No heat or A/C to floor.

[Prairie Dog]

No matter how I have the "Mode control" set, heat and A/C will not come out on the floor. If I set it to floor only, a tiny amount comes out on the floor but 95% comes out through the defroster. In any other position, including both of the "max A/C" settings, air only comes out the dash. Does anybody else's truck do this?

Can any of the Dodge techs out there tell me what they think is going on?

 

[DBVZ]

Sounds like something your dealer ought to be pleased to charge DC to fix for you.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

My suspicion would be that one of the valve control vacuum hoses slipped off somewhere, since they are pneumatically actuated.



Has it been this way since new, or just started?



How well did your HVAC system work before it started acting up? How was temp control? I read that the Dual Zone system in the Laramie didn't work that well because it was super sensitive and only a slight lever adjustment sent it from too cold to too hot.



Vaughn

 

[Casey Balvert]

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie

My suspicion would be that one of the valve control vacuum hoses slipped off somewhere, since they are pneumatically actuated.



... ... ... .....

Vaughn

Vaughn, I believe the 03 HVAC doors are operated by electric motors.



Casey

 

[Prairie Dog]

I suspect it's been that way since new and I don't have the dual zone thing (SLT). It's always been easy to regulate the cab temps. I know what your thinking "How could it take 4 months to notice something like that?" I always use either the dash or the def, but I finally turned it on floor only (cold toes) and noticed nothing was happening down there but the cab was burning up. I have to admit that I've noticed in the past that my legs didn't seem to warm up very quickly.

The controls are electric, not a distribution of vac. hoses as in the past. Not sure if the motors are elect too.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Can someone out there do me a favor and run their heat on "floor only" and check if most of it comes out the defrost?

Thanks in advance,

Scotty

 

[Big MAK]

It's a bug

DC is working on a fix.



I turned mine in for warranty fix on this item -- I told them in heater modes there's a 90% bias to defrost no matter the setting -- and they told me it was a known problem and DC was trying to work out a fix.



I'm kinda curious if all the 1500s since last year have this same problem. This will be a HUGE fix.



I suspect the duct work is screwed up.



It really is extremely annoying; your feet are freezing but you have to turn the temp down to breathe with all the heat blowing in your face.



But if this is the only real bug I find in the new model I'll be happy; there's gonna be a few in any new model.

 

[Prairie Dog]

AAAAAkkk , My worst possible fear!

Thanks Big Mack for the info. , I really appreciate it.



Scotty

 

[Prairie Dog]

Good news, it seems Dodge has a fix for this now. My dealer(Bellevue Dodge, WA. ) contacted the STAR bunch at Chrysler and was told to replace several components. The only down side is it will take about 2 weeks to get the parts.

 

[Beer Man]

Prairie Dog, when you get some more info could you pass it on please! I've always noticed something wasn't right with mine. Went by the dealer today, service manager came right out and popped the hood. He said in the older trucks there was a black box attached to the fire wall. There was a y with vacuum lines. He said all that was done was replace the vacuum hose. However, the 03 isn't like that. He said they would have to drop the column and pull the dash. I'm not real crazy about this, so any info you might have would be helpful before i let them tear my truck apart.





03 3500, white, SRW, LWB, 4x4, SLT, HO, 6 spd.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I'll be happy to let everyone know what comes of this. With the way service is these day's, I was just happy they admitted there's a problem!

More info in 2 weeks

Scotty

 

[Big MAK]

Had a nice chat with Chrysler Corp Customer service. They're saying the computer that controls the cab/dash isn't telling the the vents to open properly and they're working on a new program to fix it. Don't know if it's true; that's what they said. It was single digits today and my feet are still numb. Let us know how it goes prairie dog. We'll be able to put the stories together and get the bottom line.

 

[sag2]

In floor, mine blows 95% to the floor and maybe 5% to the defroster. Always has.

Never noticed anything different with my 02 1500 2wd, or the 03 1500 4x4 I had before the diesel. It just takes a long time to warm up. BTW, I have dual zone HVAC.

 

[MattSt]

It must be something that goes bad because mine started doing it Monday and it's been fine for almost 3 months. My feet are freezing. Weird thing is, it's only on the drivers side. Passengers are getting heat on the floor, and of course complaining it's hot.



I have to go to the dealer to get a stupid air filter anyway because no one else carries them. So I can just make em look at it then.

 

[dtempleton]

Just repaired an 03 Ram with the heat problem. 90% to defrost and 10% to the floor. Had to pull the HVAC housing, the heat/defrost door was broken at the pivot for the acuator. Seems the acuator is to strong for the plastic door. Hope this helps. Took over 2weeks to get the part. Good luck Dan

 

[Casey Balvert]

Originally posted by MattSt

It must be something that goes bad because mine started doing it Monday and it's been fine for almost 3 months. My feet are freezing. Weird thing is, it's only on the drivers side. Passengers are getting heat on the floor, and of course complaining it's hot.



I have to go to the dealer to get a stupid air filter anyway because no one else carries them. So I can just make em look at it then.

Genos carries the air filters. Might want to check the price before shelling out to the dealer.



Casey

 

[MattSt]

Originally posted by Casey Balvert

Genos carries the air filters. Might want to check the price before shelling out to the dealer.



Casey

$25. 95 at Genos and $31. 26 at the dealer. They of course gave me the wrong one and I have to go back. But I really would like to know why the filter for the 94-02 trucks that is BIGGER is half price?



Before the next change hopefully someone will have a complete cold air kit out and I can just get one of those with a washable filter.

 

[Casey Balvert]

I think the Geno's filter is a Mopar. They just sell it for less. I will know for sure when I pick mine up a the shipper. I would expect that the price will drop when Fleetguard starts making them. I wanted to have one on hand in the meantime.



Casey

 

[Prairie Dog]

Thanks Dan, it sounds like my dealers on the rite track. Another week and the parts s/b in.

 

[dtempleton]

Prairie Dog, We sell alot of the Dodge CTD and this is the only one we have seem. It really isn't that bad of a job. I just hope this isn't going to be a problem. Keep your fingers crossed. Dan