All;

Having issues with the climate control and air circulation in my 85 california spec 300TD. Earlier this year I lost the airflow to the footwells, likely a vacuum pod, but work has prevented me from truly troubleshooting.

Now that it's warming up, I've tried to call up A/C, but am not getting refrigerated air.

Fresh air was working fine until a week or so ago, when I lost airflow through the center dash vents, though I have good heat or cool air through the outer dash vents. While in the EC mode, and with the temp dial to MIN, I can intermittently get cool air through the center vents. While in the EC setting, and the center vents flowing cool air, if I change the temperature selector to MAX, then the airflow ceases from the center vents, some goes to the windshield (which is normal I believe, the footwells receive no heat, as stated earlier). The problem is that if I return the temperature selector back to MIN, the center vents do not "open" for airflow. If I select Multi-Level, this seems to "unstick" the center vents, and then I can return to the EC setting, and they will remain open delivering cool air.

Before I start chasing the A/C issue, I'd like to at least get the airflow working properly through the various vents.

I've looked at the sticky for various "how-to's", but don't see an overarching one for Climate Control. A search of the threads is overwhelming in the number of different threads, and fails to provide me a definitive starting point, and sequential troubleshooting/repair sequence.

Any and all help will be appreciated.

Thank you

Start with the green and yellow vacuum line coming out of the firewall in the engine compartment. Check and see if this holds vacuum. If not, take out the pushbutton unit to get acess to the 5 switch-over valves. I just described how to test them in a post about an hour ago. After checking the switchover valves, pull the vacuum hoses from the lower port (the one pointing towards you) of each switch-over valve, and see if they hold vacuum. Each of these lines goes to a vacuum element. If you find a line that leaks, be sure to test the vacuum element directly before spending any money on it because you may just have a leaky connector. The important thing is to find the leak and plug it up. If you have a leak anywhere in the system, it tends to make things behave strangely.

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1982 300D, black w/ palomino leather, 203K
2001 E320, champagne, 105K (Mom's)
1999 Dodge Dakota, squeaky & battered, 142K

Also don't overlook the possibility of one of the lines near the oil filter being knocked loose or not having a vac source.

Good luck,

While you experts are answering A/C questions, my 84 SD is not kicking in the Compressor when I go to Cool. I had this problem last year when the E/C button fell off, but when I put it back on, everything worked great.

Now, after the winter and not using any A/C, the compressor won't kick in.

Everything else seems to work fine.

I tried searching here over a 3 week period...I've read so many posts i'm going cross eyed, but I can't find anything that explains what to look for first in a system where the compressor doesn't engage.

I should tell you that I have a front seal leak on my power steering that has caused some wetness, but that shouldn't keep the compressor from kicking in, just possibly cause some slipping once it does.

Any hints?

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1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

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have you checked for freon? if low it wont kick in. often is low after the winter.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.