I have been checking the vacuum and motion on the vac pods that control air flow. I have some questions:

1. What does it take to get the center vents to blow air?
2. All the pods seem to move what I would consider normally except the one way up and near the firewall behind the glove box. This one seems to pull in then "relax" back out. What does it do and is that normal?

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85 300D
245K and running strong

The center vents should work whenever the ACC "thinks" it is in a cooling mode; they should shut off in a heating mode.

On the center vents is there a pod that I can check to see if it is functioning? Where would I find it?

__________________
85 300D
245K and running strong

The pod that shuts the center is accessible/viewable from the glovebox. Once you pull it out, you will see it on the left, sitting upright.

Of course, that's not the one that breaks. Noooo...the one that breaks is the one that pulls the door in the opposite direction (allowing air through the center vents) - and it, is on the top and a little to the rear. You can get a glimpse of it's rod, and maybe a little of the pod, if you have a good flashlight and a flexible neck.
Thing is...is once you open it, as soon as you shut the car off, some silly pod closes it, so you can't just push it open, and hope it stays that way.
Don't be surprised if you hear it giggling as you curse its location.


Quick fix: get it open, and keep it there by screwing in a screw into the side of the air "duct" so that the flap can't close. (and disconnect the pod that wants to close it once you shut off the engine)

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Just took a look at that baby way up in there. Where do you put the screw to keep it open? Is there a possibility that once I get the compressor and the AC working that the pod will start working?

... and anybody on question 2.?

__________________
85 300D
245K and running strong