Loyale Heater Core / Defrost

[gizmonix]

Hello!

I have a 1991 Subaru Loyale with the push button 4WD.

 

This past winter I had my friend replace my heater core as my old one had been dead and bypassed for a couple of years.

 

When I got the car back, while the heat works, when I turn on the Defrost option, the air does not pass through the proper defrost vents near the windshield and instead just comes out of the front of dash vents.

 

I am assuming that when my friend put things back together, he simply fucked that part up.

How hard is this to fix?

Do I have to take apart the whole dash again?

Is it a simple toggle switch I can access easily?

 

Thank you! 

 

[djellum]

its vacuum controlled, check to see if the vacuum hose in the engine compartment is hooked up.  if not then you have to check the vacuum lines under the dash to see if ones leaky or not hooked up.

[gizmonix]

I'm confused (and not mechanically inclined, so that is likely why), but air does blow out.

So I want to say that the hose is hooked up, because it blows out when I turn it on.

The problem is that it blows out of the wrong place when I switch to "defrost" versus "heater."

Both the Heater setting and the Defrost setting make it blow out of the regular heater dash board vents.

 

Could this simply a toggle switch in the dash control panel?

Or does this have to do with the hoses that you speak of?

 

I just feel like it would be something different, like a relay switch or something that isn't getting activated or something.

 

I dunno...

:/

[tractor pole]

yes the door that changes the air direction is vacuum accuated.

look on the passenger side of the engine compartment on the top portion of the firewall there should be a small white colored canister with a vacuum hose coming out of both ends that is the vacuum line that supplies the heater controls.the line will hook up to the intake manifold and pass through a firewall grommet.

 

Hope that helps

Ben

[gizmonix]

will give it a look this weekend!

thank you =)

[somick]

Hello!

I have a 1991 Subaru Loyale with the push button 4WD.

 

This past winter I had my friend replace my heater core as my old one had been dead and bypassed for a couple of years.

 

When I got the car back, while the heat works, when I turn on the Defrost option, the air does not pass through the proper defrost vents near the windshield and instead just comes out of the front of dash vents.

 

I am assuming that when my friend put things back together, he simply fucked that part up.

How hard is this to fix?

 

Do I have to take apart the whole dash again?

Is it a simple toggle switch I can access easily?

 

Thank you! 

Watch your language

[rdweninger]

will give it a look this weekend!

thank you =)

Ummm, it's Wednesday.  Weekend is still 3 days off.  Only takes a minute to check the vacumn line.

Last night, I heard a rear brake shoe dragging on the way home from work.  Got home, jacked up the car, took apart the RR brake assembly.  Found a broken spring.  Went to my spare parts box.  Found a spring.  Replaced it.  Put it back together.  All FIXED!

Then, beings I still had plenty of daylight, decided to drain and replace the rear diff fluid on my other '85 Subie.  And I just turned 50... so I might not be alive when the weekend comes !!!  How will I know if you fixed it?

[gizmonix]

I have tomorrow off from school, so I'll take a break from studying for my two midterms next week and give this a look.

=)

 

I will report back after I have either solved the problem or made things worse! 

=)

 

Thanks for all of the input thus far though!

I am not good with cars and am rather intimidated by them as I really don't want to break things any further.

I have no job and no money to replace the car, so I am careful with that I do with it. 

 

I really wish my high school offered some kind of mechanics/auto class.

I think they should be required for everyone and if I ever have a kid, I'm gonna make sure that they learn about cars before buying one.

[mikaleda]

A little off topic, but I agree with you gizmonix, I personally think that understanding how your car works helps you drive it better. I think they shold make knowing how to check your brake fluid, oil, and antifreeze part of the test to get your drivers license.

[rdweninger]

I know... high schools suck these days.   I took auto shop, wood shop, metal shop, welding, physics, chemistry, trigonometry... etc.

Now, my boy (senior) is taking a class called Inhumanities... WHAT?   There are NO shop classes.  But he did take Home Ec (one of the few electives left).

I feel sorry for the kids these days.

That's why I bought a $200 1985 Subaru Wagon, 4WD, 5-speed with a blown head gasket.   I made sure my boy knew that HE was responsible for fixing it.  I was only there for guideance and muscle when he needed it.   We pulled the motor and did a total reseal with all the goodies.   He even hand-lapped the heads using GD's method with 1/2" glass.   Now... the kid is set for life...  I hope!

Find a friend who is willing to tear into it and likes to fix things.   It's a good source of motivation and sometimes helps if you can't figure out how to put it back together... ha!    ... and don't forget the beer!