Heater System Chevrolet Camaro II

MODEL IDENTIFICATION

Adjustment and repair procedures in this article are referred to by model or body type. The following table lists GM division, model name, and body type.

GENERAL MOTORS MODELS

DESCRIPTION

System is a blend air type in which outside air is heated and then mixed in varying amounts with cooler outside air to attain desired temperature. System consists basically of 3 parts: Blower and air inlet assembly, heater air distributor assembly, and heater control assembly.

Heating components are attached to dash panel on right side of vehicle. Blower and air inlet assembly and water hoses are located on the engine side of dash panel while heater core and distributor duct are on passenger side. System has no water valve, therefore water circulation keeps heater core hot at all times. Air passing through core receives maximum heat.

Operation of blower motor is controlled by the fan switch. The motor is connected in series with the fan switch and blower resistor assembly. A 25 amp. fuse is provided to protect blower circuit operation.

CONTROL PANEL

The heater control panel includes 2 sliding levers and a blower speed switch. Levers actuate cables that control heater mode and discharge air temperature.

Vent-Heater-Defroster Lever

Controls position of defroster door and vent air door. In "VENT" position, blower is on and incoming air is directed up through instrument panel. As lever is moved toward "HEATER", vent-air door closes, directing air into distributor assembly.

At "HEATER" the defroster door directs almost all air to floor outlets with a small amount directed to dash outlets. In the "DEF" position, air is directed to defroster outlets in dash with a small amount directed to floor outlets. Moving lever part way will split air between defroster outlets and heater outlets.

Temperature Lever

Controls position of temperature door in heater distributor. Incoming air is directed around heater core in "COLD" position or through heater core in "HOT" position. The desired outlet temperature is obtained by blending heated and unheated air through adjustment of temperature lever.

Fan Switch

Several types of fan switches are used. On models with a switch that has "LO", "MED" and "HI" positions, fan runs any time ignition is on. Some models have a variable position switch that has "OFF" and "HI" positions and intermediate positions marked with dots. Other models have a variable fan switch, with fan speed increasing as lever is pushed up from "OFF" toward HI" position.

VENTILATION SYSTEM

Continuous ventilation is provided when the mode lever is in the "VENT" position. Vehicle movement may create air flow through the inside of the car even when the fan is off. Some models have additional vents (not connected to heater system) that can be operated by levers under dashboard.

Typical Heater Airflow. Scheme 1

ADJUSTMENTS

Note. Models not covered by the following procedures are equipped with self-adjusting or non-adjustable cables.

SHUT-OFF DOOR CABLE - "B" BODIES

Disconnect cable end at door. Rotate door crank to close door completely. Adjust turnbuckle to allow cable end to slip over crank.

TEMPERATURE CABLE - CAPRICE, PARISIENNE & IMPALA

Place temperature lever at "COLD" position. Disconnect cable and rotate temperature door crank to full cold position (clockwise from top view). Adjust turnbuckle until cable loop lines up with crank. Move lever to "HOT" position and listen for door hitting stop.

TEMPERATURE CABLE - "G" BODIES

Place temperature lever at "COLD" position. Disconnect cable and rotate temperature door crank to full cold position (clockwise from top view). Adjust turnbuckle until cable loop lines up with crank. Move lever to "HOT" position and listen for door hitting stop.

Replacement - "A" Bodies"

Drain cooling system. On models with diesel engines, raise the vehicle. Remove instrument panel lower sound absorber. On all models, disconnect coolant hoses at heater core. Remove heater duct and heater case side cover. Remove heater lower outlet. Remove 2 housing cover to air valve housing clips. Remove core retaining straps. Remove core tubing retainers and remove core. To install, reverse removal procedure and refill cooling system.

Typical Cable Routing of "A" Series Vehicles. Scheme 2

Replacement - "J", "T", & "X" Bodies

Disconnect battery negative cable and drain radiator. Disconnect heater hoses, plug heater core tubes and heater hoses. Remove radio noise suppression strap, heater core bracket and shroud strap or heater outlet deflector (if equipped). Remove heater core cover retaining screws and remove cover. Remove heater core. To install, reverse removal procedure making sure seals are not damaged.

Replacement - "B" Bodies

Disconnect battery ground. Disconnect electrical wires from blower motor and resistor. Disconnect heater core ground strap from dash. Drain radiator. Disconnect heater hoses and plug hoses and heater core tubes. Remove heater core shroud screws. Remove shroud with heater core, then remove screws attaching shroud to heater core. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Typical Cable Routing of "X" Series Vehicles. Scheme 3

Scheme 4

1. Disconnect battery negative cable. Drain radiator. Disconnect heater hoses and plug hoses and heater core tubes. Remove lower right sound panel and lower right instrument trim panel. (Scheme 4): Typical Cable Routing of "B" Series Vehicles
2. On vehicles equipped with 5.0L engine, remove the ESC control module. Remove screw from lower right instrument panel carrier to cowl. Remove heater case cover screws and remove cover.
3. Remove screws from support plate and heater core. Remove heater core with support plate. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Replacement - Riviera & Toronado

1. Disconnect battery ground cable, and drain coolant. Disconnect hoses from heater core. Working inside vehicle, remove instrument panel trim covers, and lower steering column. Remove instrument cluster and front speakers.
2. Remove 10 screws securing panel to heater case and cowl. Disconnect wiring harness, brake release cable, mirror cable, speedometer cable, and other wiring. Remove instrument panel.
3. Remove defroster ducts and blower resister assembly. Remove nuts securing heater assembly to firewall (reach through blower resistor opening. Remove heater assembly and core. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Scheme 5

1. Disconnect battery negative cable and electrical wires at blower motor. On "G" and "B" body vehicles with diesel engines, remove cowl insulator. Remove blower motor cooling tube on "F" bodies or plastic water shield from right side of cowl on "J" bodies. (Scheme 5): Typical Cable Routing of "G" Series Vehicles
2. Scribe blower motor to housing position. Remove retaining screws and remove blower motor with fan. Pry flange away from housing and remove blower assembly. To install, reverse removal procedure and replace sealing material at motor flange if necessary. Make sure the scribe marks made upon removal are aligned.

Replacement - Chevette & T1000

Disconnect battery negative cable. Remove center trim panel screws and radio control knobs (if equipped). Remove section of instrument panel surrounding radio (if equipped) and heater control. Remove screws attaching heater control to instrument panel. Pull heater control out of dash. Disconnect control cables and electrical wires. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Replacement - Camaro & Firebird

Disconnect battery negative cable. Remove trim plate from around heater control and radio. Remove screws retaining control to console and pull heater control out so cables and electrical connectors can be disconnected. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Replacement - "A", "B", "G", & "X" Bodies

Disconnect battery negative cable. Remove instrument panel trim plate (right trim plate on "B" body or lower trim cover on "G" body). Remove control panel retaining screws and pull heater control out of instrument panel. Disconnect electrical connectors and control cables. To install, reverse removal procedure.

Replacement - "J" Bodies

Disconnect battery negative cable. Remove glove box and right side sound panel. Disconnect control cables and heater control. Remove heater control panel trim plate and attaching screws. Pull heater control out and disconnect electrical connections and cables from heater control. To install, reverse removal procedures.

Heater Wiring Diagram (All Models). Scheme 6