Recirculated Air; 1995 850 GLT

Wes850GLT · Post by **Wes850GLT** » 25 Apr 2007, 15:35

My recirculated air system doesn't work. When I press the recirc switch I can hear the motor running but I still get outside air coming in. This is no big deal until I get behind an old oil burning Dodge van! I live in TN and I don't think they care much about air quality here (no smog inspections).

What can I do?

wes

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 25 Apr 2007, 17:55

At the end of the day the solution will be similar but do you have the electronic climate control or the manual variety? The problem often comes down to a split shaft on the recirc. damper door which can be tough or easy depending on how much of the shaft is left.

...Lee

Wes850GLT · Post by **Wes850GLT** » 25 Apr 2007, 17:59

I'm assuming I have the manual variety (twist nobs and not digital).

Wes850GLT · Post by **Wes850GLT** » 26 Apr 2007, 07:59

Ok, now I'm confused. I found some pdf's on the net from a volvo service manual concerning ECC and MCC (electronic or manual).

Both the controls look the same. Three knobs, the fan speed slider, and the recir and AC switch.

How do I know which I have and what's the difference?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 26 Apr 2007, 08:11

How do I know which I have and what's the difference?

The Electronic Climate Control has the temperature knobs labeled in degrees whereas the manual unit is marked with a series of graduated width red bars. The other clue is on the fan control, the ECC has an AUT setting and the manual does not.

...Lee

Wes850GLT · Post by **Wes850GLT** » 26 Apr 2007, 08:23

OK, I have the manual version (MCC).

Is the recirc damper easy to fix? I'm assuming you have to take most of the dash off.

Thanks,

Wes

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 26 Apr 2007, 15:35

Is the recirc damper easy to fix? I'm assuming you have to take most of the dash off.

It can be easy or it can be tough depending on where it failed.

Directly above the cabin blower motor, on the left hand side of the blower housing, is a damper motor that controls the recirc shutter. That motor actuates a shaft that extends to the recirc shutter itself.

The recirc shutter is located under the hood directly below the passengers side windshield wiper. It is hidden below the plastic rain shield and, if you have one, the cabin air filter. As a side note, if you don't have a cabin air filter buy one along with the filter adapter. Your evaporator will last longer with the filter.

To get to the motor, assuming that you glovebox opens, remove the glovebox and locate the cabin blower motor. Look up and left and you will find the motor to the shutter, it looks like a small black box with 4 wire electrical connect plugged into it. The wire colors on that connector are Black, White, Yellow/Brown, and Yellow/Violet.

Remove the electrical connector from the motor and the 2 screws that hold it in place. Remove the motor. Manually actuate the rod and see if the shutter opens and closes. If the shutter works manually the chances are the motor assembly itself is bad. If the shutter will not manually actuate then either the shutter broke, the rod fell out of the shutter lever, or the lever itself broke.

...Lee

Wes850GLT · Post by **Wes850GLT** » 26 Apr 2007, 15:38

THANKS LEE! I will investigate this weekend and report my findings.

Thanks again,

Wes

Wes850GLT · Post by **Wes850GLT** » 26 Apr 2007, 16:34

Are these the parts you are speaking of? The blower motor and the air flap actuator. I assume the part that controls the flap is the air flap actuator? I suppose the linkage could be broken from the actuator to the flap (I can hear the motor run when I turn on/off recirc)

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 26 Apr 2007, 17:31

Are these the parts you are speaking of?

Yes indeed, those are the parts.

Hearing the motor running does not necessarily mean that the rod is being moved. There is a gear reduction drive built into the motor assembly and if the gears are broken the motor will run all day and not move the rod. I think that, once you get the motor off, whatever the problem is will become obvious. The repair on the other hand might not be so obvious if the motor is OK. I have not had to delve into the linkage and, quite frankly, I have no idea how it is accessed if you have a broken lever at the shutter door end.

...Lee