I did some searching and seems I've only found issues with cars that have AC and vacuum controls. So I have the basic no AC climate control and my vent selector switch won't move off of the windshield defrost.

I took it apart and there are two cables the one with the red tab(on the left side while looking at it) is not moving. The cable on the right moves.

Anyone know what I can do here to get that back working or unstuck. I have that whole area apart and the cable is not blocked or pinched.

 

Might not be getting vacuum. Check the back of the engine bay.

 

That's the thing there are no vacuum lines on there only the manual cable.

 

Crazy question but I gotta ask, did anyone drop anything down into the defroster vent ?

I ask because I once saw the very same problem and it turned out that one of the car owner's kids had dropped a pencil down into the vent and it found the perfect place to get stuck and jam the door that diverts the airflow.

It was a different brand of car, but I figured it'd be worth mentioning.......

 

I'm not sure as I have recently purchased the vehicle but it is possible and I will put a scope down there and try and see. Thanks for the idea!

 

UPDATE to the thread....after spending half the day tearing apart the heating ducts found the issue was with the metal plate that sits next to the heater core. The left side of the plate which is closer to the driver side was rubbing against the vent flap, not allowing it to move up and down freely.

Pulled it out and took off some metal and freed it up. No idea why that would happen in the first place but believe it has been like that for awhile.