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Spirit Blowing Hot Air Through Vents |
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SeanHatfield
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/15/2015 Location: Plymouth, IN Status: Offline Points: 459 |
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Posted: May/24/2016 at 10:14am |
Ever since I have owned my Spirit, it has always blown hot air through the vents without the heat or vent being on. It's been a minor annoyance, but now as the temperatures are rising and I want to get it out to stretch its legs, it has become something I want to get taken care of. It has the 151 4 cylinder and originally had air, but it was taken off before I received the car. I'm thinking it has to do with the heater control valve, but I'm not exactly sure. Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks, Sean
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304-dude
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/29/2008 Location: Central Illinoi Status: Offline Points: 9081 |
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ok, since I am familiar with 73 air/heating and stretching my knowledge with assumption, the issue is with the heater valve. Either the seal is bad and allowing unrestricted flow when the valve is closed. or your vacuum vent switch is bleeding or allowing vacuum instead of releasing it when off. it is also possible that the vacuum line T was not implemented in directing vacuum to the vacuum switch and is bypassing the switch operation. Thus constant heating operation.
Edited by 304-dude - May/24/2016 at 11:56am |
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71 Javelin SST body
390 69 crank, 70 block & heads NASCAR SB2 rods & pistons 78 Jeep TH400 w/ 2.76 Low 50/50 Ford-AMC Suspension 79 F150 rear & 8.8 axles Ford Racing 3.25 gears & 9" /w Detroit locker |
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401harry
AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/27/2011 Location: Clearwater,Fl Status: Offline Points: 758 |
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Yes probably the valve. One way to be sure is to disconnect the hoses going into the valve/heater core and use one of those male to male adapters from the auto parts store and bypass the whole setup. I have no need for heat down here and keep mine like that on all my old AMCs but you could easy hook it back up for winter if needed
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uncljohn
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/03/2013 Location: Peoria AZ Status: Offline Points: 5394 |
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The Spirit had a heater control valve on the engine side of the firewall which turned off the hot water when the A/C was on.
So two things. Either when the A/C was removed, the heater lines were hooked directly up to the heater core at the fire wall eliminating the valve OR the valve is stuck in the on position never turning the heat off. Both are possible unfortunately that heater control valve is made of unobtainium. And no longer available as a repair item. |
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70 390 5spd Donohue
74 Hornet In restoration 76 Hornet, 5.7L Mercury Marine Power 80 Fuel Injected I6 Spirit 74 232 I-6, 4bbl, 270HL Isky Cam |
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SeanHatfield
AMC Nut Joined: Oct/15/2015 Location: Plymouth, IN Status: Offline Points: 459 |
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I will have to grab myself a TSM for an 81 and look up the order the hoses were supposed to be hooked up first so that I don't spend an eternity and a good chunk of change on a heater valve only to find out that I didn't need it. Thanks to the both of you for your replies. Hopefully this gets sorted out soon!
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rons
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Dec/10/2014 Location: Tucson AZ Status: Offline Points: 194 |
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Sean, I am a purist, so I try to use original parts when ever possible. However, I would advise not using the original AMC heater valve... I tried two for my '78/ 232, and both leaked when the thermostat opened. Oreillys set me up with and all "plastic" GM style(Murray 74612) that is fully sealed. As UJ said the hoses could be reversed or incorrectly installed, the vacuum line that goes to the valve is disconnected or not "sucking" the valve closed. That can be due to a leak, or the button switch on the heater control assembly is defective. Also, check the vacuum line to the "storage tank" near the heater core hose inlet/outlets.
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uncljohn
AMC Addicted Joined: Jan/03/2013 Location: Peoria AZ Status: Offline Points: 5394 |
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Thanks for the tip on this. Living here in the SW, a heater has not really been needed during the winter. Winter here is when the temperature does not get to 100 degrees, so I bypassed the heater when the core began to leak. The replacement core has been sitting in my round tuit shelf for 5 years now. I think I will scare up one of these valves and go ahead and install the core and get both AC and Heat back in the car. I went through I think about 2 or 3 of these valves after I finished the restoration of my Spirit to be used as a daily driver, the word restoration being used some what tongue in cheek as about the only thing really original once restored was the rear axle. The original 2.53:1 final drive still running reliably after 15 years of driving the heck out of the car and two cross country road trips for national conventions. |
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70 390 5spd Donohue
74 Hornet In restoration 76 Hornet, 5.7L Mercury Marine Power 80 Fuel Injected I6 Spirit 74 232 I-6, 4bbl, 270HL Isky Cam |
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rons
Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Dec/10/2014 Location: Tucson AZ Status: Offline Points: 194 |
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BTW, they are available at Rock Auto parts. About $8.
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