Heater Control- Warm Cool selector

RonJudi · 01-30-2004, 06:36 PM

Third week I have owned my 33 LY but it has not been home yet. Heater core has been replaced by dealer and $863 later it almost heats or cools on demand. Problem: It seems that on the previous owners watch the selector cable that controls degree of heat was CUT and partially removed. This was discovered as I had driven 75 miles to pick up the supposedly repaired unit. I have no idea why someone would do this instead of just disconnecting it but it doesn't matter at this point. In order to reconnect temperature control a cable must found and routed like the orginal that was destroyed. Has anyone had occasion to work in this area and can share information that will aid in this effort. I don't have a clue how the ends are terminated and what the cable looks like, what length it is, or how it should be routed, so just about any information will help. Monday starts a new wild goose chase! Thanks Ron

wb13798 · 01-30-2004, 08:49 PM

if the cable isnt working i would remove and measure the length and post some pictures. i know where some cables are but as stated above need to see if the ends are the same and also the lenght.
hate to say this but if you arent talking to a airstream dealer you are wasting your time. unless you have the cable in your hand. then the question is do you got one of these.
i would e-mail or call airstream tech support and see if thay could help .
and possibly tell you where you can get one. you would think chevrolet would have that part . no airstrean selected the heat and air units. probably not even close to an gm unit. lots a luck

swebster · 01-30-2004, 09:04 PM

In my [older and classic not LY] AS MH the cable runs from the control through the firewall to a valve on the heater hose forward of the firewall. You should be able to see it toward the pass side inline with the heater hose.

Not sure if yours is the same but I think the heater boxes are all setup on the pass side.

Try this - if you can get a pair of pliers on the dash side, try and move it in and out and have an assistant look outside and inside for movement and sound.

Then remove it and look in the "repair parts" section at NAPA or AutoZone. Should be an automotive cable - nothing special or Airstream about it.

I also think some of these work in conjunction with a "flapper" in the heater box to route outside air into the box and bypass the heater core.

Good luck and post what you find out. With all of this cold weather up here I'm sure someone else will benefit from your advice.

RonJudi · 01-31-2004, 05:46 PM

Update: Unit is still at dual dealership. Airstream and Chevrolet. Why tech can't repair I have no clue. Friday service assistant checked late in day with AS and they could not come up with any info on cable. Unit is 75 miles from me so I can't look under the dash and see what type of lever to cable connection is used. I bought a 9 foot universal kit to convert from automatic choke to manual choke to get parts that may can be used to solve problem. Again the tech worked on this for three weeks and expected me to take rig with no control. He says cable has been cut and is missing. I wonder if the cable is mated permanently to lever in a made up assembly or is connected like a lawnmower with a friction screw on either or both ends. I hope somebody on the forum has been behind the dash on these units and can maybe shed some light on the subject. I really do not know what is required on either end or the actual type of cable. I do appreciate the info you have given and I promise to post results and document for others. Ron

74Argosy24MH · 01-31-2004, 06:16 PM

I can't help with the exact length and routing but they are called Bowden cables. The ends are usually loops over a post on an arm with a tinnerman nut to hold it on. Length and routing should be close to what is already there.

John

RonJudi · 01-31-2004, 07:59 PM

John, That diagram and picture is wonderful. Hope it is like the LY.
My heater that was messed up pretty good is now providing heat! I am told that it if it ever returns to a temperature here in Arkansas above that of this ridiculus cold spell the system will even make cold. It is amazing how we now take for granted that heater in the front of MHs. I certainly learned the importance of keeping our units out of the hands of unqualified persons claiming to be RV specialists. It took a dealer that has trained GM, Chrysler, and Airstream personal on staff working with the airstream factory people to get it going again. What a mess. This was due I believe to a technician who destroyed the heating system in his attempt to haywire a fix. You know, the kind that cuts things out because they are causing a problem and you don't really need them anyway. The lesson learned is find sombody you can trust thru references. Best yet, learn the systems yourself so you can avoid what happened to the previous owner of my rig. Did I tell you how nice it is to have heat and cool at the touch of a lever and a few buttons. Thanks to this forum for all the good information.