Air Vents - low air flow

[ICCS]

Greetings,

I have a 2000 GP GT 3.8. I noticed that when I select the bi-level (upper and lower vents) there is next to no air flowing from the lower vents. Yesterday I double checked and there appears to be no air flow coming out from the lower vents regardless of bi-level or lower only. I selected each of the 5 settings, and while there is some difference between 1 to 5 and have some heat/flow coming out from the upper vent, there doesn't seem to a big difference between 1 and 5 like it use to. I recall that on settings 4 & 5 you'd really get some good flow, in fact enough to make your hair blow in the wind if you put your face in front of the upper vent. This doesn't happen now.

I checked the forum archives and it sounds like I might have a problem/leak in the vacuum lines somewhere. I copied the suggestions that were provided to others with similar problems but what would be helpful is if someone has a photo of these lines. It was noted it starts around the manifold and snakes around the firewall etc..

Is this line real obvious looking? Or in lieu of a photo, is there something specific I can look for to identify the vacuum line?

Many thanks in advance.

[BNaylor]

The accessory vacuum line is very obvious if you look carefully. It snakes over to the battery and main engine compartment fuse box area and is located on the inner fender apron. From there it goes into the main wiring harness that goes into the firewall and cabin. Then from there it goes to the vacuum tank which you can see if you remove the right side dash kick panel. Right by the bottom of the blower motor and lower HVAC enclosure.

[ICCS]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

The accessory vacuum line is very obvious if you look carefully. It snakes over to the battery and main engine compartment fuse box area and is located on the inner fender apron. From there it goes into the main wiring harness that goes into the firewall and cabin. Then from there it goes to the vacuum tank which you can see if you remove the right side dash kick panel. Right by the bottom of the blower motor and lower HVAC enclosure.

WOW, talk about a quick response!! I will go have a look and check to see if I can locate this. I see my old friend the blower motor was mentioned in your reply. I have changed this once myself, and twice I had to change the resistor. I know that area of the car all to well. Thank god I'm left handed as it made the job a little easier, but it's not the most convenient location to work in. I'm just wondering now if perhaps the line (looks like a curved tube) that attaches to the blower motor might be the area of the problem. I sure hope not as I'm not looking forward to crawling under there and removing that again. I don't recall when exactly this problem started as the last time I changed the resistor it was summer, we don't need heat then, alternatively, we don't use the A/C much.

Appreciate your help. I'll report back with the findings.

[BNaylor]

These are the only pics I have in my collection that may help. First pic shows the vacuum lines. Black incoming and purple outgoing and to the right of the second pic the vacuum tank. Easy to damage those lines when doing a blower motor or resistor job. But check the black plastic vacuum line at the engine compartment first.

[ICCS]

Thanks very much for the photos. I will do as suggested and check the engine compartment area first. It is easier too.

[ICCS]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

The accessory vacuum line is very obvious if you look carefully. It snakes over to the battery and main engine compartment fuse box area and is located on the inner fender apron. From there it goes into the main wiring harness that goes into the firewall and cabin. Then from there it goes to the vacuum tank which you can see if you remove the right side dash kick panel. Right by the bottom of the blower motor and lower HVAC enclosure.

OK. I checked the vacuum line in the engine compartment area and didn't see anything glaringly obvious. The line looks to be in very good condition. I'm now beginning to think that it's on the inside and that I may have done something to it when I changed the blower motor resistor. I'll have to wait for a warmer day to do that.

However, while I was inspecting the vacuum line near the battery area, I noticed a wire connector that wasn't connected to anything. I don't know what this is for and where it should be connected too, if in fact it should be connected to anything? I took a couple of photos. They can be viewed on my website, the links are,

http://www.canairradio.com/Vacuum1.jpg

http://www.canairradio.com/Vacuum2.jpg

Any thoughts on what this connector is for, and where it should be connected. It's right beside the battery below the fuse box.

Many thanks.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by ICCS

Any thoughts on what this connector is for, and where it should be connected. It's right beside the battery below the fuse box.

Disregard that extra connector. It is the fuel pump test connector which is not used in normal operation. For testing fuel pump only.