nothing blowing

[completetech]

have a 1999 Astro AWD cargo.

I can not get any type of vent no matter what setting i choose, i.e. A/C or heat or upper or lower vents.. nothing wants to blow.

any suggestions on what to look at first to start. this is my very first Astro that I have owned and I have only had it for 1 full day.



thanks,
Nathan

[Kidhauler]

If the fan is running then I would look for a vacuum leak. The diverter flaps in the hvac system run on vacuum.

[completetech]

i should mention also I am somewhat mechanically inclined, not much. if someone can explain a bit as to where that is i would be more then happy even now to go check, even though i am supposed to be watching a movie with the wife. A/C is super important to me. I dont know how I would deal the rest of the summer without it, much less once the winter get s here and no heat....

also I dont seem to hear anything running either. maybe it was just to loud outside by the road when i was trying it.

[mdmead]

So are you saying the fan motor isn't running? Typically if the blower won't work at all, it is the motor. If you only have high speed, it is likely the blower resistor. (I've seen the motor not work at all with a bad resistor too.) Obviously check fuses first. A common problem is a broken vacuum line that runs across the engine, but when it is broke, a person gets all the air blowing out through the defrost vents.

I'd love to score a 96+ AWD for under a grand!

[completetech]

i see a small, super small hose that looks like a vaccum line not hooked to anything, but doesnt look like i can tell where it is supposed to goto.

I got my 99 AWD cargo with all the shelves/ bins u could ever want for $900 cash

[completetech]

UPDATE:

so i just went out and checked some things.

for some reason the level switch as i call it... 1-5 or whatever that adjusts the blower speed seems almost as though it is broken as there is no "clicking" or feeling of it moving in to other positions as i turn it.

the AC unit under the hood is getting ICE cold and building up condensation very quickly.

I see a about 1/4" hose looking like it coming through the firewall area, not really sure where it is super dark and my mag light sucks right now, but it goes into a "Y" splitter type hose adapter and one goes down near bottom of vehicle on passenger side and i think to some sort of canister and the other is the hose that is not hooked up.

my thoughts on this so far at this point is this.... the switch for the interior is possibly broken and I should look at a junk yard for a different one, and I need to get the hose that is about a 1/10 of a inch that is not hooked up, get it connected to the appropiate place and try again.

any thoughts??? or am I just way over thinking this?

btw, I try and type fast and never spell check.... sorry!

Nathan

[CaptSquid]

If the dryer can is getting very cold, there is nothing wrong with the switch, as the compressor clutch kicks in only when actuated. The vacuum leak should be solved first. You'd be amazed that the vehicle will perform better, too.

[completetech]

hate to sound dumb... but where should i be looking to put this hose

[mdmead]

Pull your fan speed knob off and turn the switch with a pair of pliers. Actually, you can probably pull one of the other knobs off and use it. The back of the knob can break and you can turn it, but it isn't turning the actual switch.

It does sound like you have a broken vacuum line. You shouldn't have a line just sitting there unattached... (I'm sure you figured that out!)... so you just need to search around until you find the other end or an open connection. I've patched the broken line with electrical tape (temporarily) and have heard of people reconnecting with a piece of rubber vacuum line.

[astrozam]

If you had a vac leak, by default the air would blow thru your defrost, since you mention that nothing blows anywhere I would check you're blower as mdmead suggested.

edit: the van may well have had the vac leak ( disconnected line ) at first, then over time either the blower bit the dust or the blower relay died, so you may be looking at 2 problems which need addressing.

[completetech]

i would love to check the blower. I guess I am not as inclined as i thought as i have no clue where it is at.....

time for the haynes manual I guess.


thanks guys I will be checking this once I get back from work.

[CaptSquid]

To locate the blower, open the hood. Look on the left side of the firewall as you face it. Replacement procedures have been posted here before, takes about 30 min to replace it.

FIX THE VACUUM LEAK FIRST!

[Lumpy]

There should be(?) a vacuum line diagram on a sticker in your eng compartment.
And sometimes the disconnected line itself will sort of tell you where it should go.
If that disconnected line is still connected on the OTHER end, move the open
end around to the obvious limits of it's reach and you may find an open
vacuum nipple somewhere.

If you can tell where the OTHER end of the line is connected, that's
a good start. If the other end is connected to some SOURCE of
vacuum (TBI, manifold, etc) then the open end probably connects
to something on or near the ventilation system. Or it may not,
of course. And vice versa, if the other end of the line is connected
to something on the ventilation mechanism, then the open end
probably connects to some SOURCE of vacuum.

Lots of valves and canisters and filters make troubleshooting
vacuum a pretty serious head scratcher for me.

I generally find the only thing harder to trace out than electrical
problems is vacuum problems. It would probably be a great idea
to label all the hose ends and their connections. I haven't done
that, but it would still be a great idea.


Lumpy

[mdmead]

I generally find the only thing harder to trace out than electrical
problems is vacuum problems.

And it doesn't help when the damn vacuum lines aren't any bigger than a heavy gauge electrical wire.

[CaptSquid]

An easy way to find the leak is to spray starting fluid near the suspected area while the motor is running. If the engine surges, you've found the suspect area.