Quick question about in-dash vents

bgoetting · 08-17-2009, 09:33 PM

My 2005 SMB has Starcool. Since I bought it used, all air output from the dash is from the defroster vents and under the dash. The AC won't put out any air through the front dash vents. I just wanted to confirm with others that this is abnormal before I go to the Ford dealership for repairs. I'm fairly confident that SMB would not do this intentionally, and that I probably have a bad actuator.

BTW I'm going on my longest camp out yet. 8 days in UT with my horses, 250 mile race in 5 days, 7 nights in the SMB!

marcp · 08-18-2009, 05:25 AM

We just had the same problem, it was the vacuum line that switches the flow. Our problem was a rodent of some sort ate through it. Not cover under warranty, total cost to fix $300. I wish I had a garage big enough to keep the SMB inside.

billwilson · 08-18-2009, 06:52 AM

I had the same problem in my 2001 gasser
ac only thru the windsheild vents
mechanic pulled the dash and some vacum line eaten thru
replaced and all good
ice cube air

Ford_6L_E350 · 08-18-2009, 10:14 AM

I don't know about the SMB front axle, but a typical Ford 4x4 uses vaccuum to lock the front hubs (shift on the fly). And the 4x4 system is a frequent source of vaccuum leaks.

Mike

geoffff · 08-20-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgoetting

all air output from the dash is from the defroster vents and under the dash

I had pretty much the same problem with my new 2004 van -- except it only happened when the engine was under high load (and therefore low engine vacuum), such as when driving uphill.

I took it to a couple Ford dealers (they all claimed this was "normal" behavior), until I found one that fixed the real problem (under warranty) -- a pinched vacuum hose under the dash. These vacuum hoses control the positioning of the various air doors (vents vs. defroster vs. floor) of the heating/cooling system.

Mine works great now.

-- Geoff

jlrray · 08-02-2012, 07:44 PM

could you describe where that line is geoff? my 04 is doing the exact same ting.. even after sending it in for repairs..

geoffff · 08-02-2012, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlrray

could you describe where that line is geoff? my 04 is doing the exact same ting.. even after sending it in for repairs..

Wish I had more specific information for you, but I didn't make this repair myself. I don't know which line the mechanic fixed.

-- Geoff

GreyDawg · 08-03-2012, 11:47 PM

I just had a similar problem in my 2006 -- under load, air stopped flowing through vents, shifting over to the defroster instead. Relax the load, and air flowed from the dash vents again.

In this case, the problem was a crack in a vacuum reservoir under the dash, not a hose. My mechanic said he's seen quite a few of these in Ford vans that are 5+ years old (he does a lot of fleet maintenance).

**daveb** · 08-05-2012, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlrray

could you describe where that line is geoff? my 04 is doing the exact same ting.. even after sending it in for repairs..

Didn't you have that same problem a few years back?

Ford_6L_E350 · 08-05-2012, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyDawg

I just had a similar problem in my 2006 -- under load, air stopped flowing through vents, shifting over to the defroster instead. Relax the load, and air flowed from the dash vents again.

In this case, the problem was a crack in a vacuum reservoir under the dash, not a hose. My mechanic said he's seen quite a few of these in Ford vans that are 5+ years old (he does a lot of fleet maintenance).

That sounds like a gas engined van. Gasser make no vacuum under heavy throttle (load), while diesels make no vacuum ever. Therefore, diesels have a vacuum pump to run vacuum accessories in the dash and front axle.

Mike