HVAC not working properly. Advice?

[ShelbyDee]

I have a 2021 Overland JT. I live in Texas, so it is HOT. I've always given some grace to the HVAC unit when it's trying to cool down a 95+ degree truck. With that said, the first time I noticed an issue was actually in the winter. I needed to use the defrost for the windshield, and only the left side "heated" up. The passenger side didn't feel like any air was coming out of it and the windshield stayed frosty. Truthfully I never needed it again that winter, so I never paid much attention to it again.

Fast forward to now, I've always felt like the blower was not as powerful as it should be. It blows cold...it does take a while considering the heat here, but it does eventually blow cold. It just doesn't feel like it's blowing hard enough. In fact, my friend has a 2020 Rubicon Wrangler, and when I was riding with her, her vents were STRONG and she only had it on 4. I have to crank mine to the max setting to get it to feel like her"4" setting. She even agreed the airflow was weak when we tested hers next to mine.

And then today, the reason I'm posting...nothing comes from the floor/feet setting. I was testing it out today. When I change it to the floor/feet setting only, I can hear the vents "changing", but absolutely no air is coming out from the floor area. I can hear something trying to happen, but nothing. I placed a paper napkin under the dash area to verify, and it's not moving.

With all that said, any advice? I really would like to avoid the stealership...they would probably charge me 500$ just to look and tell me nothing is wrong. Should I take it to regular mechanic shop? Any advice on what could be the issue?

Sponsored

 

[Gvsukids]

With all that said, any advice? I really would like to avoid the stealership...they would probably charge me 500$ just to look and tell me nothing is wrong. Should I take it to regular mechanic shop? Any advice on what could be the issue?

Probably not under warranty?

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/maybe-odd-ac-issue.71137/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/a-tale-of-no-power.43773/

 

[ShelbyDee]

Probably not under warranty?

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/maybe-odd-ac-issue.71137/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/a-tale-of-no-power.43773/

I don't believe it's under warranty anymore unfortunately

 

[ShelbyDee]

Probably not under warranty?

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/maybe-odd-ac-issue.71137/

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/a-tale-of-no-power.43773/

Actually...I got it October of 21...so I think it may be!

 

[Volt0]

I would start simple:

1) pull out the cabin air filter from behind the glove box and inspect it
2) the fan should be right there; with the filter/glovebox out, fire it up and see if she blows
3) investigate from there

 

[ShelbyDee]

I would start simple:

1) pull out the cabin air filter from behind the glove box and inspect it
2) the fan should be right there; with the filter/glovebox out, fire it up and see if she blows
3) investigate from there

The cabin filter is brand new..I just changed it about a month ago. But what am I looking for exactly? Once I fire it up I mean, what am I supposed to expect from that area?

 

[ShelbyDee]

I would start simple:

1) pull out the cabin air filter from behind the glove box and inspect it
2) the fan should be right there; with the filter/glovebox out, fire it up and see if she blows
3) investigate from there

Pulled the air filter out, can confirm there's air blowing from that area.

 

[Volt0]

The cabin filter is brand new..I just changed it about a month ago. But what am I looking for exactly? Once I fire it up I mean, what am I supposed to expect from that area?

Clean, not clogged, installed properly, didn’t fail, … basically dot your I’s and cross your T’s, and look for any kind of physical blockage, from there try to verify that the blower functions in a reasonable fashion. If with the filter/glovebox out, if it doesn’t blow reasonably well, then you have a problem with that blower, or a problem with something that controls it.

 

[Volt0]

Sorry for the captain obvious questions, just trying to confirm the easy stuff. Does the air filter have the flow indicator pointing the right way ( should be a pic in your owner’s manual)?

 

[ShelbyDee]

Sorry for the captain obvious questions, just trying to confirm the easy stuff. Does the air filter have the flow indicator pointing the right way ( should be a pic in your owner’s manual)?

Yeah, it's installed correctly. I double checked. What would be the issue of the lack of air flow under the dash then? That setting doesn't work...

 

[ShelbyDee]

Clean, not clogged, installed properly, didn’t fail, … basically dot your I’s and cross your T’s, and look for any kind of physical blockage, from there try to verify that the blower functions in a reasonable fashion. If with the filter/glovebox out, if it doesn’t blow reasonably well, then you have a problem with that blower, or a problem with something that controls it.

I felt air coming out of the blower, but again...I'm not sure what is considered normal. It felt warm and somewhat weak to me? But I'm not entirely positive on what it SHOULD feel like. And the problem with the ZERO air flow coming from the feet still persists. :/

 

[ecidiego]

You might have a mice nest in the ducting see if you can get a fish tape or something to push through.

I always park with my HVAC set to recirculate. It keeps the fresh air vent closed so things cant get in as easily

 

[Volt0]

At least with older vehicles, there would be one or more baffles/flaps that would control the direction of airflow.

as others have mentioned, there may be some obstruction. It depends on your level of effort and mechanical abilities, but you could try getting that motor/fan isolated ( I.e. dangling by power connectors ) and test air flow again. If the airflow is still low-ish,the problem is with the motor, power, or controls. If the airflow is now suddenly awesome, then start looking for obstructions in the inbound/outbound ductwork stuff ;-)

edit: I don’t know how easy/hard it is to do this on a JT; I’ve done stuff like this on vehicles made in the ‘70s.

edit2: sometimes you might get in there, and find some lose cable that controls a baffle or something.

 

[bgott]

Set it to "floor" and then crank it all the way to "hot". The floor setting is usually used for heat, maybe on these it doesn't blow cold air down there? Damn, now I have to go out and play with mine, dunno how it is supposed to work!

 

[bgott]

Set it to "floor" and then crank it all the way to "hot". The floor setting is usually used for heat, maybe on these it doesn't blow cold air down there? Damn, now I have to go out and play with mine, dunno how it is supposed to work!

Nope, it blows whatever temperature air wherever you tell it to.

Sponsored