Heat works but blows cold?

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Old March 3rd, 2013, 06:39 AM
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Heat works but blows cold?

I was going for a ride last night in my 1979 Delta 88 Royale two door coupe and the heater went from blowing hot air to cold. If I have the heater off and have the air temp on hot, hot air comes into the car. But as soon as I select heater and turn the fan on it goes from hot to cool. Any help as to why this is happening would be appreciated.
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Old March 3rd, 2013, 07:13 AM
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You've got a loose air temperature flapper door - it's blowing closed when you put the fan on.

Others (or your Chassis Service Manual) can tell you exactly where the cable (or vacuum pot) and lever are for the door, but they are generally up behind the middle of the dash or the glove compartment.

- Eric
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Old March 3rd, 2013, 07:14 AM
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Maybe low on coolant?
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Old March 3rd, 2013, 10:03 AM
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Thanks for the help!
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Old March 3rd, 2013, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by FinkD88
Thanks for the help!
So you figured it out?
What was it?
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Old March 3rd, 2013, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by MDchanic
You've got a loose air temperature flapper door - it's blowing closed when you put the fan on.

Others (or your Chassis Service Manual) can tell you exactly where the cable (or vacuum pot) and lever are for the door, but they are generally up behind the middle of the dash or the glove compartment.

- Eric

Do you have the Temptronic automatic climate control or not? If not, then the problem is a common one. The 1977-1990 B/C-body cars like yours (and the 1978-88 A/G-body cars, which use the same design) have a cable-actuated heater blend door with a plastic actuating bellcrank that usually breaks. Remove the glovebox liner and you'll see the bellcrank and the cable end. Replacement bellcranks are no longer available, so if this is the problem you'll need to repair your old one with epoxy and reinforcements.

If you do have Temptronic, the problem is likely the programmer unit also located behind the glovebox.
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Old March 5th, 2013, 09:35 AM
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No, I haven't fixed it yet but if I get a chance I'll take out the glove box insert and take a look at the cable-actuated heater blend door and see if the bellcrank is the problem. Eric and Joe thanks for the help, I had no idea where to even start.
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