1999 Winnebago Adventurer Dash A/C Only Blows From Defrost

[quinnyquinn]

I have a 99 Winnebago adventure built on the Ford F 53 chassis when I turn my air on it only comes out of the windshield. Has anyone had this problem or could they point me in the direction to help me try and figure this out please and thank you very much.

 

[l1v3fr33ord1]

quinnyquinn-

The dash A/C system uses vacuum to move the doors that send the air flow to the different outlet vents. When the dash A/C blows only through the defrost (windshield) vents it's a sign there's a vacuum leak. Under the coach's hood you'll see the vacuum lines and a plastic vacuum reservoir. Examine them for leaks.

 

[quinnyquinn]

OK, thank you very much. I am going to try that today because I am also installing a brand new AC compressor AC condenser in a new dryer along with running six cameras because my wife has never driven anything this big and we are about to drive it from Florida to Miami so this way while she is driving, she can see anything on the side of her once she activates her turd signal, the camera will activate either come up on the radio or the TV above the driver and passenger seat. Just not sure which one I’m going to do it on yet.

 

[creativepart]

Just like a 27 year old car, the HVAC system built into your 1999 chassis is complex and full of parts that fail, break and need repair and replacement.

If you’re lucky it will be a loose vacuum line in the engine compartment but equally possible is the likelihood that the air diverter in your dashboard has a problem or that the vacuum line issue is buried deep inside your dashboard. So replacing all those A/C parts can help with cooling ability for sure but not air flow direction.

Also, many of us with side view cameras keyed to turn signals have learned they sound like a better solution than they turn out to be in actual usage.

Nothing helps with driving a large motorhome better than spending time behind the wheel driving the thing on all kinds of roads.

 

[Morich]

I like to start with a part of the whole that I can verify is working. There is vacuum drawn from the engine to a large container. Possible you can spot a line from the engine to what might look like a cannon ball? Those I think of are round and maybe four inches across, so not something that hides to make it hard to find. That is like a reserve for vacuum which then sends it on to the control inside where you choose which direction it sends the vacuum to different doors to open or close.
If you look at those rubber hoses, there are often places where they get cracks to let the vacuum leak. The loss of vacuum will often let the doors move to close or open in the wrong way.
One way to start sorting where the leak might be is to pull one of those hoses off to see if it sucks your finger at the end when the engine is running. If no vac where it comes from the engine, move toward the engine as it may have come off at some point in that direction. But if good vac there, begin to look further out toward the controls and beyond where it takes different lines to different doors. Some of the doors will be kind of obvious when looking closer.
But I am also getting some good results from AI when using Copilot, so did a check there and this sounds promising if you have one of the AI deals on a PC?

I like having written directions as I tend to forget the small points like the check valve and this is only part of the big list I got. It did not forget the check valve and how to test it!
Good luck on the chase!

 

[Morich]

Waiting for things to develope here, so doing some play/learning on AI!
This looks like it may include a lot of my "learning curve" but if you get this link and go pretty far down it finally gets into what might be a help?
RV Vacuum System Controls

Sorry, I started with being not specific enough on WHICh vac sytem! So a lot of trash involved?

 

[DryCreek]

we are about to drive it from Florida to Miami

Sounds like a good way to start out - short trips until you get the feel for the rig.

 

[RayIN]

You have an automotive A/C system. Any competent repair shop should stock repair parts since this appears to be a DIY repair.

 

[Morich]

One reason I tend to jump to a vaccuum leak is that many of the tips point out the defrost is the default setting when vac is lost!
One of those things that I tend to go to the most likely cause first if there is online info that leads that way.
And then old brittle tubing does seem likely on a 25-30 year old RV!

 

[Jim in SE Ks]

My '98 Brave on a '99 F53 Ford has the vacuum canister (tank) just forward of the Right front wheel and those vacuum hoses that connect to it are prone to being pulled loose from the canister. In my case it was dogs trying to kill the neighbors cat seeking refuge on top the engine. The canister is low enough the hose or hoses could be pulled from the connection points. Would be the first place I would look. Good luck.

 

[James_Meal]

This YouTube video helped me trouble shoot my system. It is long but worth it. (Kevin Caudill) I think it is the same system as yours.

Enjoy
James