the ac on my 82 doesnt work. it is a fact of life. but when i got it the vent still worked, but now it doesnt blow anything, hot, cold or any thing. i guess i need to check the blower switch, but if anyone else has had the same problem i would really like to hear how you fixed it.

follow this link for a past discussion on the subject. http://elcaminocentral.com/postt676.html
:D

A great post I might ad!

ok, that wire thing was not the problem but thank you for the idea. i put in a new blower motor, and i found that the switch behind the control is shot, and im getting a new one tomorrow. but i can make it work, but it only blows through the defroster vents, not through the vents on the dash. the new switch might fix that too, but if anyone knows what the problem is it would really help.

You may have lost source vacuum to the ported vacuum switch on the control, or you have a bad ported vacuum switch.

the ported vacuum switch is the one next to the selector switch right. would it being bad cause the air to only go thru the defroster vents or will the selector switch fix that? sorry i sound so stupid, but ACs are not my specialty...

o also, i didnt hear any "sucking" sounds coming from the switch with the vacuum hoses going to it, so i asume that it isnt leaking.

The ported switch controls the vacuum mode doors. If it's blowing out the defrosters, (all doors relaxed) then you have a bad ported switch or vacuum supply issue.

ok then i will get both switches thanks alot! i really would rather it be the switch than a leak somewhere, so ill see if it fixes it. thanks again.

ok i put both new switches on, and it still wont blow thru the dash vents. there is a vent control cable but it is hooked up, at least on the end that i can see. ill try to find out exactly where that cable ends and make sure it is connected there. if anyone has any ideas, i could use them.

The cable controls the temperature door only, like I said, you have a vacuum issue... you're wasting your time if you are looking elsewhere.
Check under the hood at the vacuum bottle on the evaporator case, (looks like a black softball,) make sure you have a good vacuum to it, if you do, then trace the other vacuum line through the firewall to the ported switch.

FWIW - if you have not solved the problem yet....I had the exact same problem on my '82 which I just bought two weeks ago. My problem was a broken vacuum hose which came thru the firewall behind the glove box and snaked out beneath the blower motor. This hose goes to the one connector on the vacuum tank (the black round ball) near the accumulator. Fortunately there was just enought hose for me to get a hold of the broken piece under the blower and I just used a small hard plastic connector to piece the hose together. All my vacuum actuators started working correctly.

You might also want to check the integrity of the vacuum hose harness which sits behind the glove box. Just drop the glove box cable - held on with one single screw and you will see it.

I picked up a Shop Manual at Fall Carlisle for $15 and so far it has been well worth the paltry sum I paid. It is the 1982 Chevrolet Manual and covers several different models - not just El Camino. One day I will find the Elky specific manual.

Jim - Camp Hill, PA

The cable controls the temperature door only, like I said, you have a vacuum issue... you're wasting your time if you are looking elsewhere.
Check under the hood at the vacuum bottle on the evaporator case, (looks like a black softball,) make sure you have a good vacuum to it, if you do, then trace the other vacuum line through the firewall to the ported switch.



I'm having the same problem, i haven't checked or changed ;the selector switches or the blower motor switches. This black ball that you said should have good suction doesn't have any suction and I'm not sure what lines should connect to it... I know the faded purple wire goes to the heater control valve under the hood and i think the other thin black line goes to the manifold but, not sure where because the one thats on there is a thicker black line and its running from that black softball...

Hope you can understand my babbliings :o .


Also when i have the engine on and i move the selector from Off to AC etc,,, i don't here any change in the motor or anything...Is my compressor any good? How can I tell, I never ran the system before.

Is there a diagram that shows all the ends and out of the AC system.

Thanks

Large hose from the vacuum bottle should go straight to intake manifold vacumm, the smaller line goes through the firewall next to the purple hose.

Large hose from the vacuum bottle should go straight to intake manifold vacumm, the smaller line goes through the firewall next to the purple hose..

Thanks I'll try that... should that allow my door to open to make my vents work,,, or should i try the selector switches.

I guess i need to try the selector switches because i got no suction nor did the door open when i changed the selectors....

I waited awhile and went back to check this again, I realized that the purple line broke in (2), places. I mocked a line from the engine to the remaining piece of hose inside the car and realized that with the correct line my vacuum door will open BUT NOT ALL THE WAY and only when the selector is switched on to "MAX A/C"...

Is there something that I'm missing or should it be that way?

I still hear no change in the motor (pulling) or anything like that. Is this normal or do i need to check something else. I'm sure that temp. selector is working because i switched to heat and it almost burnt my hand off. (LOL)... So I almost there or at least closer....

What else do i need to check out...

Thanks

I bought some line to run thru the firewall,,, what the best way to get it thru or is it.