HVAC issues with more info

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drdfblackm

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Nov 24, 2025
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Flagstaff AZ
So I am having problems with everything seeming to blow out the vents. Well I was able to look under the dash today and I can verify that the panel mode door actuator works properly. It moves fully up and down. So that confirms that I have good vacuum and the lever is not broken. What I notice is I get some blowing out of the floor vents, but when I switch all the way to the right for full defrost...the AC compressor turns on but it is still blowing out the vents...and not much out of the dash upper on the windshield.

I am assuming there is a flap in the upper dash? I would assume I would see it if I fully removed the dash.....not sure if that is correct. What I am looking for is information on diagnosis and what I should be looking for. I really thought the panel mode door was going to be the problem....but again....it fully moves in both directions.

Maybe the TJ is supposed to be this way and nothing is wrong. I mean it has been more than 10 years since my last TJ so I honestly cannot remember.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
 
Of all the TJs I've owned not one of them has ever blown air perfectly where it's supposed to be blowing air. If I had it blowing at my face I'd still have some blowing at my feet and vice versa. I just chalked it up to the fact that it's an old and simplistic system.

I'd love to know if I'm wrong about that.
 
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are you sure you dash vent door is closing ? It sounds like it might be staying open and not redirecting to the other vents (defrost or floor) even though they're open too.
 
drdfblackm said:
So I am having problems with everything seeming to blow out the vents. Well I was able to look under the dash today and I can verify that the panel mode door actuator works properly. It moves fully up and down. So that confirms that I have good vacuum and the lever is not broken. What I notice is I get some blowing out of the floor vents, but when I switch all the way to the right for full defrost...the AC compressor turns on but it is still blowing out the vents...and not much out of the dash upper on the windshield.

I am assuming there is a flap in the upper dash? I would assume I would see it if I fully removed the dash.....not sure if that is correct. What I am looking for is information on diagnosis and what I should be looking for. I really thought the panel mode door was going to be the problem....but again....it fully moves in both directions.

Maybe the TJ is supposed to be this way and nothing is wrong. I mean it has been more than 10 years since my last TJ so I honestly cannot remember.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Click to expand...

Disconnect the vacuum from the system and see if the air is blowing at defrost and the floor which are the default locations.
 
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ripped out the dash to replace heater core and blower motor but have no idea where this goes and I have a random ground from my radio hanging about...

IMG_6503.jpeg
 
Yeah that's the original radio ground wire that connects under the gauge panel. You can ignore it and ground the radio to any spot on the metal dash frame. I ran mine to the ground spot under the passenger speaker cover.

-Mac
 
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