1993 upper middle vents and defroster problem

[WRG]

1993 4 cylinder camry. Ever since I've had the car the upper middle vents don't blow air out when the selector is on the upper vent. It blows out the sides and underneath instead. Also, when it is on defroster very little air goes on the windshield. It goes out the sides and underneath also. Does anyone know how this system works and what I need to be looking for to repair it? I suspect it is vacuum, electrical or mechanical problem but I don't know what I should be looking for. Any help is appreciated.

[Cammy_01]

Originally Posted by WRG

1993 4 cylinder camry. Ever since I've had the car the upper middle vents don't blow air out when the selector is on the upper vent. It blows out the sides and underneath instead. Also, when it is on defroster very little air goes on the windshield. It goes out the sides and underneath also. Does anyone know how this system works and what I need to be looking for to repair it? I suspect it is vacuum, electrical or mechanical problem but I don't know what I should be looking for. Any help is appreciated.

Sounds to me like the heater/AC blend door is not functioning.. most of them are vacuum actuated.. check the diaphram for the blend door that there is vacuum to it and put a vacuum pump on it to verify that it holds vacuum.. it could be the diaphram has gone bad. I hate blend doors, but sometimes they are accessable without removing the dash.

[WRG]

That sounds like a good plan. Now, where is the diaphram located? Under the dash, under the hood on the firewall?
I can hear the flap move when changing the selector position. It could very well be that there is more than one diaphram though I suppose.
I appreciate the help.

[Cammy_01]

Originally Posted by WRG

That sounds like a good plan. Now, where is the diaphram located? Under the dash, under the hood on the firewall?
I can hear the flap move when changing the selector position. It could very well be that there is more than one diaphram though I suppose.
I appreciate the help.

The Diaphram is usually a big metal canister with a vacuum line to it and you can usually hear a hiss if it is vacuum operated.. or a clunk if it is manually operated with a cable after you change the selector from heat to cold. It could be plastic these days as well, it should be about the size of a baseball give or take and located under the dash about in the middle.. sometimes a little off to the side. Some are accessable and some are not without removing stuff. I dont know what the Toyota's setup looks like.. generally the same for most cars. You could take a peek at a manual at Autozone or something too.

[WRG]

I found and fixed the problem. If you take the lower cover off under the steering coulumn and pop the cigarette lighter trim out you see both ends of a metal rod that attaches to the vent levers. The plastic clips had broken and the rod came out. What I did was use metal rod clips like the ones that hold the choke thermostat rod on the late 1960's chevys. The lower one wasn't too hard but the upper one is difficult but can be done. There is not much room so you have to hold the clip and the rod at the same time. I found that you need not take out the dash or instument cluster because it doesn't help. You also need to remove the duct under the steering wheel panel that you take off. That's easy.

It wasn't easy but it is less difficult if you know what parts to use and where to look. It took me 6 hours but I could probably do it again in less that 1 hour.