Multiple climate system problems

[mjgrantham]

My Venture is a 97 and I'm having a problem with the climate system. Here are the details...
1) A/C works, blows decently cold air from passenger side vents (right hand vent in center of dash and far right vent) but noticeably warmer air from driver side vents. Damper seems to working fine as temp knob is turned. There is no rear a/c so I need the front to get as cold as possible, since the van is dark grey and wife uses it to transport children in daycare.
2) Blower motor doesn't blow air out worth a &#!%. Cabin air filters have been replaced and kept fairly clean. It kinda sounds like it's blowing hard but restricted in the ductwork somewhere. High speed on this van is like low speed on any other car I've ever owned. Is this just a poor design? NOTE: Air blows from vents even less when on hot setting than it does on cold setting.
3) When it's cold outside (winter time) and I turn the temp knob to the coldest setting, it never blows air nearly as cold as outside. It seems that some air may always be routed by the heater core (as in problem #1).

I can figure out most mechanical/engine problems but know nothing about the air system, except that it sucks. Any help from those who know would be most awesome.

Mike

[Firehawk97]

Does you van have a DUAL climate (drivers temp is seperate then passenger temp)?? If so the drivers temp door actuator maybe shorted interanlly. The blower motor, havfe you had it replaced before? Has it always had poor fan speed? As for you cold air request during cloder months I think there is a ambient temp seeting that does not allow AC operation while under Im gonna guess 40 degrees. The heater core is going to radiate some heat into the heater box so switching it to cold setting is going to get some warm air in it.
Hope this helps any

[mjgrantham]

Originally Posted by Firehawk97

Does you van have a DUAL climate (drivers temp is seperate then passenger temp)?? If so the drivers temp door actuator maybe shorted interanlly. The blower motor, havfe you had it replaced before? Has it always had poor fan speed? As for you cold air request during cloder months I think there is a ambient temp seeting that does not allow AC operation while under Im gonna guess 40 degrees. The heater core is going to radiate some heat into the heater box so switching it to cold setting is going to get some warm air in it.
Hope this helps any

It does not have dual climate controls. I have not replaced the blower motor in the 4 years I have owned the van, and yes, the fan speed has always been poor in my opinion, but then again I can only go on what I feel (and my wife, and friends & family who sweat in the middle and back seats). My other car is a 97 Chrysler Concorde, and the climate system could cool a small factory as hard and cold as the air blows! I know not all makes perform the same way but on hot days we never want to take the van cause it just doesn't move the air well. I wonder if there are aftermarket blowers that have increased air velocity over original...anybody know about such a thing?
As far as the a/c not operating when it's below 40 or so degrees - that's not quite what I was getting at. Say it's 60 degrees outside and I want outside air to blow through the vents...it really comes in at, say, 70 degrees. Isn't there a damper to seal off the heater box from air flow when there is no call for heat? My a/c may be working great but if the air is being heated back up before it blows into the vehicle then something isn't right. Sorry if I sound like I'm venting (no pun intended)! Thanks for the info.

Mike

[scottnhalifax]

i will throw this at ya, take your cabin filter out and try that...then take your blower motor out...like 5 or 6 screws and check for any debris. i find in my venture when i first get into it i runt he ac with the outside air comming in till it gets cool then i flick the button for recirculate the air..then it gets really cold
scott

[mjgrantham]

I use the recirculate function all the time cause it helps cool the air faster and keeps it cooler. The air also comes out of the vents faster. I will have to try taking the blower motor and filters out to see if anything is stuck up there...