VT Climate Control (Vacuum??) Problem?

[Zeussy]

Hey Everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has had a problem similar too, or the same as this..

My neighbour has a VT Berlina, with Climate Control, and under heavy acceleration/up hills etc.. The fan will change from being directed at your face/feet to up on the windscreen, and will stay that way, until you back off, or the hill ends, so its not under as much load..

So, to me, Im thinking that it has to do with a vacuum line, being half crimped/bent, or the control/switch thing - where all the vacuum lines meet?

Being my neighbours car, It's not really practical to just pull out the entire dash looking for a crimped vacuum line? or something that looks amiss under there..



The climate control did have the problem with the variable resistor thing, where the power transistor burns out.. That there is a thread on in the 'HOW TO' section, and I have since fixed that side of it, but this problem has always been there as well..




Does any one have any ideas what this could be, or where I should start looking??!!!

[accentstencil]

There is a thin vacuum hose which connects at the rear of the intake manifold. Check to see if it is on properly and also check the one way valve which is on that hose.

[Zeussy]

Ahh ok.. Yeah i'll check that out tomorrow, then report back!!!

I suppose its a possibility that it could've got bumped or damaged from some one working on the car previously, just not seated/sealed properly, perished, or a sticky one way/check valve, etc.. (I haven't done much work under the bonnet really, yet.. touch wood!)

To check the valve, do I just blow/suck in the hose, and it shouldn't let any air - blow, into it? yeah? lol

[accentstencil]

To check the valve, do I just blow/suck in the hose, and it shouldn't let any air - blow, into it? yeah? lol

Correct, you should be able to blow through one end of the valve but not the other.

[snoopin99]

Hi guys, my climate system is doing the exact same thing, i checked the supply line & one way valve, all workin fine! I guess it will be a leaky vacuum actuator inside the divertor box. (Be buggered if i am pulling the whole unit out!)

[Zeussy]

Yeah, I checked the vacuum line, no kinks etc, sealed on the manifold nicely and not crimped around where it goes through the fire wall, and the one way valve, works in one direction only, and isn't stuck closed..

Is the 'divertor box' the big thing thats at the base of the fire wall/transmission hump?? If so, that'd be a prick to get to, to fix.. AARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Just getting at the variable speed control unit required the passenger side of the dash to be pulled out..




Any more idea's anyone?? I might try ring Holden and speak to one of the Mechanics over there, see if they've had this problem too??

[snoopin99]

Yes, it contains the flaps that move to divert the air flow (face/feet/demist) They all run from the vacuum supplied from that hose. If one of the actuators has a small leak, it will spring back to resting position when no vacuum supply is present (wide open throttle). I too have done the fan speed controller, that is nothing compared to removing this beast! It's a problem that can stay a problem if that is what it's going to take to fix!

[accentstencil]

Yeah, I checked the vacuum line, no kinks etc, sealed on the manifold nicely and not crimped around where it goes through the fire wall, and the one way valve, works in one direction only, and isn't stuck closed..

Is the 'divertor box' the big thing thats at the base of the fire wall/transmission hump?? If so, that'd be a prick to get to, to fix.. AARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!

Just getting at the variable speed control unit required the passenger side of the dash to be pulled out.


Any more idea's anyone?? I might try ring Holden and speak to one of the Mechanics over there, see if they've had this problem too??

It could be the Vacuum Solenoid Pack, I've seen a few people on here that have had to replace it.

[Zeussy]

It could be the Vacuum Solenoid Pack, I've seen a few people on here that have had to replace it.

Ahh kk,

Is there a way to test if its that? like can you power up each control can check it that way??

And you wouldn't happen to know where its located would you??!! Behind the centre console dash fascia bit, near the climate control screen?

I'm guessing that'd be a pricey unit if it is that?


EDIT: Thanks again for your help!!

[accentstencil]

Ahh kk,

Is there a way to test if its that? like can you power up each control can check it that way??

And you wouldn't happen to know where its located would you??!! Behind the centre console dash fascia bit, near the climate control screen?

I'm guessing that'd be a pricey unit if it is that?


EDIT: Thanks again for your help!!

I don't know of a way to test it but you could check all the hoses connected to it. No idea on price, although in one post I read, they paid $130 for one for a VS.

[Zeussy]

Ah cool, just read that pic. By the sounds of the article it could also be the vacuum tank not storing the vacuum for the times where theres minimal vacuum available - at full throttle...

And I rang Holden earlier today, speaking to another Mechanic, and his opinion was that it would be the Vacuum Modulator - (as he called it, im thinking its the same thing that you said?? the Vacuum Solenoid Pack)

He was saying 9/10 times it's that, but he couldn't guarantee that'd be it with out seeing it.
Wish I read your post earlier - I would've asked him if they have had any cars that the vacuum tanks needed replacing/resealing..

For the Vacuum Modulator - Soleniod Pack? there are two types, they changed them from the 27/09/99.
Anything built before that date, the Trade price I got $107.70
And anything built after that date, the Trade price I got $81.40

So I'm hoping thats a good price, sounds like it'd be average from what you mentioned. (Guessing that other figure was RRP?)

Told my Neighbour all this news, and she said go for it. For $80 its worth having a go, but wait till next week payday.
So will post back and let you know how I go, hopefully its this, and not the Vacuum tank,

I might even check if the Vacuum tank will hold vacuum?
Do you think I could just suck on it, lol, and hold my breath to see if it will hold some Vacuum?!
And do you know where its located by any chance?

