'96 HVAC Vent Control Problem
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,768
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
You bought a 16 year old car, things are going to wear out.
Mileage does not matter on some parts. Any rubber parts are still 16 years old.
You would have the same exact issues buying any old car.
At one time this post had some good pictures included to show the fix.
But they don't show up any longer, since they are no longer on the hosting site.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 2
From: Tucson Arizona
So, fix the issue.
You bought a 16 year old car, things are going to wear out.
Mileage does not matter on some parts. Any rubber parts are still 16 years old.
You would have the same exact issues buying any old car.
At one time this post had some good pictures included to show the fix.
But they don't show up any longer, since they are no longer on the hosting site.
You bought a 16 year old car, things are going to wear out.
Mileage does not matter on some parts. Any rubber parts are still 16 years old.
You would have the same exact issues buying any old car.
At one time this post had some good pictures included to show the fix.
But they don't show up any longer, since they are no longer on the hosting site.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,768
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
Sorry RollaMo, I wasn't trying to offend you. I'm well aware that older cars have parts like weather stripping and hoses that degrade over time, and I fix those also. My “Big Sigh” was not that it needed to be repaired or doing the work, rather it’s a design flaw and a recurring problem. Next time I will write it out in long hand so you know what I am talking about. Cheers.
I actually bookmarked this post a long time ago (for when the day comes I might need it).
At that time, it pictures in it and I wish I would have saved them to my computer.
I have approx. 119k miles on my '96 and I haven't had this issue yet.
Hopefully Wathen1955 might have saved them and can post them.
Next time I see pictures, I will be sure and save copies.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 2
From: Tucson Arizona
AC works great temp and fans as long as I leave it on. If I shut it off. Takes 5 to 15 minutes to start blowing through the vents again. It's too hot out here to risk it before I fix it. Hope he has those pics.
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
I wrote an article about the HVAC programmer some time ago. It applies to my '86, but from the descriptions in this thread it appears that many parts are the same. I do know that my programmer has a solenoid/vacuum line for the heater valve that later cars do not have. My article, with pictures:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...schematic.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...schematic.html
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 2
From: Tucson Arizona
RollaMo, I wonder if ouside temps have something to do with the issue. I noticed folks from the warm climates have this issue more than cold. Maybe its ambient heat that causes the tubes to collapse.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,768
Likes: 175
From: Rolla Missouri
2021 C4 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist
St. Jude Donor '10 thru '25
I can see where maybe parked outside in the sun all day might have some effect on it though.
Trust me, it gets over 100°F here in Missouri too during the summer.
But my car is parked in a garage, and not out in the sun everyday.
I do drive it to work 3 or 4 times a month and it sits outside then.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 105
Likes: 2
From: Tucson Arizona
Awesome Wathen. Just what I was looking for. Picture quality is not a big deal. Another nice Microsoft feature when copying out of Word it drops the resolution to 256 colors. You'd have to do a screen shot to get it to look good, but these work out for me. Thanks again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
I have owned two 96 Corvettes and had to fix both of them. The method I used was to insert a short piece of tubing into each vacuum line at the connector. I think it was PFE tubing...but has been a long time so this may not be the correct material. I think I still have some of it though. It only requires a tube length of about 3/4" for each connection and I had to buy something like 3 feet of tubing. I got it from Granger.
Yes getting the controller out is a PAIN. But then the stupid press-on nut can be replaced with a real one along with inserting the tubes.
Anyways if interested I can search for it and perhaps there is a part number still on it.
Yes getting the controller out is a PAIN. But then the stupid press-on nut can be replaced with a real one along with inserting the tubes.
Anyways if interested I can search for it and perhaps there is a part number still on it.
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 42
Likes: 2
'96 Vent attn: Finalatom
The 1/8 tubing simply pushes on the nipples on the programmer-
I would give yourself a liberal amount of tubing, giving you the
room to connect it while you are not upside down under there.
While not the same issue, don't forget to check the action of your
Controller--I disassembled mine, cleaned the circuit board with a little
alcohol and buffed the contact points gently with #600 paper. The
results were worth it.
BonAir
I would give yourself a liberal amount of tubing, giving you the
room to connect it while you are not upside down under there.
While not the same issue, don't forget to check the action of your
Controller--I disassembled mine, cleaned the circuit board with a little
alcohol and buffed the contact points gently with #600 paper. The
results were worth it.
BonAir
