85 AC/Heat controls

the car in question is an 85 Caprice. but since they are the same as the lesabre, i posted here also to get a wider responce.


has anyone had any problems with unresponsive manual controls?

sometimes the levers move freely and the temperature changes like it should. other times the levers feel like they are stuck on something, and nothing changes unless you move it back and forth a few times, then force it


are these parts that can be taken out and lubricated or cleaned?


how does the lever system work? do they open doors, or tell vaccum controls to open doors??



the problem was occuring until we changed the radiator,and thermostat, then on and off. now we put in a new water pump and no heat at all, and the levers are hard to move?? i dont think its related.. but felt i should mention it

The blend door controler (hot/cold) on this vintage is most likely cable operated. This may require some lubrication, much the same as a trunk/decklid release cable.

The air flow directions however are controlled by engine vacuum.

thanks for the advice. we pulled the glove box and its cable operated. in the past part of the plastic mechanism had broken and been replaced with a zip tie which was sliding on the rod connected to the blend door. I added a zip tie on either side of the previous one to stop the sliding, problem solved.

still no heat = bad water flow valve under the hood, $42.95

Now we can have the AC charged and head on our way!!!