So, on my road trip a week ago I needed to run the heater. Everything works perfect.

This week, I need the a/c as I'm heading out of Phoenix.
I turn the fan on, then dial from heat to a/c on the temp dial, and from vent to a/c on the function dial...

I get heat... that is it.
the function dial (white side(vent or heat) vent/floor/defrost and blue side(for a/c) vent/floor/defrost send the hot air out the correct vents, and the blower increases or decreases the volume of air being moved.

Now, the temp dial, (blue side for cold air, red side for hot air) spins freely as if "disconnected" from any mechanical interface.

So, I can blow heat at diff. fan speeds, and out any vent I choose, but all I get is very hot air.


Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

i think you identified the problem already. if the temp dial is "loose" it may have come off the blend door. check and see if your compressor is on under the hood when you have the a/c on.

 

ok...
I went out and actually "looked" right at the thing in the passenger side footwell that controls the blend door (internet searching led me there...

When I adjust the cable by hand, I can contol heat, and switch to a/c... by simply moving the cable to and fro... and it definately will run the a/c.
When I set the cable by hand so it blows cold air... the dial moves to the cold position... and by turning the dial it moves the cable back to hot...
But, once turned to hot, the dial will not move the cable back to cold, the dial just spins freely...

So, how do you go about removing the "dial" and installing one that will "hold/move" the cable...

 

im not sure if the 97-01 model's dash insert is as easy to remove but i would just take that off and check where the cable and *** meet. and if its broke, steal one from a donor or one at the junk yard, they wont cost much

 

mine is a 90 so i dont know if its the same as yours but you will probably need to pull the entire a/c control unit out of the dash to replace. you may even be able to get one from a salvage yard for a good deal.

 

i know when i ripped the heat distributor from above the console to put in a full on my 2door it uncovered the switch and all you are speaking of. now is yours electronic or do you do all the pulling like in the later models. if its made like the older moldels with no electronic contol then it should just be that a little piece has possibly broke off and may need a little glue, but who knows

 

the dial controls the cable... so, that portion is not electronic.
I'll have to pull the trim off tomorrow and see what's what.

Thanks for the help so far... hopefully a quick trip to the j/y tomorrow has me back on track.

 

glad we could help