Dodge Durango heat...

[Welcome to the GWTW Forum]

Welcome to the GWTW Forum.
Guests (non-registered users) can view the forum but are unable to post.  If you don't have anything to say then why would you bother to register?
One of the most popular sections of the GWTW Forum has long been the Swap Meet.  A great place to sell old, seldom flown kites or to get great deals on used (gently flown) kites.  Only registered users can see the Swap Meet section, let alone wheel and deal.  1000's (literally) of kites have changed hands thanks to the Swap Meet.
There are several more benefits to being a registered user, but you'll have to join our little community to find out all the "secrets".
Questions or concerns?  forum.gwtwkites@gmail.com

[Zeke]

looking for simple info as to the removal of the top of the dash so I may see what is not moving to blow hot air out the dash front and floor...blower works and blows hot air up to the windshield and rear heater works   been searching the forums but they all get  too involved for my simple abilities...

[rob103]

Simple answer is..don't! Usually the doors that route air to different ducts in modern day vehicles are moved by vacuum. Look under the hood for a broken or disconnected vacuum hose. Tiny (1/4-3/8)"soft rubber hoses back around the firewall start in the general vicinity of the blower motor and work  your way to the larger (1/2-3/4)" rubber hose that goes to the big round power brake booster up high on driver's side. There's probably a half dozen or so that tee off and go to different sensors on the engine . It could be any of the plastic tees or the nipple on the sensors. If you absolutely have to go into the dash, the doors for the floor ducts are usually reached by standing on your head on the front floor mats, or the middle dash ducts through the glove box.
Hope this helps!
Bill

[Zeke]

Guess I'll have a look around the tubing....we took a look at the garage and there is a plastic tube that goes into the intake above the blower and we didn't see anything out of place.  one of the forums indicates that there is a filter and the crud from it can jam the doors...  I'll download a service manual and print a few pages..I just may have to wait for warmer weather... thanks for the input

[Lee S]

Hey Zeke, is that Dodge of yours made in any particular year?  I know, details details.....sigh....

[Zeke]

2002 Durango SLT,  4.7L.....took a ride yesterday to get some sports card storage boxes and the noise it made was weird, sort of a 'whoooooo' at different times, sometimes loud, at speeds between 30mph and 40mph,  then after 10+ miles it stopped.  Seems to come and go.....as the vehicle was bought from a local dealer, I can't rule out some form of ''unreasonable maintenance' by them..  I figure that as the 'heater door'? doesn't open or something doesn't rotate so that I get air blown out of the dash and floor vents......I can't even make a sensible conclusion to that statement...either a vacuum leak or 'sumpin' is stuck....   

[mikenchico]

I'm finding the 2002 is electronically controlled, but then I also see that there is vacuum to the climate control system which would indicate it's still vacuum operated?

Vacuum diagrams and mention of an electronic control here - http://www.2carpros.com/questions/dodge-durango-1998-dodge-durango-vacuum-diagram

If it proves to be electronic I would run the fuses with a circuit tester. Alternately check your manual to see if the electronic control is on an identifiable fuse, though it may be grouped with other dash accessories so you might have to hunt down a wiring diagram, I hate tracing those things.

Seems also that those with vacuum operated servos the vacuum line from the manifold t's with one line going to your cruise control actuator and one through the firewall to the vent actuator, I have seen the diaphragm go bad in cruise controls, that will cause no vacuum to the vent control. - http://www.fixya.com/cars/t2416712-heating_air_conditioning_control_stuck - if that's the case then plug the line to the cruise control until you can get it fixed, no cruise but a properly working heater is preferable in my book.

[Zeke]

Cruise control works fine.  took a 50 mile ride today and not a sound other than normal fan noise.  will check fuses tomorrow . going back to the garage in the AM.. I have been going there for 40 years and they usually get it fixed.    the truck does get real warm, just not the feet.  probably a piece of foam insulation or something simple in an unacceptable spot.  will post later on with whatever we discover. thanks all.

[Zeke]

would appear the answer to this one is "later".   after the storm when it warms up I will start checking fuses and do a little poking around on my own.  I'll still hit some of the Durango forums.  Thanks for the input.

[david barnby]

could be a wayward kite blocking the inlet vents

[Zeke]

nope...no odor of warm ripstop when the defroster is on....

[Hal]

A lot of these systems default to the defrost setting when there is a malfunction or vacuum leak.  Rear defrost is probably not related.

[Zeke]

at this point in time I am going to have to find someone who will at least look at the problem, again, when it gets warmer.  I'd take a peek under the dash but I don't bed into those positions anymore. ..maybe if I get a lawn chair to put my feet on... 

the total opinions so far  1:  it is a vacuum problem, 2: don't take the dash apart. 
rear defrost is electric, rear heat does blow air but I haven't checked temp....I  put a small digital thermometer on the floor console and see what the temp is...

[Ca Ike]

Sounds to me like  your climate control selector isn't  working right.  Its easy to check without tearing the dash out.  Pull out the front dash trim off, take out the radio so you can get to the lines and take of the knob panel so you can get to the back of the controls.  IF its electronic it will be a potentiometer type dial with a few wires coming off it (Or a circuit board) that leads to the vent door control servo or the vacuum manifold.  Check for voltage at the switch points if its electronic. If its vacuum there will be 4-5 1/8 inch plastic hoses going to the control. Run the car but leave the blower fan off and change settings while listening close to the dash (radio spot).  If you hear a soft air brake kind of sound then your vacuum is fine. Loud one and you have a leak.

Behind the radio/glove box there will be either  2 vacuum diaphrams(one for recirculate/outside air vent and one for dash vents) with a rod that hooks to the vent door or 2 electronic servo sitting on top of the vent box.  Check that the link rods haven't come off the door control arms and use a vacuum hand pump to test for diaphram leaks.  If its and electronic servo and there is no link rod replace the servo. You should just have to remove the radio, glove box and controls to get to the vent doors and enough room to work.

Our forum is made possible by the good folks whose ads appear in the right margin of the forum and by the members of our community (PayPal donation button at bottom of the page)
In case you missed it each ad is linked to the sponsors web site.  So please, take a moment and visit our sponsors sites as this forum wouldn't be possible with out them. >>>
Interested in running an ad for your business or kiting event?  Contact Steve at advertise.gwtwkites@gmail.com for a quote.