Astro AC air vents don't open

[Geocot1]

Air no longer comes out thru the dash board vents. only get air thru the lower vents or windshield defroster.

[chuy22]

I had the same problem. Dealer wanted to charge me $80 to fix. So I fixed it myself. Next to the A/C condensor (on the right side) there is a three way plug with some plastic tubes connected. They look like straws. Look at it. There will be one that has broken. Above the alternator will probably be the hose that is causing the problem. Just remove the broken piece for the connector and reconnet the broken hose. This will take care of your problem. Should take you no more than 5 minutes. Hope this helps.

[Geocot1]

Originally Posted by chuy22

I had the same problem. Dealer wanted to charge me $80 to fix. So I fixed it myself. Next to the A/C condensor (on the right side) there is a three way plug with some plastic tubes connected. They look like straws. Look at it. There will be one that has broken. Above the alternator will probably be the hose that is causing the problem. Just remove the broken piece for the connector and reconnet the broken hose. This will take care of your problem. Should take you no more than 5 minutes. Hope this helps.

Thanks will try this fix this weekend.

[wearhart]

I looked for the straw like tube you refered to. I found one in the compressor area. When I touched the straw like tube it was very, very brittle and started to crumble in my fingers. I can not figure out where it was connected or how to fix it. Any ideas. Can you do this repair with the hood open or do it need to access through the inside? Do I need to purchase a new tube? If so do you know where I can get one?

[3800wattvan]

I had problems with my plastic (straw like) vaccume hoses. They were brittle and cracked. I cut the bad sections out and slid snugly fitting black rubber hoses from the auto store as far as I could reach into the engine compartment. Inexpensive fix.

[romapo]

Originally Posted by 3800wattvan

I had problems with my plastic (straw like) vaccume hoses. They were brittle and cracked. I cut the bad sections out and slid snugly fitting black rubber hoses from the auto store as far as I could reach into the engine compartment. Inexpensive fix.

I had the same problem with my 99 Astro van V6. I found both ends of the tubeing. One end is on the passenger side next to the a/c cylinder under the hood. The other end is on the driver side manifold next to pcv valve (must remove inside cover). I removed the rubber fitting from the brittle plastic tubeing. I bought new plastic tubeing from Nappa auto parts. Then I cut to fit and reinstalled. I put clear silicone on the plastic tubeing before I inserted it into the rubber fitting. Works great now. I hope this helps anyone. The part was $8.00 in So Cal.

[Roaster]

Originally Posted by Geocot1

Air no longer comes out thru the dash board vents. only get air thru the lower vents or windshield defroster.

This is great. I read the fix and in minutes cool air was flowing from my vents. I used a straw from my WD-40 can to link the broken vacuum lines back together. It was broken right by the altenator. It looks like it had rubbed through. I don't know if it had anything to do with the replacement altenator installation or not. They may not of re-routed the hose right after they installed the new altenator. Never the less Thanks for the tip and I hope that my straw fix may help someone.
Rick

[thehoopjumper]

I just bought an '89 that has the same problem. I found the three way connection easily enough. Problem is there are only two hoses connected. Tracing them down, one end goes to the driver's side manifold and connects to a control module? Another hose leaves here and then goes to the firewall above the alternator area. The other end (from the t connection) goes in the general direction of the blower motor. Any ideas on where the third (missing) hose goes? Note: there is (what appears to be a one way) a valve connected to the third connection, but it goes nowhere.

HELP!!

Edit: Upon further examination, the side that goes towards the blower motor actually runs down to a sphere shaped object where there is another T-connection - probably the one I was actually looking for. One side of it comes back up and run the length of the radiator and then just ends. This line is a small straw type line a little larger than what one would find on a can of wd40. Any idea where this is supposed to connect? It sure would be nice to have a vacuum diagram for this thing....

[3800wattvan]

97 Astro. Same problem. I went to the auto store and purchased new rubber hose that slipped tightly over the hard plastic hose. I replaced as much as I could reach. Left a little extra in there in case I need to cut some off and fix another one.

[bluelinewall]

I looked where you guys said to, and there was the broken hose, but it broke in the middle over the engine area, removed the doghouse called my parts department. Order a whole new hose for 8 bucks. You guys saved me a 100 bucks i'm sure. Thanks to everyone.

[luvmyAstro]

I have had this same problem since summer 2004. Hubby was clueless as to how to fix it even though we bought the service manuals on ebay. I'm gonna copy the above info and tell him to go at it!! I am sick of not having any AC!!!!

[Astro-in-TO]

Great tip about the WD40 plastic pipe. I tried it and it seems to have done the trick. Not to sure how long it will last, but I will get a full length replacement hose as a final fix.

I am thinking of getting a piece of high temp/high pressure hydraulic line, if I can find some small enough in diameter. Why can't car manufacturer's use parts with a little more durability?

I wonder if the folks at GM know that the folks who make WD40 are competing with Delco in the after market parts business........lol.

[luvmyAstro]

I have found the T with the hoses coming off of it. There is one very thin hose than appears to have broken off of wherever it came from. That's the problem......I don't know where it came from! I don't know how long it was either. lol
I have a service manual and have found the diagram but it's so small, it's hard to tell which hose is which.
Anyone know where this little hose goes?
Thanks! Looking forward to having COLD air again!!!!!!!!!
(I took a pic, but it says that the file is too large to upload.)

[jdives]

Although the original post was 3 years ago, the fix still works. I had the same problem. Vacuum tube was broke just above the alternator. A quick fix with some tubing that fit over the original tube and jumped the break.

Thanks for the tip.

-JDI