97 TJ Vent Selector Issue

1997 Jeep TJ Heating issue - location selector (do not know name of part).

I now have only 2 “settings” for the location of the vents blowing.
I have the old slider panel.
My “selector switch” from O - “blow forward” - “blow feet” - “blow defrost/feet” - “defrost” only seems to have 2 settings now, no matter which I choose. (Where it is also seems to depend on which direction I am moving the slider).


There should be 5 location options - but it appears I only get 2 now.
The plastic arms controlling the movement seem to be functioning ok.
But the device (don’t know name) seems to only push all the way forward or back.
I’ve attached pictures to show to 2 settings it does, no matter what location the selector switch is in.

http://funkyimg.com/view/2Ljd1
http://funkyimg.com/view/2Ljd2

(It looks like the rod moves it to defrost and off, but nothing in the middle)

I have 2 guesses:
1. I need to replace the “push rod thingie”…which probably helps if I knew the name.
2. vacuum not working properly? I don’t understand the vacuum lines well…

Any ideas?

tworley said:

97s use cable actuated controls, not vacuum. I would take a close look and make sure nothing is gummed up or cable stretched

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure my 97 uses vacuum tubes to control the vent location of where the air goes (the top slider).

The connectors coming out of my top slider control are several hollow vaccum tubes. I can confirm both visually and with audio...and that they don't work at all when I disconnect the vacuum from the engine.
The bottom slider that controls the hot/cold is a cable - but that works fine.
The speed of the fan is electronic, but also works fine.

Oddly (and luckily/scarily) enough...it works now. I was touching a bunch of tubes under the dash...and playing with high/low speed and filming the movements with the location selector - when it suddenly started working.
It sounded like a door was unstuck - and finally moved when moved around a lot and had high speed on - but I can't prove that.

I did see a total of 3 actuators controlled by vacuum tubes that push levers, and all 3 seem to work.
Previously, I had only seen 1 actuator, which led me to believe it wasn't working due to only having 2 settings (off/on).
However, it appears the combination of the 3 makes up all 5 possible vent location settings.

The scary part is since I don't know what "fixed" it - it can break again. Most likely when it's required.