The disappointing 92 PA A/C

[1534dover]

One of the things I loved about the 88 Type T Electra owned was the blast of hot air I got in the winter and cold air in the summer out of the upper two air vents on both sides of the driver. They are controlled by the "Heater" "Econ" "Auto" "Bi-level" and "def" settings. These seem to be typical settings on most Buicks. But not the 92. It has "Heater", "Dual zone," "Econ." and "Defog". "Auto" is down with the blower controls.
There is no "Bi-level."
I have never been able to get heat out of those two air vents, let alone a blast of heat. (Not that we need it in the summer, of course.) The dealer's a/c expert said that function is missing on the 92 park. The auto setting might increase the volume elsewhere, but never through the upper vents. Right now, the A/C works, --the compressor turns and it makes cold, but the system fails to force it through those two vent doors. Even when I've gotten it to work in the past, it has very small volume. The a/c blower runs hard, but forces all the cold air out on to the floor. The opening isn't very large and it definitely doesn't cool the car.

When I gun the car, or go up hill, there is no a/c at all. I read somewhere on the web that there is a a/c cut off switch that stepping on the accelerator activates.

So I would like to know how get those vent doors working correctly and if possible, how to increase the volume.

[HotZ28]

If your blower is running on high speed and your vent air is low, or going out the bottom, you would have a blender door actuator or calibration problem. Replace the actuators.
If you go to WOT, the air compressor shuts down until you let off the throttle. That is how they protect the compressor from extreme RPM's!

[yogi_123rd]

You may want to check the engine vacuum connection to see if the hose is off or dry rotted. Its a rubber hose that connects to a vacuum accumulator mounted on the firewall below and to the left of the master cylinder. A plastic hose for the AC/HEATER unit connects there too. Engine vacuum is the means that the control valves redirect air thru the vent system.

[1534dover]

I don't see what you describe on my 92 Park. Do you have any more hints? I would appreciate it.

[1534dover]

Does the system default to the floor vent and the windshield vents if there isn't any vaccum at all coming from the accumulator? Earlier in the year I did a lot of rummaging under the dash to find the directional signal fasher, which turned out to be to the extreme left behind a vent. It is very possible that I knocked a vaccum tube off an actuator in the process. I have a general Chilton Manual for this type of GM car out of the library. There is a lot of disturbing information there about disarming the air bag system before working on the actuators. Is this truly the case?

[regalfriend]

Can anyone tell me...What is "WOT"?

[HotZ28]

(WOT) = Wide open throttle