I have a 1992 convertible with only 9,000 miles, with a audible vacuum leak when the Man. A/C-Heater controller is in any position other than OFF or MAX. The leak is not so sever as to affect the various door operations, but loud enough to be annoying. With the radio out and the controller out, but still attached, I can hear the leak near the back of the controller seemingly where the vacuum hoses connect to the controller? I try to feel the hoses and connections, no change in sound or obvious tears or disconnections. Do not hear any change in sound when I try to drag my fingers over the vacuum lines or when I try to gently (car is 19 year old) wiggle the vacuum connector on the back of the controller. Any ideas or thoughts besides turning the radio louder? Thanks!!

 

Welcome to TGO. The leak of which you speak is common to our cars (and if bad enough will make the defrost the default setting). I "believe" this is what you need: Valve Vac Sel GM part # 16032395. BTW, there aren't many questions that haven't been asked and answered on site, so a search is generally a good idea.

JamesC

 

Replace the controller. The rotating part with all the vacuum (colored) hoses on it has a tendency to crack/leak from age. There's several threads here about it. But I can't remember if anyone posts a method of repairing it, or if they replace it.

But it shouldn't be too hard to get a new (well, new used) controller from ebay, TGO classifieds, Hawks, or Thirdgen Ranch.

Given that spring/summer will be appraoching soon, and you are a vert (I assume the top is down as much as possible), you could disconnect and cap the vacuum line going into the firewall at the heater box until such time as you snag another controller.

 

Thank you JamesC and camaronewbie for you information and help!

 

If you decide to go for the whole HVAC control unit, I've got clean ones I can make you a deal on

 

I am interested in your deal. Let me know please.

 

If this unit is bad, will it stop the blower fan working? I had my blower fan stop working. I could get the a/c to engage using the control level, but it would not blow air through the system. I could feel the refridgerated air coming out through the vents, but no pressure. Then the other day, after having stripped my carpet out, I started the car and the blower ran full blast! I had a cold car for the first time in god knows how long! Interestingly, the only place the air was being forced out was the defrost vents...No matter where I turned the blower control **** though, it still ran at full blast. Next time I started the car, NOTHING. Same old ' no blow'. Any thoughts and experiences from you all?

 

Defrost is the default setting it goes to when experiencing vacuum leaks. Sorry, don't know anything about the blower. Sounds kind of like a bad connection ? PM or email me your email address and I can send you pics or other details

 

Sorry to beat a dead horse, but does anybody know where I can find on of these? They're discontinued at GM and i've searched everywhere!!! So tired of my heat/ac not working cause i plugged the vacuum lines.

 

Are you looking for just the valve, or a whole control unit?

 

I just need the valve

 

The smaller rear one or the larger front one?

 

I had a vacuum leak on my car at the control unit in the dash. I replaced the vacuum valve (large one attached to the position lever, not temp lever) on back of controller. GM has discontinued this as you found out, but I found an AC Delco one on line at Auto Parts Deal, 888-231-5287, www.autopartsdeal.com I ordered PN: AC1571350 fits '85-'92 A/C controller unit. Price was $15.21 plus tax handling and shipping. This was in early March, 2011. I installed it, no easy task, just be careful not to break anything as you do not have a lot of room to work with, and it solved my leak.

 

Unfortunately, since this thread was originally started both GM and the aftermarket have discontinued all three of the switches/valves that are controlled by sliding the levers of the HVAC system. I was alerted to this by a customer that was in need of the GM 16014416, A/C HEATER MODE SELECTOR SWITCH.

I now have all three in stock on my web site.

GM 16014416: A/C HEATER MODE SELECTOR SWITCH
GM 16062091: HEATER WATER CONTROL VALVE
GM 16032395: A/C HEATER MODE CONTROL VALVE

Lon Salgren

 

Will those PNs work on an 89 also?

 

89, yes. My web site lists all the vehicle applications for each item in the product description.

Lon Salgren

 

Thanks, I just ordered the two valves from your website.

 

Are the valves leftover GM parts or reproductions? In other words, will the stock eventually run out?