RE: IML: '73 Lebaron - factory installed wrong air door for AutoTemp II - need correct part

["Jim Stacey" <jhrstacey@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tim,

Thanks for your interest and offer to help.

You raise some good points.

You're right about the actuator bracket.  In my original email when I
referred to the "air door" I was referring to both the housing and the
actuator bracket as one assembly since the bracket is riveted to the
housing. However, the parts book calls for both a different bracket and
different air door housing for the ATCII.  As you suggested, the ATCII
bracket would have a mounting location for the transfer switch.  Mine
doesn't.  From what I can gather from the MTSC booklet, the air door housing
would need to be different as well since apparently there is a cam attached
to the air door itself on the ATCII version to control the transfer switch.


I got the vacuum hoses out of storage and took a look at how they were
configured when I took it apart.  (I labeled all hose ends when I
disassembled them.)  There are three vacuum hoses to the air door
actuator/transfer switch - black, green and orange.

The orange hose was connected correctly - to the "close" side of the door
actuator. The FSM shows this to be used only in the "OFF" mode, so I assume
it would have behaved as it was supposed to.

The black hose that was supposed to be connected to the transfer switch to
open the door to 100% outside air was connected directly to the "open" side
of the door actuator, so it would have caused the door to open to 100%
outside air when it was supposed to, even though it did not go through the
transfer switch.

The green hose was the one that actually went "nowhere".  It was not plugged
or capped.  This is the one that was supposed to open the door to only 20%
outside air.  Since it was not connected, I assume the door would have
stayed at 100% recirculation when 20% outside was called for.  And, as you
pointed out, when in this mode there should have been a hissing sound from
that green hose sucking air, but it was so long ago since I drove the car
that I couldn't say whether the noise was apparent or not!  Plus it is hard
to say what effect this leaking vacuum line could have had on the rest of
the system.  Perhaps it compromised the vacuum in other parts of the system
causing poor performance?

I am looking forward to hearing what you find when you have a chance to look
at your car.  It is a happy coincidence that the glove box is out so you can
have good look at it.  That should tell us exactly what components are
correct and how they are arranged, mounted and connected.  It might be a
challenge, but perhaps you could get a photo through the glove box door that
would show all this.

Thanks again for your help.  If I can be of any help looking up a part
number in the '73 parts book for you or anyone else on the list - just say
the word.

Jim Stacey
'73 4dr project




-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tim Durrer
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2006 5:56 PM
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: '73 Lebaron - factory installed wrong air door for
AutoTemp II - need correct part

Hi Jim,

I also have a '73 LeBaron that I am in the middle of
repairing various things on. One of which is the Auto
Temp II. I have ordered a replacement servo from
Performance Analysis in Oakridge TN. They are
expensive, but well worth the cost. If yours still has
the old plastic design unit under the hood it will
eventually crack and leak coolant (If it is not
already cracked). When I got my car the previous owner
had bypassed the unit for this reason.

As to your switch issue I am a little confused. You
said you remember a bundle of vacuum lines that seemed
to go nowhere. Were they capped off by any chance? It
would seem to me you would hear a distinctive hiss
coming from under the dash the last time you drove the
car if they were not. Are you sure the actuator itself
does not have the bracket the switch is mounted to? It
could be they just installed the wrong actuator and
said the heck with switch when it would not bolt up. 
I don't have a parts book to verify the difference on
ATC versus non ATC parts. Is the actuator connected by
any chance? 

My car is currently at my Dad's in a different part of
the state having some engine work done to it. I should
be able to pick it up in a couple of weeks and I will
check mine to see how it is set up. I currently have
the glove box out, so I should be able to see the
switch and how it mounts easily. I will let you know
what I find out. Where did you get your switch from? I
may need one myself!

Tim Durrer
73 LeBaron Blue Sky
                            



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