Dash Vents went POP and stopped working

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I'm in Colorado right now (Loveland), and while on the way out here, as I was ascending Vail Pass (with a max elevation of 10,667 feet), there was a POP sound around 9400 feet, and at that point, the only air that comes out of the dash vents now is from the defroster vents. No more air out of the regular vents or down below where the heater vents are.

I'm wondering if the altitude has caused a hose or something to pop off? Or could there be a fuse someplace that I haven't found (been looking all over)? This is bafflig. I pulled the glovebox out, as the sound appears to have originated from that area of the dash, but it looks like I'll have a LOT more work to do to get the dash apart to get in there.

Any ideas?

Rob
- 96 RAM 3500

 

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My '96 did exactly the same thing. An actuator with a rubber diaphragm popped due to oil eating thru the rubber because of the earlier check valve recall problem. It should have been covered under warranty but I like to do my own work so I replaced it myself. You probably need P/N 04720279. You only need to pull the part of the lower dashboard under the steering wheel and you can reach and remove it from there. Manual says to remove more but not necessary. It controls the door that directs the air. When it's broken it drops into the defrost only position. Hope this helps.

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Ron

'96 Club Cab 2500 4x4, 4:10LS, Auto, BD Pressure Loc, Mystery Switch,TST 230/605, Cummins Chrome, Mag-Hytec rear and trans covers, Boost, Pyro and trans gauges, Optima Red Tops, All black. Tow 14k HitchHiker triple glide 5th Whl. Also use 9. 5' Lance. NRA Life Member.

 

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check out recall #720, it concerns oil in the vacum system and replacement of all vacum components that are contaminated. This recall also has with it an 7 year unlimited mileage warranty on those affected compnents. They replaced almost everthing on mine including cruise control stuff and all the A/C stuff.
Check out Fritz's Ram page in the links section for more info. My dealer didnt know any thing about it untill I pushed him to check into it and gave him the Recall numbers and the warranty number and then he did the whole thing
Good Luck
John

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96 SLT Laramie CC 5spd, 3. 54, no muff, no cat 80gal fuel capacity.
Member NRA/USPSA

 

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Thanks guys! I called the local dealer and they checked my VIN in the computer... sadly, it doesn't appear to need that recall.

They did have the part in stock... $36. Guess I'll pick it up in the morning.

Rob

 

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check directly under your ashtray you will feel a lot of small tubing and a small manifold, check to see fi any of the hoses popped off, I was under there the other day and figured out the system, sounds like that might be your problem. High altitude could have very well done that.

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TAZ... 2001 2500 SLT+ 4X4 Auto ETC Cummins, LSD 3. 54,Quad Cab, Long Bed, Agate Leather, White/Driftwood Exterior, Sliding rear window, Camper Special Group, Towing Group, Cab clearance lights, Diesel Dynamics Stage-3's, DD Boost Module,SPA-Technique Digital Dual Gauges (Pyro/Boost, Trans pressure/temp) Aux. Backup lamps. BNM 5th Wheel Hitch, Additional Body Molding on Bed.

2000 32' Aljo Triple Slide 5th Wheel.

http://www.ramtaz.com

Add on's to come: Exhaust Brake, Torq-Loc, Line-X bed-liner, and any other Ram Runner required modification...

 

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Same thing happened to me. The vacuum line in the engine bay fell on the turbo and melted in half.

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2000 24V HO, 6-speed, Flame Red, Agate leather, 3500 QC, 4X4, SLT+, 4:10's, LSD, AMSOIL Filter, S. S. nerf bars, Line-x.

 

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RobG, It seems to me if you had the selection switch on defrost when it popped, it would be a vaccum line. But if you had it in another positon(panel) and it went to defrost it would be an actuator.

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Missouri Mule 96 White 4X4 ST club cab,(grey int. ),5 spd, 3. 54 reg dif, 8 ft bed, 1 ft high cheater boards, front and side of bed,Pofile V bug shield,
99 Freight liner FL60 blue Cummins 24v 215 hp, 520 torgue,6 spd 3. 59 no spin rear, 16 ft dry box (white) 19. 5 low profile tires,Weight 11,000, gvw 23000, 11 to 12 mpg
Bill Thomas (Wild Bill)

 

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I had it set to regular vent mode, not defrost. I haven't had a chance to try to fix it yet, but at least I have the part now in case I need it.

The truck is in the shop today gettin the pump re-timed and a set of 230hp injectors installed, among other things.

Thanks for the tips!

Rob

 

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Update:

Installed that part on Friday, only to discover that it didn't fix the problem, AND I also broke one of the tabs off of the white plastic thing that it connects to, so I'm going to have to replace THAT part too. I think you have to remove most of the dash to get to it.

I couldn't find any vacuum lines directly under the ashtray, but I did see another part similar to the one I replaced behind that little plastic kickpanel, with lines going to it. They were all in place.

I also disassebled the top part of the dash to trace the lines up to the climate control knobs, and they appear to still be in place.

Any other ideas? I may have to remove my custom center console (not a simple task) to go any farther.

Rob