Hi Guys! It's been a really long time since I've posted.

My wife's '75 Vert is what I'm currently working on. She was complaining the heat "doesn't work."

Both heater hoses get nice and hot. I have the bottom of the dash removed and I can see the temperature control cable is connected and operating as it should. It does control the temp from cold to hot. The mode selector is working as I can set to AC and the AC clutch engages and does so through bi-level. When I switch to defrost, I get air out of the vents at the base of the windshield. When I switch to heat, I get heat, but only out of the dash vents.

I was under the assumption that if something fails it will default to strictly floor venting. I would be fine with that, because the wife wants it to come out of the floor and not out of the dash. And she only cares about the heat, not the AC. She wants to be able to drive on cooler evenings with the top still down and the heat keeping her toes warm. What can I do or where should I look to make this happen. We only care about floor heat and nothing else. I'm feeling like this is vacuum related.

Thank you.

 

It may be beneficial to tell us what vehicle other than a convertible that you’re working on. Also, is this a standard manual AC, automatic, Comfortron, etc?

 

It's the Vert in my avatar, 75 88. The control panel says "Tempmatic" or some sort. It's the version with the numbers on it. Don't know the answer about standard manual AC, automatic, etc.

 

Identifying it as a 1975 Delta 88 and having a Tempmatic system should be enough information for those with knowledge of the system. I am not one of those people.

 

Now, with some further information. It is possible that the woodgrain dash panel that says Tempmatic, could have come from the 73 parts car that my wife originally had. We parted that out when restoring the 75. The 75 had faded woodgrain panels due to the southern sun. Her 73 had non faded panels. While I can't remember if that panel was switched out or not, I'm pretty certain the controller was not switched. It would remain from the 75.

 

No. The full-size dash for the '71 through '73 full-size cars was completely different from the '74-'76 full size cars (and '77 and '78 Toronados). The dash panels are completely different in shape and arrangement of the controls and A/C vents.


Dashboard on a '71 to '73 full-size Olds, including Toronado.






Dashboard on a '74-'76 Delta 88/98/Custom Cruiser and a '77 and '78 Toronado.

 

Also, in 1973, the only two air-conditioning options were the base "Four Seasons" A/C and the Comfortron. The "Tempmatic" version, which was "between" the Four Seasons and the Comfortron in features and price, was introduced in 1974. So no 1973 full-size dash panel ever said "Tempmatic" on it.


From the 1974 Olds brochure.

 

This is definitely what we have.

 

Ok, a few conclusions can be drawn. The heater core works. The blend door works. The AC kick on works. If the system works like I imagine, the defrost door works.

What sounds like isn't working is the vent / floor door. Please confirm that the AC works normally. I bet that you will get no difference in function between vent, heater, and bi-level. I think that door is either frozen or it is not getting vacuum. Recommend you find that door and see if it is free to move.

 

Yes, AC works out the dash vents, defrost switches to flow out of the base of the windshield.

Any idea which compartment on the heater case would direct the heat to the floor?

I have the Chassis service manual on the way.

Never needed it before this.

 

I wouldn't know on that car. Follow a vent pipe back to the box and check near where it plugs in.