72 heater problem

[richard1]

I read the previous treads on the subject and I will go right to my particular problem which is a ventilation one.

The top lever is pushed to the far right and is supposed to close the fresh air vent.

The lever close but with some restriction.(the cables are not bent)

There is still cold air coming from the side and center outlets which seems that there is no recirculation as supposed to be.

Some months ago, the original heater motor's squirrel cage partially desintegrated. I replaced with the Honda unit that blowed so strong that the broken parts of the original squirrel cage went up to the side vents. As far as I think, no other broken pieces may still be in the system.

Now is what seems curious to me:

Three months ago, My car has been repainted and the top cowl grill has been removed. It makes sense that the air intake is on the passenger side but is covered with some material that feel like a rubber kidney but is now orange as the original color of the car.

When I look at the parts book, there is nothing related to a part like that over the square hole I can see as this air intake in the original Datsun parts book.

Is it possible that my problem can come from a protective masking to keep off paint fumes to come in the air intake when it has been repainted and the body shop forgot to remove it?

The car is fully original and former concours before a collision back in 2005.

[MikeW]

Air from the blower only comes out the center center vent, the defroster vents blowing up on the windshield, and the floor vents. The two side "eyeball" vents only bring fresh air in from the outside and are opened and closed by the knob beneath them. Can you post pictures of the mysterious rubber kidney? The only thing that comes to mind is the bag that keeps water off of the wiper motor.

[EScanlon]

Mike:

The two "eyeball" vents ARE part of the Fresh Air Vent system that blow in tandem with the Center Vent. If someone before you got creative and plumbed the Dash Side Ventilator (secondary air vents) up in the upper corners of the kick panel to your eyeball vents, then that is unique to your car. The knobs you refer to operate independently of each other and ONLY operate that side's Ventilator...and the exit for the air is up high. Take your shoes off and you'll feel it on your toes.

The Forced Ventilator Nozzle (Nissan's name for the eyeballs) vent air ONLY when the top lever is in the VENT position.

That the top lever is still allowing air to circulate through the center and side vents indicates that there is either something catching in the flap inside the heater plenum or that the spring/flap gasket is catching inside the plenum. it could also be that the Fresh Air Flap Valve / Gate (in front of the Heater Blower and just below the Fresh Air Inlet) is catching. Can't say for sure that it's due to debris from the prior squirrel cage, but that would be easy enough to check. Remove the blower and you should see the flapper valve directly.

You are correct on the "rubber kidney" as that is the protective bag that goes over the wiper motor. It's not unusual to see it get painted when they repaint the car as many bodyshops don't take the time to either mask it or to remove it.

The Fresh Air Inlet however, is further to the passenger side than the location of the wiper motor. If you were to remove the cowl, and look towards the right hand side support for the firewall / cowl bucket separator you'll see a "mushroom" style cap that covers the Fresh Air Inlet. The Fresh Air Inlet also has a raised edge from the floor of the Cowl Bucket to prevent water from sloshing inside.

E

[MikeW]

Mike:

The two "eyeball" vents ARE part of the Fresh Air Vent system that blow in tandem with the Center Vent. If someone before you got creative and plumbed the Dash Side Ventilator (secondary air vents) up in the upper corners of the kick panel to your eyeball vents, then that is unique to your car. The knobs you refer to operate independently of each other and ONLY operate that side's Ventilator...and the exit for the air is up high. Take your shoes off and you'll feel it on your toes.

You're absolutely right. I don't know what I was thinking.

[EScanlon]

No worries, we all have our moments.

E