98 GTP Dual-Climate A/C Issue

[twood13]

I have spoke to several mechanics who all have different solutions to my problem, so hopefully someone here can help.

My 98 GTP has dual climate controls. The A/C blows nice and cold on the passenger side but warm/hot on the driver's side. This is the case no matter how I set the dual climate controls. I have been told it is a vacuum leak, a computer problem and a mechanical door that directs the air problem. If you know the real problem and what I can do to resolve this, it would be greatly appreciated.

I am not concerned with making the dual climate control work, I just want the cold air (or hot in the winter) to come out all of the vents in the car. It is miserable down here in Florida driving a black GTP in the summer with hot air blowing on you from all the driver's vents.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by twood13

I have spoke to several mechanics who all have different solutions to my problem, so hopefully someone here can help.

My 98 GTP has dual climate controls. The A/C blows nice and cold on the passenger side but warm/hot on the driver's side. This is the case no matter how I set the dual climate controls. I have been told it is a vacuum leak, a computer problem and a mechanical door that directs the air problem. If you know the real problem and what I can do to resolve this, it would be greatly appreciated.

I am not concerned with making the dual climate control work, I just want the cold air (or hot in the winter) to come out all of the vents in the car. It is miserable down here in Florida driving a black GTP in the summer with hot air blowing on you from all the driver's vents.

Normally, when the driver's side blows hot and passenger cold you could be low on R134a refrigerant. A pressure gauge can be hooked to the low side port to see if the charge is good and corresponds to the ambient temperature.

If the charge is good there are driver and passenger side temperature and vacuum actuators located in the HVAC assembly located under the center of the dash that control air flow. The actuators are controlled by the HVAC head unit with the controls.




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[rbsteve]

yup ^^

happened to me a cpl of weeks ago, i bought a refill kit, and the moment it started flowing into the system, the air was coming out cold on the drivers side. very happy, only a 25$ fix

[ken119]

This happen to me in my 98 Grand Prix. I went to several mechanics, some said it was the compressor, some said it electronics controls in the dash. I went through three compressors and a year and a half of hot air blowing out of my driver side vents the same time cold air was blowing through my passenger side vents. I finally found someone who knew what the problem was and I was soooo excited to get this fix.

I don't know the part number, but it was like $200.00 from the dealer. I can tell you this. It is an electronic component about 1 inch wide and 5 inches tall. It has a hole in the side of it. Inside this hole there is a plastic ring with teeth. When you turn on the heater this ring is moved 45 degree clockwise by the electric motor housed within the casing. The teeth, which are plastic, fit snugly onto an metal stub with is also line with little teeth. The stub is connected to a flap. When the ring moves closkwise, the stub moves clockwise and then flap moves too. The flap allows heated air to flow through your vents when the heater is on. When you turn the A/C on the flap is moved counterclockwise by the stub which is seated inside teh PLASTIC ring. This is what happen to me: The Plastic ring cracked allowing the teeth on the plastic ring to slip and grind across the teeth on the metal stub. Eventually the teeth wore down to nothing. The teeth could no longer move the flap into the right position for the A/C to work so i was in effect running my heater on my driver side and my a/c on the passenger side. The ring in the replacement part i purchased was redesigned and fashioned from a material more sturdy that plastic. This leads me to believe this has happened to many many others, enough to warrant a redesign of the part.

The part is nearly impossible to find unless you know what your looking for. It is located under the dash, on the drivers side. The mechanic had to lay on his back on the floor of the drivers side of my car with his head next to my gas pedal to see it. There were three or four screws that held the piece in. I think he called it an acutator or acutator motor.

I really hope this helps.
I have the old part at work in a file cabinet. If you need a picture of it email me at work kking<NOSPAM>@tep.com. (take the no spam out)








[quote=twood13]I have spoke to several mechanics who all have different solutions to my problem, so hopefully someone here can help.

My 98 GTP has dual climate controls. The A/C blows nice and cold on the passenger side but warm/hot on the driver's side. This is the case no matter how I set the dual climate controls. I have been told it is a vacuum leak, a computer problem and a mechanical door that directs the air problem. If you know the real problem and what I can do to resolve this, it would be greatly appreciated.