defrosting windshield

[trust]

No clearance lights or other roof penetrations except for the ones from the factory. The truck has a topper on the bed though if that matters. I haven't seen any indication of leakage from the slider but I'll look again when I empty the cab.

I spent some time checking the recirc door operation but not recently so I'll reconfirm that its closed as well as do a more thorough clean out of of the drain. Does the cowl have a unique drain or does it share the ac drain?

Thanks gents. I appreciate the help

 

[seafish]

No clearance lights or other roof penetrations except for the ones from the factory. The truck has a topper on the bed though if that matters. I haven't seen any indication of leakage from the slider but I'll look again when I empty the cab.

Thanks gents. I appreciate the help

Sorry, but I am a bit confused by this statement... in fact the oem clearance lights are known and common water intrusion points. If you do have factory clearance lights, I would almost guarantee that is at least part of the problem. If you do not, then I simply misunderstood your reply and I apologize.

 

[brucejohnson]

Sorry, but I am a bit confused by this statement... in fact the oem clearance lights are known and common water intrusion points. If you do have factory clearance lights, I would almost guarantee that is at least part of the problem. If you do not, then I simply misunderstood your reply and I apologize.

He was responding to a plethora of questions tossed at him in a previous post..

 

[trust]

I do not have clearance lights, sorry for the confusion. There are no penetrations in the roof at all except the sat radio antenna above the rear window slider

I've pulled the fan and the recirc door does. Not move. I'm looking up at the bottom of the dash as near as I can tell. There's the back of a speaker staring at me. I cannot move the door I can see which I believe to be the recirc door. I'm going through the fsm now to see what I can learn

 

[trust]

So it appears the recirc door is stuck in the recirc position... of course it is. Is there a way short of removing the dash and heater assembly to reposition it? Seems I read once about taking the glove box out. I guess I'll try to figure that out next

Thank you gentlemen

 

[trust]

Well friends I have another clue to the inoperative recirc door.... the (incert explitive here) previous owners must have much preferred recirc mode and as such inserted an undoubtedly well engineered and factory authorized drywall screw through the door and into the housing.... I guess the heater box will be removed and new doors installed throughout.... unless the temp monitor (aka wife, beloved parasite, ball and chain etc) does in fact demand a replacement vehicle...

 

[BigPapa]

I'd bet you'll find the door broken loose on one side if you remove the screw.

The recirc doors breaking was a common issue in the 3rd Gens. It did require removal of the dash and HVAC housing to repair properly which was VERY expensive. Back when I was at the truck shop and got one of these in, we offered to completely remove the door, which could be done by removing the blower motor if I remember correctly, by simply reaching in and breaking the other end off and pulling it out, for $35 I believe. This option, of course, left you with no recirc option, always on fresh air.

Sounds like the PO opted for the other extreme, always on recirc.

 

[jhenderson]

When the hvac system is removed I’m still betting there’s a dirty wet spot on the heater core.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

I replaced the recirc door in my 03 by removing the blower motor (and glove box). No need to remove the dash or HVAC box. Its tight but the door will go in and out the blower opening.

 

[trust]

Thanks guys. I've heard it can be done in situations but I'll probably do them all if I'm allowed to keep the truck. For now it's all fresh air all the time as I didn't see the screw until I get the door out which broke it... it appears someone tried fixing the broken door with epoxy before the screw...

 

[trust]

In situ darn auto incorrect

 

[cerberusiam]

The door above the fan does not control defrost air, it is the fresh air source or recirc door. The floor\defrost\dash are controlled by 3 more doors buried in the HVAC box, it all has to come out and mostly apart. Blend Door USA for the best solution and do it right.

 

[brucejohnson]

Good luck in the repairs. Start your finger, wrist and elbow dexterity flexes now. Gotta stretch them appendages to their max limits when working in those fun tight spaces. Oh, and don't forget the "vocabulary can" which allows you to yell your favorite feel good words into without attracting much attention.

 

[trust]

Yeah Bruce, dexterity isn't really in my vocabulary however the govt spent alot to teach me the appropriate vocabulary when I was a young impressionable sailor.... sure wish the wife was still working so I could use that training as needed...

Thanks everyone who contributed, I hope that I'll have functional defogging next week when I head north again. If not I'll be sure to whine... I'll be ordering a full set of doors when I overhaul the HVAC system. Blend doors USA the best bet over heater treater?

 

[seafish]

Blend doors USA the best bet over heater treater?

Yup.

 

[Prairie Dog]

You do NOT have to remove the dash or plenum to just replace the recirc door. I broke mine by accident and was able to take the door out of a new housing and install it up through the blower motor hole. It isn't easy but it's doable and just takes time.

 

[cerberusiam]

Yeah, buy a truck in Texas and you don't notice the passenger freezes until you get into the cold weather then find the recirc door completely gone. It falls into the fan and they just toss it. Unfortunate that isn't the one that controls defrost and panel\floor, they are buried along with the 2 blend doors.

 

[Jihn]

Here's what I could find hope it helps

Jihn

 

[trust]

Thanks John it does indeed!

 

[trust]

Jihn