2000 Ram Van 3500 wheelchair van

[rpatrick]

Greetings guys, I figured out how to fix the blower resistor from you all, but now I have a different problem.

Like a previous poster I can't get the cold air to come out of the front vents. I looked under the dash and the small silver actuator ( visible behind the glove box ) is moving and I can hear the plates inside the box above the doghouse which direct the air moving.

If I read correctly this is a vacuum operated system. Is there more than one actuator to investigate? And if so how do I get at them to take a look?

My boss keeps putting off fixing it, and myself and the patients really would like AC. Which is there nice and cold if we could only let it out!

[alloro]

Originally Posted by rpatrick

Is there more than one actuator to investigate? And if so how do I get at them to take a look?

There are three, possibly four of them. The one you found sounds like the fresh air one that closes off the outside air when the A/C is on MAX. Getting to the rest is tough. Pulling off the engine cowl (doghouse) and removing the glove box usually helps a lot in getting in there.

1. I just want to make sure I understand correctly. You do get cold air, but it blows out at the floor and will not blow up and out the vents?

2. Do the defrosters work?

3. Does the temperature control work, meaning can you get hot or cold air when you spin the knob left and right?

[rpatrick]

Originally Posted by alloro

There are three, possibly four of them. The one you found sounds like the fresh air one that closes off the outside air when the A/C is on MAX. Getting to the rest is tough. Pulling off the engine cowl (doghouse) and removing the glove box usually helps a lot in getting in there.

1. I just want to make sure I understand correctly. You do get cold air, but it blows out at the floor and will not blow up and out the vents?

Absolutley, I had some down time at work today and poked around, the vacuum actuator ( looks like a little keg ) right behind the glove box works. I thought it was a red wire attached to the equator of the keg but I think it might be the red hose. There is a black hose that tee's from there and one end enters the firewall by the long oval intake ducts. I though that was the one for the inside/outside air shut off.

This one moves three positions in, 1/2, and out depending on the position of the vent directions but I think it controls air flow on the right side. Since no air comes out of the left side defrost or the drivers side windowvent.

2. Do the defrosters work?

Sort of the one on the right ( pasenger side does ) the one on the left does not. Flow is still reduced from when it was working.

3. Does the temperature control work, meaning can you get hot or cold air when you spin the knob left and right?

Yes and the servo/motor under the glove box that controls that works as well.

I went to the dealer and got printouts of what and where these things should be. I then between patients pulled the plastic face piece and looked at the fan control module. I could not get the radio out to get a better look. Any hint's on putting it except that for some reason it's held in with Metric Bolts?

So I looked at the colored hoses coming from that but with the radio in the way and needing to ask my boss before I take apart the entire dash I stopped and put it back.
Any idea where each color hose goes and what it controls? And those two other hoses that attach between the mix and the speed?

I am tempted since I am just an RN and not a mechanic to tell my boss to take it to the dealer. Let them figure it out for 400-500 dollars. But now I am kinda intrigued.

I also think Dodge is stupid and should have switched to servos, this is extremely difficult to diagnose.