Windshield Vent Not Blowing

Does your Mitsubishi L300 make a strange noise? Need wheel alignment specs?
Post Reply
User avatar
cosmo727
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:18 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1996 Delica Starwagon Active World
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

Windshield Vent Not Blowing

Post by cosmo727 »

Hello Delica World

My Delica is a summer vehicle, therefore I don't use the windshield vent very often. The problem I am having is that I have no airflow to the windshield vents (almost zero). A couple of years ago I posted a topic for low airflow to the face vents. By accident I solved that problem recently when I was fishing wires for a volt meter and noticed the duct was disconnected behind the radio.

I am pretty sure that something is not allowing airflow to be diverted to the windshield in the distribution ducting and housing. I have disconnected the plastic cam pate and cable near the driver's side left foot and operated the lever and push/pull rod to try and isolate the problem. No matter what sequence I do I can not get airflow to the windshield.

Am I in to a complete dash removal or does anyone have any suggestions?
User avatar
Growlerbearnz
Posts: 2041
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:58 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica P25W
Location: New Zealand

Windshield Vent Not Blowing

Post by Growlerbearnz »

If you've removed the dashboard it's possible to reinstall it with the ducts misaligned or crushed. The ducts are easy to feel from underneath- they're round, ribbed, and have a bend in them. It is possible to adjust them if they've popped off, but it takes a bit of contortion.

It's also possible the cable that operates the airflow direction flap is maladjusted- where it attaches at the lever end the outer sheath is held in place with a clip, if the sheath moves in the clip you might not get the full range of adjustment. Still, though, I'd expect *some* airflow out the windshield vents.
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
User avatar
cosmo727
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:18 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1996 Delica Starwagon Active World
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

Windshield Vent Not Blowing

Post by cosmo727 »

Thanks for the reply

The ribbed ducts with the bend in them are completely attached and aligned.

I have the cable and plastic cam disconnected so that I can operate each part of the distribution box separately and still no airflow to the windshield vents.

I'm guessing that it's the gate inside the distribution box. I could be wrong....
User avatar
cosmo727
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:18 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1996 Delica Starwagon Active World
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

Windshield Vent Not Blowing

Post by cosmo727 »

Update

I have removed both elbows going to the windshield vents. I have operated the lever at the end of the push/pull rod and both gates are operating as they should. The problem is in the distribution box not allowing airflow to the windshield gates when the control lever is operated. Something in the box is out of sequence or jammed. To top it off the plastic shaft sheared off inside the box that controls the face and foot vents. I am in the process off tearing apart the dash to get the distribution box out.

Does anyone know if the box can be split easily once removed so that I can see what the hell is going on inside?

I may be into getting a whole new to me (used distribution box)...
User avatar
cosmo727
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:18 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1996 Delica Starwagon Active World
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

Windshield Vent Not Blowing

Post by cosmo727 »

Update:

Everything is apart now and it doesn't look pretty. The air distribution box is on the garage floor now and ready to be disassembled.

The only good news at this point is that the plastic shaft that is broken runs through the unit for either right or left drive. If I'm lucky I can disassemble it an make the shaft a right drive.
User avatar
cosmo727
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:18 am
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: 1996 Delica Starwagon Active World
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

Windshield Vent Not Blowing

Post by cosmo727 »

Update:

I wasn't so lucky. The shaft on the opposite side was indexed 180 degrees out from the right side. I ended up getting a used heater box from CCA in BC instead of screwing around trying to fabricate another shaft. Thanks Graham!!

If anyone is interested, here is what your van will look like if you have to remove the heater box or pull out your heater core.
Attachments
IMG_20180825_215423205-800x600.jpg
IMG_20180825_215423205-800x600.jpg (236.1 KiB) Viewed 4704 times
User avatar
Growlerbearnz
Posts: 2041
Joined: Sat Jun 26, 2010 1:58 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica P25W
Location: New Zealand

Windshield Vent Not Blowing

Post by Growlerbearnz »

Yup. I'm pretty sure when they build a Delica they start with the heater box and build the rest around it. ;-)
Nothing says "poor workmanship" more than wrinkles in the duct tape.
Post Reply

Return to “L300 Technical”