Dodge Dakota 2001, Service Manual

Page: 2192 / 2307

INSTALLATION
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-
CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-
BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
(1) Position the defroster duct to the instrument
panel.
(2) Install the fasteners that secure the defroster
duct to the instrument panel armature.
(3) Reinstall the instrument panel in the vehicle.
(Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/IN-
STRUMENT
PANEL ASSEMBLY - INSTALLA-
TION).
(4) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
FLOOR DISTRIBUTION DUCTS
REMOVAL
(1) Roll back the carpet on the front floor from
under the instrument panel toward the rear of the
vehicle. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INTERIOR/CARPETS
AND FLOOR MATS - REMOVAL).
(2) Lift the center floor distribution duct upward
far enough to disengage its locator hole from the
weld stud on the front floor panel.
(3) Pull the floor distribution duct assembly rear-
ward far enough to disengage the center floor distri-
bution duct from the outlet on the bottom of the
heater-A/C housing unit.
INSTALLATION
(1) Assemble the right and/or left floor distribution
ducts onto the center floor distribution duct as
required.
(2) Slide the floor distribution duct assembly
under the instrument panel center stack far enough
to engage the center floor distribution duct with the
outlet on the bottom of the heater-A/C housing unit.
(3) Align the locator hole on the center floor distri-
bution duct with the weld stud on the front floor
panel.
(4) Using hand pressure, push the locator hole of
the center floor distribution duct down over the weld
stud on the front floor panel.
(5) Reinstall the carpet onto the front floor panel
and under the instrument panel. (Refer to 23 -
BODY/INTERIOR/CARPETS AND FLOOR MATS -
INSTALLATION).
HVAC HOUSING
DESCRIPTION
All vehicles are equipped with a common heater-
A/C housing assembly. The system combines air con-
ditioning, heating, and ventilating capabilities in a
single unit housing mounted under the instrument
panel. On heater-only systems, the evaporator coil
and recirculation air door are omitted from the hous-
ing.
OPERATION
Outside fresh air enters the vehicle through the
cowl top opening at the base of the windshield, and
passes through a plenum chamber to the heater-A/C
system blower housing. Air flow velocity can then be
adjusted with the blower motor speed selector switch
on the heater-A/C control panel. The air intake open-
ings must be kept free of snow, ice, leaves, and other
obstructions for the heater-A/C system to receive a
sufficient volume of outside air.
It is also important to keep the air intake openings
clear of debris because leaf particles and other debris
that are small enough to pass through the cowl ple-
num screen can accumulate within the heater-A/C
housing. The closed, warm, damp and dark environ-
ment created within the heater-A/C housing is ideal
for the growth of certain molds, mildews and other
fungi. Any accumulation of decaying plant matter
provides an additional food source for fungal spores,
which enter the housing with the fresh air. Excess
debris, as well as objectionable odors created by
decaying plant matter and growing fungi can be dis-
charged into the passenger compartment during
heater-A/C system operation.
The heater and optional air conditioner are blend-
air type systems. In a blend-air system, a blend-air
door controls the amount of unconditioned air (or
cooled air from the evaporator on models with air
conditioning) that is allowed to flow through, or
around, the heater core. A temperature control knob
on the heater-A/C control panel determines the dis-
charge air temperature. By moving a electric actua-
tor which operates the blend-air door. This allows an
almost immediate manual control of the output air
temperature of the system.
AN
DISTRIBUTION 24 - 27
DEFROSTER DUCTS (Continued)