Heat comes through wrong vent
- Thread starter sonicite
- Start date
Natesriv
Lead Foot
does it "leak" through or is it full force?
try cycling through all the positions with the air on full blast... does it move to each?
Try again with air on lowest setting, do you hear any evidence of something binding up?
I'm not sure if our internal air channels are cycled by engine vacuum, or electonic actuators...
try cycling through all the positions with the air on full blast... does it move to each?
Try again with air on lowest setting, do you hear any evidence of something binding up?
I'm not sure if our internal air channels are cycled by engine vacuum, or electonic actuators...
Thanks. It leaks. I don't hear anything binding up. There's not a whole lot of difference in the "leakage" between setting #1 and setting #4. The leak is stronger on #4, but not by a whole lot. Is the heating system supposed to do this? Anyone else having this occur?
Thanks again,
Karen
ahtoxa
New member
Sometimes it is a "designed" feature to have small amounts flow through. I know my Honda the dash vent setting also will slightly defrost my windscreen a bit although I don't have that selected. I just got my Sonic (actually getting tags so driving time very limited to getting inspection) so that's about all I can say.
CheapFuneral
New member
I think they stopped doing vacuum almost 20 years ago
not really 20 years but I haven't seen any recent cars with vacuum lines. They crack and break causing early malfunction.If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
Now they use encoder motors that fail at a much higher rate and cost more to repair than the old systems, but allow more computer control and ease of assembly on the line.
I never paid attention to it but I have noticed that the cubby by the vent seems to get warm even if the mode is set to feet. My guess is that it is working as designed.
I never paid attention to it but I have noticed that the cubby by the vent seems to get warm even if the mode is set to feet. My guess is that it is working as designed.
CheapFuneral
New member
Your right the probably do fail more, but it's more of the unit failing and less of having to track down a crack in 10 hoses. Than after u spent 10 hours finding the leak you can get an hour for diag and .3 for fixing it 
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
mitdr774
also a dinner prick
Not sure where all these cracked hoses you are seeing came from. One of the encoders in my 96 K1500 failed some years ago, yet all the vac lines in my 98 Z24 are still working just fine. I never in 7 years in the dealer came across a cracked vac line, just one that had been pinched by a previous persons repair on something in the dash. I have wasted far more time tracking down damaged encoder wires than I have damaged vac lines.
CheapFuneral
New member
Everything in Florida heat gets brittle and cracks.
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!
Thanks to all who responded. So it sounds like this is normal for the Sonic. As long as it's normal, I'll get used to it. I've been moving the vent to blow away from me, like Natesriv does.
Now that the temperature is dropping in the North East U.S., I'll be using my heat more in the car.
Wish there was a temperature gauge in the car. Another thing I'll get used to. When I feel warm air at my feet, I will assume the car is warmed up!
Karen
Now that the temperature is dropping in the North East U.S., I'll be using my heat more in the car.
Wish there was a temperature gauge in the car. Another thing I'll get used to. When I feel warm air at my feet, I will assume the car is warmed up!
Karen
Palmaris
New member
Not quite!
I have the ultra gauge to tell me the temperature of the engine (basically).
It takes a long time to heat up completely. But you start to feel a bit of heat at about the halfway point. It slowly gets warmer as the temps go higher, but at this point it still feels cold in the car.
Then, suddenly when the temp of the engine hits the max (stops rising), the air coming out of the vents becomes super hot. Its like a blast of hot air that you notice almost immediately. At this point, I need to turn the heat down a bit.
Then you are certain that the engine is at full temp!
I just looked up Ultra Gauge. Sure does a whole lot of things. Thanks for the idea and for your observations about the heat.
Karen
rednitemare
New member
heater air flow
I work at one of the Delphi plant that build some of the ac/heater units for GM. The vents are moved by motors.I will check to see about the air from the dash vents if floor only is selected. My does that also, but airflow is minimal.
I work at one of the Delphi plant that build some of the ac/heater units for GM. The vents are moved by motors.I will check to see about the air from the dash vents if floor only is selected. My does that also, but airflow is minimal.