Pele

iTrader: (28)

So my 1986 GXL blew hot air no matter where I set the temp slider. It was kinda crappy to drive in the 90 deg heat with 100+ deg air blowing on me. I went through all the work of replacing the damn Logicon (I tried a couple.) and it ended up being the heater control air mix motor...

But in taking apart everything, I wondered, has anyone ever had their directional (Vent/Feet/Defrost) air mix motor fail? Has anyone ever had the heater core fail?

How long did it take you to replace? Did you have to pull the dash?

cmanns

I read long ago

The heater core is a pita to remove w/out removing the dash if I recalled.

Oh & my vent/feet/defrost always worked, it probably is your logicon but then again mine was a 91 and yours is a 86....

I hear ya on the hot air, my fb a/c never would engage the compressor so it was hottas hell driving

Pele

iTrader: (28)

No, I mean it was stuck on heat...

I could push the Vent/Feet/ Defrost button and hear the motor moving and the air would change direction.
I could hit recirculate and fresh, and I'd hear that motor move around and the air would change.

But if I slide the heat/cold slider I would NOT hear a motor move.


If you have an FC (Or 1984/1985 GSL or GSL-SE) you should hear the air mix motors move when you have the key on but engine off and you start adjusting the HVAC controls.

cmanns

^Yes I'd always hear it move

So the climate selector in the logicon went out, solved it?

Ah, ever seen one of those automatic fc climate control things? I've seen 1, I wonder which model got those.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

^

No, it was the motor way up in the dash. I tried three logicons before deciding to go for the motor.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

i did! mine sat with some moisture in it for a looooooong time. everything under the dash is rusty!

when i got the car only the blower worked.

the air mix motor was bad on mine too, logicon was actually good (minus a couple of solder joints). the vent (position) motor wasnt working, but upon removal and dissasembly, they had packed it with grease that had run all over the contacts. cleaned it off and it now is fine.

i learned some stuff doing all of this.

1. pulling the dash is easier than getting to this stuff! pulling the dash is maybe 2 hours, it really is only 8-9 bolts. much easier than trying to get the air mix motor in and out.

2. you can plug all this stuff in OUTSIDE the dash, and make sure it works before you put it back. all of the harnesses reach.

3. there is no way you could change the heater core without pulling the dash and EVEN IF YOU COULD IT WOULD BE 10X HARDER.

Pele

iTrader: (28)

^

Great.. I coulda rebuilt that motor, but instead, I threw it out.... Crap.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

maybe, never know... i tried to fix the air mix motor, but it was totally worn out, brushes were dead etc etc...

and

NEVER THROW ANYTHING OUT!

calpatriot

The air mix motors are notorious.

You can actually check its operation without pulling the logicon: remove the cosmetic interior piece on the left side of the console, by the driver's right knee; on your back, with a flashlight, you can see the linkage move (or not) as you move the slider on the logicon. If it doesn't move, you can check the output of the logicon using the procedure in the FSM. If the motor is getting voltage, but not moving, it is time for a new motor.

Did you replace that thing yourself? It looks to me that it would be a very tough job to get it out, and a worse one to get the new one in.

j9fd3s

iTrader: (3)

i did, it wasnt fun. if i have to do it again, i'll either use a coathanger like my neighbor, or pull the dash. being on your back trying to find screw holes you cant see or feel (very well) sucked. i'd rather take an extra 45minutes and have it just be easy