help with A/C vents

[gottavecalaisv]

Hi all, i have a VY Calais with dual zone climate control and today we were driving in a 100 zone with the climate control on and also cruise set at 100km/h as soon as we came to a slight hill or steepish hill the car kept constant speed but the air con stopped blowing air from the face vents and blew air from the front demist vents only. this all went back to normal when the road flattened out again but happened agaion at every rise in the road? could it be a vacuum related problem? if so where do i start to look for the problem?






An update today after having my 90000klm service i asked them to diagnose and fix the above problem with my vents. They said it is the mode actuator part number GM92140681 $60.99 plus about $250!!!! for fitting as it is behind the dash somewhere?? they didn't have one in stock and said there are none in Australia. Apparently they get a list every month of what stock is coming in from i presume overseas from GM so i have to wait until the 1st october to see if the part comes in.

The car (VY Calais) has auto climate control.

Does anyone know where exactly the part is located in the car as i can see two white vacuum operated things below the centre console behind the radio,is that what the part is or somewhere else?

Also does anybody know where i can try to get the part and maybe fit it myself as i am pretty handy.

[06vzcalais]

try the likes of repco or such stores maybe even an aircon servicing shop

[BrAdAsS]

Tried a wreckers?

[gottavecalaisv]

i would prefer to buy new, does anyone know where the part is behind the dash?

[shaggerz]

I had this same problem in my VS - could not tell you for sure if the cause is similar in the VY, but fixed my VS for free by taking out the climate control vacuum solenoid pack (possibly what Holden are calling the mode actuator) and re-touching the solder joints on each valve. Problem went away after that.

VY may be different, but in VS, the solenoid pack is located behind the front facia of the centre thingy, sitting right on top of the trans tunnel in the very centre. It should not be hard to find as it will have a bunch of vacuum hoses connected to it, and of course a wiring loom.

[gareth89]

i think a ford fan working at Holdens made that part for your car, i would return it and ask for a Holden fan to build that part for you
you will thank one day mate

[cno]

Any follow up on this? My VY Berlina II is doing the same thing

[moose man]

If you crawl into the passenger footwell and look toward the very front of the centre console area, you will see it on an angle. It has 2 (maybe 3?) tubes attached to it.
As you turn the mode control on the dash from recirculate to screen, you will see it retract and extend.

This part has a common fault. One of the diaphragms breaks internally and causes this complaint.

[gottavecalaisv]

getting mine fixed on friday 04/12 after waiting for 3 months for the part to come in to holdens!

[Farlig]

I have the same issue on my clubby, but it started happening after i had cam install.

Its only bothered me a couple times, but aparantly there is a check valve running from manifold that you should look at first before going to more expensive items.

One day i will fix mine lol

[gottavecalaisv]

all fixed now, part (vacuum actuator)was replaced friday 04/12/09 $161.00 working perfectly again!

[Calaber]

all fixed now, part (vacuum actuator)was replaced friday 04/12/09 $161.00 working perfectly again!

Was that price for supply and install? If so, given the price you were quoted for the part alone, labour was less than $100, so only about one hour's work at Holden rates.

That would indicate to me that the repair is not that complex and could probably be done at home. Did you think to ask for your old part to get an idea of what it looks like and how it's held in place? Also would enable you to see if you could have repaired it rather than replaced it.

[gottavecalaisv]

part was $67.00 so labour was $94 i did think about doing it myself then thought if it doesnt fix it i will be worse off!

[Calaber]

part was $67.00 so labour was $94 i did think about doing it myself then thought if it doesnt fix it i will be worse off!

With labour that cheap, it probably isn't worth tackling at home, but it does make you think that it can't be too difficult to get at as $94 is less than one hour's work all up.

[cno]

If you crawl into the passenger footwell and look toward the very front of the centre console area, you will see it on an angle. It has 2 (maybe 3?) tubes attached to it.
As you turn the mode control on the dash from recirculate to screen, you will see it retract and extend.

This part has a common fault. One of the diaphragms breaks internally and causes this complaint.

I have looked in the footwell and i cannot see it or spot anything moving, i even took the side of the console off, anyone got some pics of what i should be looking for? pics of the accuator? i would like to do this myself if i could as i hate paying someone to work on my car and it is starting to tick me off

[cno]

Bump, any pics? Please

[50LTRv8]

I have looked in the footwell and i cannot see it or spot anything moving, i even took the side of the console off, anyone got some pics of what i should be looking for? pics of the accuator? i would like to do this myself if i could as i hate paying someone to work on my car and it is starting to tick me off

I am not sure if it is the same as the vt but here goes. Under the glovebox is a plastic grill, remove that and look towards the group of hoses going into a small black bar, the bar being the actuator.

I did mine on the VT at and retail on the part is $115.

[Tom]

Does this mean that it is usually the vacuum actuator that fails?, as there are at least 3 actuators and a solonoid
so does anyone know how do I diagnose which one it is?

[cno]

What is it doing?