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Hello Civic Forums!

Volkswagen guy here, trying to help out my girlfriend with her new (to her) Honda. It's a 1997 Civic HX. The car is mostly mechanically sound, but suffers from some other bugs that I would like to get resolved. We'll take this one problem at a time.

The first issue I'd like to tackle is the heater. I've created a YouTube video which can be found here:
This does a decent job at describing the issue and allows you to see/hear what I'm working with.

I've got average mechanical skills and a decent amount of tools available, but I'm new to Hondas and would appreciate any help you could provide me.

Thanks everyone!

Erich

 
Rep Power: 518

I think I got...
Fan switch has no detent (the notchy feel you expect), probably needs a switch.

Next problem is lack of air flow.

Next problem is 4th speed inoperative. Also most likely a bad fan switch.

Next problem is lack of heat?? Wait on that one.

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Ok start with air flow problem:

You feel air blowing on your hand somewhere under the dash on the passengers side.
Regardless of which setting is selected? (vent, floor, defrost)
Exactly WHERE is it coming out at?


--

Look at the fan motor and its wiring.
Has someone replaced it? Are the wires spliced?
Did someone get the polarity reversed so now the fan is spinning backwards?
(That will cause very low air flow even though the motor sounds normal.)

 
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Thanks for your reply. I just went back out to the car to get some answers for you.

Regarding the lack of airflow:

• There is no air that comes out of the windshield defrost, under any circumstances or settings configurations
• Air only comes from the driver's side face vent when temperatures are set to cold, recirculation is turned off, and fan speed is high. Under these circumstances, air comes from that vent no matter which setting the controls are set to.
• Under all configurations, air is coming out at the feet on driver's side and passenger's side, but more prominently on the passenger's side.

There are vents on the center console aiming toward the feet, and air does come from those vents. You will also feel the heated air coming from another vent that I point to in the video (around 2:35).


From what I can tell, the fan motor and wiring appear to be original. No splicing, no obvious indication that the parts have ever been removed or replaced. I have not tried reversing polarity of the wires, mostly because it doesn't appear to have been tampered with.

 
Rep Power: 518

The drivers dash vent sounds correct. IIRC The dash vent on the far passengers side should act the same as the drivers vent if it is open.





Ok I'm thinking the actuator (servo) for the mode door is not working, stuck in the 'floor' position.

Sound right?



With the car completely quiet inside:

The recirculate actuator works, you said you can hear the airflow change when you push the button. With the fan off--push the button and listen to that motor run as the example.


Now you should be able to hear the mode actuator motor run as you push the buttons to change modes. Does it?


Mode control motor can be found on the heater housing, stick your head deep into the drivers foot area and look up at the side of the heater case a bit rearward of the gas pedal. You should see the linkages and actuator from there.


Maybe you can push-pull on the actuator to help move it or jar it into moving again on its own?



There's more info in a good service manual.
I saw that but it was too vague for me to tell where it is coming out at. I wonder if it is just leaking between the clamps that connect sections of the system?


Sounds good then.