Center Vents...no air!

[xtremeskier97]

Anyone ever had this problem and fixed it? I cant seem to find out what the problem is...but I never get air out of the center vents of my XLE (one of the problems I knew I was going to have to fix when I bought it). Im in the process of getting the a/c working again and I want the center vents to work properly.

Ive searched and come across a couple threads about people with the same/similar problems...but no solutions.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated....as its getting hotter than you know where here!


Oh...and I have tested the control unit in the dash and it is working to specification. I get continuity where I am supposed to for each selection on the switch. And I have the push button type on my XLE BTW.

[ASG14]

Do you know if the motor that controls the center vents is working? That would be the 1st thing I'd look at.

[xtremeskier97]

Ive taken quite a bit of the lower dash parts off, including the glove box. Ive gotten under there and hit each button, and the motor that controls the vents seems to be switching fine.....it's just that it never comes out of the center vents...like a damper is stuck or something? All the positions seem to work except the center vents. This is the push button type...I kindof wish it was the lever, as that's just a cable and an easy fix.

Anything else to check before having to tear my WHOLE dash out just to get the unit out and check the dampers?

[toyomoho]

The system would have electric or vacuum powered doors that move when an air distribution selection is made. The issue could be the door is not moving.

[xtremeskier97]

It's electric. No vacuum lines.

How hard is it to get into the unit to see if the door is stuck?

I just dont see how it could be stuck if the servomotor is moving about correctly. Would that mean that something that connects the servomotor to the door/flap is broken inside?

[ASG14]

^ That was going to be the next thing I'd say, is that something inside it broke.

[toyomoho]

Have never done the job, thus just going on the manual.

There may be 2 electric servomotors, air inlet and air outlet. Removing the glove compartment, ECU and ECU bracket accesses the air inlet servo. This motor should be held in place by 2 screws.

Access to the outlet servomotor appears to be by removing the instrument panel lower finished panel and ductwork. 2 screws hold the motor assy in. This panel appears to be the below the steering column. You will need to remove the complete ashtray holder (2 screws), plus 2 screws that are hidden behind little plastic finish tabs on the finish panel front and 2 more exposed screws.

Remove panel the air duct to expose motor.

[xtremeskier97]

Yeah...I have the Chiltons, Haynes, and the downloaded PDF. Ive already check the inlet servomotor and its working fine. I can see it move properly when selected. The outlet servomotor moves also when selecting the different settings. The only thing I can think is that something that connects the servomotor to the flapper/door is broken and it's not moving the door/flapper inside the unit.

I might just have to go to the junkyard and pull one apart to see how hard it is and how to do it. The bad thing is that it is Memorial Day weekend, the yards are already closed today, wont be open tomorrow, and may not be open on Monday either....and I work from 4:30am to 5:00pm during the week....so it will be another week without air conditioner.

And BTW...its in the mid 90s here with heat index near or at 100 degrees. I need this fixed BAD!!

[jayjay86]

Yeah, I'm also having the same problem with the center vents. The air mainly comes out of the defroster vents and the leg area. I have a 1993 camry le.

[xtremeskier97]

Do you have the lever type controls or push button type like me?

[xtremeskier97]

Well Ive taken out the whole blower unit and that was a real PITA. Im going to clean it up since I have it out.

The thing is, the outlet servomotor (which controls the vents inside the car) moves to different positions when the different buttons are pressed, but I cant tell if they are moving to the correct position or not. The pictures in the manuals are not what mine looks like that I can tell. Ive got A LOT of stuff taken out of the car, but would have to take even MORE out to get the a/c unit out to take it apart and check the dampers.

Does anyone know of ANY way I can check the dampers WITHOUT taking my whole dash out to take the a/c unit out?

Please...I REALLY dont want to have to do that!

[ASG14]

Wait, I just had a stupid thought........Can't you see the "block off" piece for the vent when you remove the main dash trim that holds the vents???? It;s been a while sinc eI last did it, so I forgot. Then you can see if it;s actually moving ot not.

[xtremeskier97]

You talking about a silver looking mesh thing way back in the center vents? If so, yes....I can see that. I wasnt aware that it was the part that moved. I thought that thing was a filter or something.

Is it really the part that is supposed to move? I wish I could see a really good breakdown of what actually moves inside the unit and where it connects. Out of the 3 manuals I have..NONE have this.

[ASG14]

You have the factory manual though?

[xtremeskier97]

I have the Chiltons, Haynes, AND the downloaded PDF.

And on that silver looking mesh thing we are talking about...is it supposed to go down (so that it wouldnt be visible) in order for the air to come through the center vents?