Heat stuck in defrost
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 109
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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?
What exactly controls that feature?
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
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
JamesC
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Joined: Mar 2009
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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
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 109
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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.
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
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.
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.
Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 378
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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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Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
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
Here's the piece that was problematic on my 85:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...duct010707.jpg
JamesC
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...duct010707.jpg
JamesC
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Pepperell, MA
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: LQ9/L92
Transmission: 4L60E
Re: Heat stuck in defrost
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
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 6
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.
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 19,282
Likes: 103
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
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/inte...ctor-disc.html
JamesC
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 563
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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
Thanks,
Jay
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
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
Where would the line be located under the hood of a 350 TPI?
Thanks a lot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 6
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.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
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?
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 16,737
Likes: 994
From: Mile High Country !!!
Car: 1967 Camaro, 91 z28
Engine: Lb9
Transmission: M20
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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