'92 LeSabre Heater problems

21black · #1 01-04-2008, 12:27 PM

I cant get any heat in through the vents. I just replaced the heater fan and it's working fine but its like something is blocking the air from getting into the car. I called a mechanic and he said that gunk builds up over time in this car blocking the air flow, but to take it in to the mechanic it would cost over $1000. He also wasn't certain that this was the problem. Has anyone had a problem like this?

spinne1 · #2 01-04-2008, 02:17 PM

Are ALL vents not blowing air? Check to see if there is heat coming into the vents below the windshield? If not, you must have a vacuum or electrical controlled door not working right. I can't imagine the entire vent pathways getting gunked up. What happens when you move the AC/heat controls around while the fan is blowing? Any differences based on the button pushed or the temp setting or the fan speed?

21black · #3 01-04-2008, 03:04 PM

There is some air coming in through the windsheild vents but only a little bit. Also there was some coming in at the floor vent but that stopped now to. If I change the fan speed i can here it speed up or slow down but it doesnt make any difference to the amount of air blowing in. I believe the temperature buttons still work because it does warm the car very slowly.

Rasp · #4 01-04-2008, 03:51 PM

I had an 89 Lesabre do this. I had gunk that was plugging up airflow but I didn't spend anywhere near $1000 to fix this. I maybe paid somewhere in the neighbourhood of $100.

21black · #5 01-04-2008, 04:13 PM

He said it is a fairly common problem with these cars and I cant quite figure out why it costs $1000 either. I think it was labor costs cause he siad it's really hard to get to. He told me to take the fan off and try and clean out some myself but it's a prety small hole.

spinne1 · #6 01-04-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 21black

He said it is a fairly common problem with these cars and I cant quite figure out why it costs $1000 either. I think it was labor costs cause he siad it's really hard to get to. He told me to take the fan off and try and clean out some myself but it's a prety small hole.

If the evaporator is blocked, this could cause these symptoms. It is behind the black metal piece that the blower motor is attached to. The evaporator sits all the way to the left and is at an angle. I do not know if it is reachable with your hand in the blower motor hole. What I suggest is getting a small powerful flashlight and a small handheld mirror and angle the mirror within the hole to see the evaporator (it looks similar to a radiator). If it looks clear then that is probably not your problem. If it looks blocked, realistically you need to remove the black metal piece and thoroughly clean it out. You will be limited in what you can do with the metal piece in place. Mice love to build their nests at the evaporator's edge.

Rasp · #7 01-04-2008, 04:59 PM

Evaporator was my problem. I couldn't remember but spinne is correct. I actually think the way the mechanic cleaned mine was to shoot some liquid cleaner through it. My car smelled like solvent after for awhile.

I'm not sure but I think this might screw up your air-conditioning after. Mine never worked anyhow so I didn't care. I would check another garage and see if their prices differ.

brcidd · #8 01-09-2008, 03:08 PM

The gunk is from an evaporator leak-- refrigerant and oil seep out of the air inlet face of that model year's evap and colect dust and dirt- to the point the airflow through it is diminshed.....You have no a/c because you have a refrigerant leak---you clean off the debris and you have airflow through it....all GM C,H,W,J,N,L cars had this problem from '89 til '93 model years- it was in the processing of the evaporators which let them suspcepitble to acid rain conditions which corroded the air inlet side of the evaps only.....most problems were in the midwest-- the evaps were all fixed after April of '97

Pod61 · #9 01-24-2008, 10:55 PM

I have had the same similiar problem with other cars and trucks and fixed this by vaccuming out the fresh air opening that was clogged with debris. You have to remove the grill or grate just below the windshield. I have a 92 Lasabre also and they seem to gather alot of debris in this area. Hope this is of some help.

gm_classic · #10 01-25-2008, 01:54 AM

Could it have been that the vacuum hose was knocked loose from the firewall,
when the fan was changed?

imidazol97 · #11 01-26-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gm_classic

Could it have been that the vacuum hose was knocked loose from the firewall,
when the fan was changed?

The vacuum hose goes to the storage tank on that year right on the firewall that looks like a part of the relay center. Everytime I changed plugs or reached behind the motor, I pull that vacuum hose off the nipple that it slid over.

That's the first place to check. Next is to listen internally to be sure the vacuum doors inside are changing when buttons on the control are pushed. To do this run the motor then turn it off and push different buttons while the vacuum lasts in the storage tank. Be sure the key stays on. You should be able to hear the different doors move witth the motor turned off.

If you don't hear the doors, you start the motor go back to the vacuum tank and check to be sure you've got vacuum there; pull the hose off while it's running and be sure that you're getting vacuum. Then move along the vacuum hose to the inside of the car to be sure you have vacuum to the internal controller for the vacuum doors that's under the passenger side of the dash.

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