Partial Defrost 2001 Sonoma

[rrcool53]

My defrost only blows on the passenger side of the windshield. The driver's side blows nothing. Could it be a blockage in the system or is the plenum made up of several pieces and has come apart?

 

Is there an easy way to get to the plenum?

[bill190]

Well... Hummmm...

 

That does not sound good!

 

I suppose all you can do is use flashlights and a mirror and contort your body into every conceivable position possible to look under the dash at everything you can see.

 

Maybe build up some sort of platform to stick your legs out the side of the doors so you can get your head in under the dash to see good (without killing your back!).

 

Then maybe get a step ladder and look through the windshield down into the non working defrost vent (from the outside) and see if you can see anything in there. Maybe something fell down and is blocking it?

[rrcool53]

Got it !!!!!

 

I tried your light idea and saw nothing but then I shone the light through the windshield into the defrost and saw a piece of sponge (1/4 X 3 X 6) under the defrost grill on the driver's side. I checked the passenger side to see if it also had a sponge in it, but there was none.

 

What's strange, is that I looked through the windshield this afternoon and couldn't see it. But now that it's dark outside and using my flashlight it stuck out like a sore thumb.

 

So two miniature screwdrivers and someone on the outside of the windshield directing me, I got it out and it works fine !!!

 

I'm guessing that it was some sort of insulation or padding that wiggled it's way out from it's original location and just landed over the air supply.

 

Thanks for your help Bill

[bill190]

Well what on earth was a sponge doing in there?

 

Only pencils are supposed to be in the defrost vent!