I'm not sure if this is normal for these quirky old cars, so I figured I'd ask before I start tearing into things. (I almost took my door apart once since I couldn't lock it with the door open )

Anyway, my heater works to my expectations for a car that recently had its 40th birthday, but heat only comes out the defrost or floor. I'm guessing that's normal, since the heater panel only says those options. This wouldn't bother me so much but the dash vents ( the round ones on each side, and the rectangular one in the center ) continue to blow cold winter air on my hands while I drive.

Should they blow hot, too? Or should the not blow at all when the heat is on. Just something I found to be rather odd.

That's normal. The air that comes out of the vents in the dash is not heated. With some of the air conditioning set-ups, those vents may be cooled, but they are never heated.

No - that is not normal. The Fresh Air Vents in the Dash should not have air coming though them, when the selector lever is moved to "HEAT".

They should have fresh air coming in only when "VENT" is selected. Fresh air comes in though the cowl - and there is a "flap" or "door" that opens/closes to control the fresh air flow. If you have cold air coming in - something is not allowing that door to close when it should - or the seals on that door are shot, or the cable that controls it may not be adjusted correctly.

It may be time to remove the Blower Assy - clean and reseal the air flow control flaps/doors.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Right... I was just talking about the temperature of the air that was exiting, not the location of the exiting air.

It is normal for the air that comes out of the dash and center vent to be unheated. However, it may not be normal for there to be air coming out of the dash and center vent at all. That depends on the position of the slider on heater controls.

The two outer vents are not connected to the heating system. They are controled by push-pull contols under the dash at either side. I have never had cold air pouring out of the center vent while hot air is coming out of the floor vents or defroster vents.

No - that is not normal. The Fresh Air Vents in the Dash should not have air coming though them, when the selector lever is moved to "HEAT".

They should have fresh air coming in only when "VENT" is selected. Fresh air comes in though the cowl - and there is a "flap" or "door" that opens/closes to control the fresh air flow. If you have cold air coming in - something is not allowing that door to close when it should - or the seals on that door are shot, or the cable that controls it may not be adjusted correctly.

It may be time to remove the Blower Assy - clean and reseal the air flow control flaps/doors.

FWIW,

Carl B.

I was thinking something like that might be the case. Sounds like you're right. There are some other under dash things I wanted to get to anyway. My dash light dimmer doesn't seem to work, nor does my clock. I'll have to wait till its warm enough to bike to work, in case the work isn't done in time. Oh, I could repair the dash cracks, too while Its out, I've been wanting to try the method from that thread here..

Haha

Ah yes. I have the exact same problem. Cold outside air coming out the Center Vent regardless of selector Lever position.

 

Air is directed correctly to Floor and Defroster vents though... so it must be a seal or Flap issue. Time to rip the dash apart...again.