Thanks again for your help accentstencil, it is highly appreciated!

[accentstencil]

I think you can get to the vacuum tank by removing the glove box. If the tank is easy to remove you could test it by holding it under water and blowing air into it, any leak will be seen as bubbles.

[Jom]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. Did you have any luck fixing this issue Zeussy? I now have the same problem, only mine is always directed at the windscreen, rather than only when under load... (mine is the series 1 vx belina)

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[makavel]

i am also interested as when my vt berlina 1999 i have it on the climate control on the face it comes out but then switches to the windscreen and the back even when driving on cruise control. But then when i have it selected on face and feet it only comes out on the feet and not the face ??

[IvanTheTerrible]

Climate control uses a bank of vacumn solenoids to convert the electrical info to the vacumn for the flaps. This stuffs up and stops it selecting the correct vent position,
If the selection changes under acceleration it usuall means a vacumn leak.

[lufkin]

i too have this problem i have a vt calais, someone said it could be the vacuum pack under the glove box? does this sound right, looks to be like a little box rectangle in shape and has all different colored hoses going into it, was told calais use this as its electronic rather then manual dials, does this sound right before i spend money?

[Zeussy]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. Did you have any luck fixing this issue Zeussy? I now have the same problem, only mine is always directed at the windscreen, rather than only when under load... (mine is the series 1 vx belina)

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Ohh, forgot about this thread/problem...!

My neighbour hasn't been complaining about it lately so it has sort of slipped down the list of things to do, lol, we were going to do it 'next week' like ages ago, but haven't thought about it any more..?

i am also interested as when my vt berlina 1999 i have it on the climate control on the face it comes out but then switches to the windscreen and the back even when driving on cruise control. But then when i have it selected on face and feet it only comes out on the feet and not the face ??

Sounds like it could be a similar problem, I rang Holden a while back when this thread was started and the 'head technician' more or less said that 99% of the vaccuum problems originate from the vaccuum solenoids, but "wouldn't guaruntee" that it'd fix the problem...

Climate control uses a bank of vacumn solenoids to convert the electrical info to the vacumn for the flaps. This stuffs up and stops it selecting the correct vent position,
If the selection changes under acceleration it usuall means a vacumn leak.

Yes, this is true, basically any of the components to the vaccuum side of it, either one of the acuators, or the vaccuum tank, or the solenoids etc could be causing it...

But, again the holden tech said it'l probly be the vaccuum solenoid bank causing the leak/problem.

i too have this problem i have a vt calais, someone said it could be the vacuum pack under the glove box? does this sound right, looks to be like a little box rectangle in shape and has all different colored hoses going into it, was told calais use this as its electronic rather then manual dials, does this sound right before i spend money?

Yep thats the vaccuum solenoid bank in question here, apparently you just replace that unit and it "should" fix/help the problems, but I haven't tried it yet.

The upmarket models all got the 'climate control' whereas the base models were left with the manual turn dials, which is what I have!! wooohooo!!! No guessing games for me!

[makavel]

so what do you guys recommend i buy to take to my mechanic to get it fixed ? and how much are the parts roughly ?

thanks

[Zeussy]

so what do you guys recommend i buy to take to my mechanic to get it fixed ? and how much are the parts roughly ?



thanks

These are the two prices I got a while back, (trade) not sure how much of a discount was on that - if any?!


There are two types, they changed them from the 27/09/99.
Anything built before that date, the Trade price I got $107.70
And anything built after that date, the Trade price I got $81.40



And not too sure how much a Mechanic would charge to fit one, I don't think its a 'hard' job, just takes a little bit of time and patience..


I'm not sure if it would fix your problem or not, but you could always try it and let us know?!!! lol

[makavel]

i am almost tempted to leave it are there any negative effects if i just choose to leave it ?

[Zeussy]

Only negative effects would be not having the flow of air to where you want or need it.

Its not really related to anything itself, more a completely different system. Like its not going to hurt your engine, or damage other parts of your dash/interior. Might progressively get a little worse - ie. not being able to select any functions, with it staying on only one at all times (thats worst case scenario though, most likely won't get any worse!)

[Fiddler100]

I have just had the Vacuum Master solenoid replaced again to my 98 Calais after 4 years at a cost of $300 by a Holden workshop. I was also told that I need 2 accuators which are on back order. I managed to source 2 of these and had them fitted by the same workshop. I bought the units for $55 each and it would have cost me $220 to have fitted if I hadn't negotiated a cheaper price. Well guess what it is still changing direction after spending $450. A holden mechanic said he has blocked off the vacuum line in his wife's car to one of the accuators during summer so that the air remains on the face. I am not spending anymore money but hope to find a way to fit a control wire so that I can control the air my self.

[Outrune]

Sorry to dig up an old thread. Did you have any luck fixing this issue Zeussy? I now have the same problem, only mine is always directed at the windscreen, rather than only when under load... (mine is the series 1 vx belina)

Any help would be greatly appreciated

If the air permanently comes out of the windscreen vents, it's usually a broken vacuum hose.

[stevoss]

in the manual is says that under lack of vacuum, it will revert to facing the windscreen/ heater and flow through of air to the cabin.

[kalekale]

I drove around to Holden today and it was going to be $60-$120 just to see what was wrong with it.