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Heat stuck in defrost

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Old Nov 1, 2010 | 10:02 PM
  #1  
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From: MI
Car: 85 Trans AM
Engine: Chevy 355
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Heat stuck in defrost

No matter what I set the control to,I only feel air coming from the defrost vents.

What exactly controls that feature?
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Old Nov 1, 2010 | 10:46 PM
  #2  
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From: bellingham WA
Car: 85 Z28
Engine: 327
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

I too have this same prob and would like to know the answer
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Old Nov 2, 2010 | 06:53 AM
  #3  
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From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

Defrost is the default setting. You have a vac leak somewhere--the culprit is often at the switch. Stick at ear to the control head and give a listen. Since the problem is common to our cars, a search should locate more info.

JamesC
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Old Nov 2, 2010 | 08:00 AM
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From: Pepperell, MA
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: LQ9/L92
Transmission: 4L60E
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

definitely a vac leak. i did it to myself on my last engine swap - forgot to hook up the 2 vac lines that came through the firewall
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Old Nov 2, 2010 | 06:54 PM
  #5  
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From: MI
Car: 85 Trans AM
Engine: Chevy 355
Transmission: T-5
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

I assume the vacuum for the HVAC comes from the engine? Where would the line be located under the hood? The car came with a carbed sbc,so I sure the PO didnt hook it up properly.
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Old Nov 2, 2010 | 08:46 PM
  #6  
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From: Macedon, near Rochester, NY.
Car: 85 TA (sold), 88 Corvette, 02 Monte
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

On an 85 Trans, it's the connection right on the intake between the carb and distrib. Rubber hose goes from there to the vacuum tank by the wiper motor and brake booster, then a thin hard plastic vac line from that tank through the firewall.

My own switch leaks too on about half the positions. Hear it hissing, and have to switch back and forth a few times and leave it for a while before it finally switches. I just capped it off at the intake and live with it being stuck on defrost, most useful setting anyway.
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Old Nov 2, 2010 | 08:54 PM
  #7  
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From: Macedon, near Rochester, NY.
Car: 85 TA (sold), 88 Corvette, 02 Monte
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

Probably this line here https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...ml#post4686134 Not connected at either end?
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Old Nov 2, 2010 | 08:55 PM
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From: bellingham WA
Car: 85 Z28
Engine: 327
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

I wonder if same place on 85 camaro
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Old Nov 3, 2010 | 06:10 AM
  #9  
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From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

Originally Posted by jchaussee
I wonder if same place on 85 camaro
Here's the piece that was problematic on my 85:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...duct010707.jpg

JamesC
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Old Nov 3, 2010 | 07:33 AM
  #10  
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From: Pepperell, MA
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: LQ9/L92
Transmission: 4L60E
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

Originally Posted by jprix
I assume the vacuum for the HVAC comes from the engine? Where would the line be located under the hood? The car came with a carbed sbc,so I sure the PO didnt hook it up properly.
about center of the firewall and half way down, you should have a bundle of wires. in this bundle, you'll have 2 hard vacuum lines. if they are not hooked up to anything, there's your issue
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Old Nov 3, 2010 | 07:39 AM
  #11  
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From: Stamford, New York
Car: 80 SE/TTA;88 T/A GTA;86 T/A
Engine: 4.9L Turbo; LT1; empty
Transmission: TH350; T56; empty
Axle/Gears: 3:23 disk; 4:10 disk ; 3.42 disk
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

And don't hook both of them up to vacuum like I did during my motor swap, because then when you want to use the heat, all you will hear is vacuum noises inside the car lol. One is vacuum into the car for the controls and the other is vacuum out to the heater core valve near the air solenoids.
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Old Nov 3, 2010 | 08:48 AM
  #12  
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From: bellingham WA
Car: 85 Z28
Engine: 327
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

James. How did you know that piece was a problem? Did you just start replacing stuff?
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Old Nov 3, 2010 | 09:01 AM
  #13  
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From: Lawrence, KS
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

Originally Posted by jchaussee
James. How did you know that piece was a problem? Did you just start replacing stuff?
I could hear the leak/hiss when I stuck my ear close. I replace mine, but here's link that provides some interesting info:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...ctor-disc.html

JamesC
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Old Nov 9, 2010 | 06:00 PM
  #14  
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From: Detroit, MI
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: LT1 350
Transmission: T56 6 Speed
Axle/Gears: 3.42 LSD
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

Any pics or diagrams of what/how the two lines coming out of the firewall connect to?

Thanks,
Jay
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 10:49 AM
  #15  
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From: Northern Italy
Car: '88 camaro iroc-z
Engine: 350 TPI
Transmission: TH 700 R4
Axle/Gears: 2.77 Borg Warner Axel
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

hi! same problem on my 88 iroc; heater stuck on defrost but I hear no hissing from the control pannel. i guess the leak is under the hood.
Where would the line be located under the hood of a 350 TPI?

Thanks a lot
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 12:02 PM
  #16  
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From: Houston Texas
Car: 89 Formula Firebird
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700 R4
Axle/Gears: 3:27
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

same problem but i only hear the hiss when mines on the low setting
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Old Nov 15, 2010 | 02:24 PM
  #17  
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From: Stamford, New York
Car: 80 SE/TTA;88 T/A GTA;86 T/A
Engine: 4.9L Turbo; LT1; empty
Transmission: TH350; T56; empty
Axle/Gears: 3:23 disk; 4:10 disk ; 3.42 disk
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

If you hear it, it's probably the switch inside the car, and you hear it on low because the fan isn't loud enough to cover the vacuum sounds. If you heard no hissing at all then the problem is with the vacuum line coming from the intake to the HVAC system inside the car.
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Old Sep 22, 2025 | 09:41 PM
  #18  
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From: Enid Oklahoma
Car: 1991 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 tbi
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

This has been an issue on mine, I fixed that nut on the selector but that didn't fix anything, I do hear a hiss coming from the control panel tho, but I'm pretty confident I fixed the selector nut properly, any ideas?
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Old Sep 22, 2025 | 10:18 PM
  #19  
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Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

Must be a pissed off snake
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Old Sep 23, 2025 | 11:54 AM
  #20  
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Car: 1986 IROC Z
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

Originally Posted by Tuned Performance
Must be a pissed off snake
I hate when that happens.


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Old Sep 23, 2025 | 01:43 PM
  #21  
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Axle/Gears: J65 pbr on stock posi 10bolt
Re: Heat stuck in defrost

🐍 🐍 🐍 or it could be a vacuum leak causing the hissing 🤔
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