Heater Problem!!

[m110pcon]

2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 4cyl Front wheel drive. Automatic 41000 miles...

Blower works good when car is cold, engine warms up and blower sounds like it's running normal, but no air comes out from the vents. On all settings, even a/c. Sounds like a vacuum issue with a vent door. HELP PLEASE! It's getting close to winter!

[Hooligan]

Welcome to the Forum!!! Some have found that a cable was kinked, once straightened out, no problem. PT's do not use vacuum lines.

[terrylittlejohn]

i have a 07 and this just started with mine, it blowes hot air for about 15min`s then with no warning you here the blower sound muffle like the doors in the heater box all close . then the air pressure from the vents gets really low. if you turn the speed switch off and on it seem to run normal for 1 sec then lose pressure again. with this happens you can alway feel heat in the vents. has anybody diagnoised this problem,my car just lost it waranty,thanks terry

[Chromenut]

Likely a vacuum issue, I had the hose behind the center console panel, where you switch to recirculate, it had a hairline crack in it and stopped working, caused me all sorts of problems getting air in the car. Pulled out the center console (ask before you try this!) and found the house, cut it off about a half inch, reconnected it, and no more problems. One day I'll likely have to replace that hose.

Also, I had a similar issue while under warranty and let the Dealership deal with it. Well, about a week later I suddenly couldn't move that switch fully clockwise. So I pulled the center cover off (again, ask before you do this!) and found that the cable that runs from the temp control was wrapped behind the vacuum hose and stopping the switch from working properly. Done at the Dealership. was less than a 1 minute fix, not counting the time to remove the center console cover (did I mention, ask before you do this???).

If you decide to remove your center console cover, please drop me, or others here, a line to make sure you don't damage it or your dash. I found out the hard way how really easy it is to either remove it properly, or damage everything!

[Chromenut]

Okay, enough teasing, for you '06 and up PT owners, here's a very simple tutorial on getting that silly center console off without destroying the entire thing.

First, remove the screws, phillips head, found in the vents. You have to turn the vents in a particular way to even see them. I highly suggest magnetizing your screwdriver first. NOTE - you do NOT need to remove any switch covers, etc., prior to removing the faceplate, ONLY these two screws.


Next, starting at the bottom, gently pry the face away from the center console. I highly suggest the thin panel pry's that you can buy at almost any car parts. I bought mine for $9 at Advance Auto, full set of four.

In this picture you can see where the friction clamps hold the faceplate on. Be careful prying around the sides, it's easy to damage both the faceplate and the center console.


After removing the vent screws, I can literally grab the bottom of the faceplate and yank it right off the center console. Then be careful removing it as you have cords, cables and hoses behind it.

In the picture above you can see the clock and HVAC cables hanging, to really access behind the faceplate you'll need to disconnect those. Make sure you raise the orange or red locking tab before trying to pry off those cable connectors, or you'll do more damage.

When you're done, make sure you reconnect the cables, then gently stab the vents back into the vent hoses while watching for the cables to not be kinked. I start at the top, moving to the bottom, opposite of how I remove it.

Hope that helps!

[Chromenut]

Now, let me be the voice of experience for a moment and show you why I say be careful removing that cover, and do not just stab a screwdriver under it. I call this, the idiot gap:


This gap, the Idiot Gap, was created by some moron, idiot, retard, asshat, dipstick who decided he was too smart to find out the proper way to remove this cover. The remaining "mauling" was from the screwdriver that the aforementioned asshat used when trying to pry the cover off. Now there is a permanent gap there, until said moron gets his collective shite together and gets some files and emery paper and fixes it.... please, don't do this to your PT, it doesn't deserve it!


NOTE - no animals were harmed in the making of this tutorial. All tests were performed on human subjects, and all drugs administered were FDA approved!

[Chromenut]

and before you ask, yes, that IS a custom shift lever knob...

[terrylittlejohn]

thanks , i would have never looked in the vents

[CREWZIN]

They have the vacuum lines in the 01-05 Cruisers also (number#3) in the photo.



Something I didn't realize, in the 01-05 PT's there's 4 control knobs for the Heater-A/C system where looking at the picture above by ChromeNut, Chrylser did away with something and went down to 3 control knobs. Where's your control for inside/outside (fresh/recirculate) air?? Is that it on one of the push buttons on top of the control knobs?

[Chromenut]

Recirculate is the push-button at the bottom of the dial for the center controller.