'98 S70T5 ECC issues after mice got in. Temperature Damper?

JerseyT5 · Post by **JerseyT5** » 03 Apr 2015, 19:14

Having issues with my driver side ECC and/or ventilation. Driver side fan doesn't blow at full selected fan speed (Med-MAX) when on COLD temp setting, while pass side works fine at all temps. It seems like the flow is restricted on that side of the car and doesn't let all the air through. If I select a warmer temperature on the Driver side, the air blows progressively stronger as temp increases. Also, unless on MAX COLD, the temp is mild at best. Heat works fine and blows hot at full desired speed when temp is set near MAX HEAT. Im thinking Driver Temperature Damper maybe? Did a lot of research and most people have a problem with the passenger side, or not blowing heat, or something going on with the ECC itself. I have No flashing lights on the ECC and I already blew out my cabin temp sensor fan, and got a lot of dust out. However, it still makes a bit of a vibrating/buzzing noise when on, but it sounds like it is working (to my knowledge) and the sensor (two wires with the little ball on the end) is in tact (from what I can see). Any ideas or help is greatly appreciated.

Now the back story: I had the car stored for a little while in a neighbors garage as I used mine for storage for my parents stuff while they were having their new house built. During that time, I had Mice get into my ventilation system, and make a nest in the passenger side center vent. I would run the car occasionally and when I ran the ventilation one day, a bunch of crap flew out of the vents. I then began to take off the vents and look around and vacuum everything out. I then found I was getting restricted air flow on the passenger side, and found a nice chunk of nest in the center passenger vent. Got it all out and cleared up the clog. I now believe I have cleared everything out as there has been no more nest or anything blowing out for some time. It seems they mostly hung out on the passenger side of the vents, as i didn't find anything on the driver side.. It was winter, and I was mostly running warmer air through the vents when cleaning and vacuuming and getting all the crap out of there, but I don't remember this driver side damper thing being an issue. All other areas of the ECC are working fine, and I understand The mice definitely could have played a role, but Im thinking this is something mechanical, and not a clog, as the vents work fine when set to warmer temperatures.

Any insight would be very helpful, and if you read all of that... I appreciate you taking the time to do so!
Cheers!

Post by **abscate** » 03 Apr 2015, 20:08

Take out the blower motor and make sure you font have mouse stuff sticking to the evap core.

JerseyT5 · Post by **JerseyT5** » 03 Apr 2015, 20:56

abscate wrote:Take out the blower motor and make sure you font have mouse stuff sticking to the evap core.

Everything works great on the passenger side, its just the driver side that has the issues, and only on cold for that matter. If the EVAP core was all gunked up, the passenger side would have issues too, no? Thanks for the reply! I might do that anyway just to be sure.

JerseyT5 · Post by **JerseyT5** » 04 Apr 2015, 12:13

I just remembered, when my friend was helping me clean the vents, some of the cleaning solution he was spraying dripped through the seam in the center vents, where it attaches to the dash and it dripped onto the back of the ECC. On next start up shortly after, the ECC lights flashed. I took the ECC out and let it dry and sprayed some compressed air (canned computer air stuff) in the connections to dry them out. Let them sit a day and put it all back together ant it worked without flashing lights. Could this be an issue with the ECC unit itself? Even though im not getting any flashing lights currently?? This would be a much easier fix than climbing under the dash and all that.

Also wanted to add that they got in through the "control box intake tube" that is connected to the box that houses the ECU. Luckily, the materials they used for making their nest were taken from the insulation under the hood and no where else (that im aware of, but i check everywhere). Not that this matters for the issue at hand, but just incase this info can help anyone in the future if they get mice in the car.

THANKS!

JerseyT5 · Post by **JerseyT5** » 05 Apr 2015, 17:13

Well, false alarm. Used one of those "digital inspection cameras" and stuck the camera down the vents on the driver side (forgot I had one at work). Looks like there was a large left over chunk of nest floating around down there. While the fan was off, it wasn't present, but when turned on, it blew up against the damper support or damper stop or whatever the yellow crossmember is going across the vent channel and got stuck. Used the camera and one of those spring loaded little claw grabber things for when you drop a bolt in a touch to reach spot, and a shop vac, while blowing the system at full blast. After an hour or so of work, I got it all out and inspected the whole system and cleaned everything up. Glad to say I don't have to replace the ECC or any damper motors or anything and I have a fully operational system with no more smell.

If you read this thread, thanks, and sorry to waste your time.

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