, thanks. Looks like I should set aside many hours for this one. That aluminum cross member in front of the distibutor looks like a pain to move.

 

Holy Crap. What a PITA. Lucky for me the rod was still connected to the gate inside the air distributor. That was alot of work to fix a mechanic's simple oversight.

Thank you for the pictures 86. They were very handy.

 

Send him a bill.