First off, new here. Just bought a 2000 Dodge Dakota club cab four months ago after owning a Chevy Blazer for a number of years before. I found forums like these to be a great help when I was working on my Blazer and I am hoping that the same thing happens here; by the looks of it there is a great amount of help/suggestions here.

On to the issue...The vent not working has been irritating me since I purchased the truck. Defrost is fine, floor vents are fine, but no dash vents. I am hoping for an easy fix, wouldn't we all, that does not entail me taking the entire dashboard off. From reading through my Chilton's it looks like I have to take everything off to get to the ventilation system, This includes the steering wheel, etc.

I think this may be necessary because it seems to me that there is a valve door/swing door that is not activating. However, I was also told that it may just be a faulty vacuum seal that is not allowing the air to be rerouted. This seems like an easier fix, but I wanted to get some specialty advice from owners of the same model of vehicle in an attempt to get all of the possible problems and solutions.

Thank you in advance.

 

It may be even easier than a door or actuator. Turn the HVAC **** to "OFF" then start the truck, run it at idle for about minute then shut it off. Make sure everything is off (like the radio) so it is quiet.

Turn the HVAC **** to panel. Do you hear anything? Any hiss?

I'm thinking you have a bad vacuum line to the control head, or the check valve by the power booster has failed (in the thin hard line).

Without vacuum, the doors default to "defrost."

 

I could hear what appeared to be a "hissing" that you described. Do you have any suggestions on the fix?

 

If you hear hissing the control head at least has some vacuum.

Gaining access to the actuators themselves is not easy as you are aware. The floor/defrost door actuator is by the drivers foot. Look up above it, maybe with a mirror, you should see another actuator. That's the one. It will have red/brown hoses going to it.

If you can, supplying vacuum to both should send the air to the panel vents only.

 

On my '99, there is a vacuum line under the dash on the driver's side, just right of the pedal. Make sure that the line is connected and pushed all the way in. If it isn't, it will change between the floor and dash vents.

 

I second this, also I had a leak in the seal of the controller on the dash, took it apart and just put new grease on the place where the vac hoses rubber and plastic meet. Its supposed to be white lithium grease but I used crisco cuz I didnt know better.

 

My 2001 Dodge 1500 switched back and forth as you drive down the road.....I checked the hoses above the pedal and all seem to be ok....where do I look now?

 

Waltom,

If your doors are vacuum operated there should be a check valve. It should be in the line by the master cylinder, a small hard line connects to it.

When it's bad, as you step on the gas and lose vacuum the doors shift position.

 

For info on what 00DakDan is talking about click on my Sig below to see good pic's on this... this may help you

 

I was having that problem on my '97. First thing I thought of was the check valve, so I replaced it. But it didn't fix the problem. It turned out that the vacuum hose had come disconnected from the vacuum reservoir under the cowl, at the base of the windshield.