Air Distribution and Filtering (Air Distribution)

AIR DISTRIBUTION

NOTE: The air distribution system of this vehicle cannot be equipped with a cabin air filter.

There are 2 sources of air available to the air distribution system:
- Outside air
- Recirculated air

Recirculated air is only used when the manual climate control mode selector is set in the MAX A/C or OFF modes. If the vehicle is equipped with a dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control (EATC) system, recirculated air is used in OFF and is available in all modes except DEFROST and FLOOR/DEFROST.

Air distribution within the vehicle is determined by the function selector switch position (manual A/C), or is controlled by the EATC system in the AUTOMATIC mode. The air distribution mode on EATC vehicles may be overridden by the driver if desired. There are 4 independently actuated airflow mode doors used to direct airflow within the heater core and evaporator core housing and the plenum chamber. Vacuum control motors are used to position these airflow mode doors.

Vehicles equipped with EATC use a partitioned plenum chamber, and heater core and evaporator core housing assembly with 2 separate temperature blend doors. This allows individual temperature settings to be selected for the RH and LH air outlets. The airflow mode doors are similar for manual and EATC systems. Therefore, the airflow mode for the RH and LH outlets will remain similar in all modes, regardless of the selected temperature settings.

The air distribution system is designed to provide airflow from the defroster duct when no vacuum is applied to any of the vacuum control motors. This is done to prevent a situation where defrost cannot be obtained due to a system vacuum leak.

Air enters the passenger compartment from the:
- instrument panel A/C registers.
- heater outlet floor ducts.
- windshield defroster duct.
- side window demisters.
- center flow-through console.

Passenger compartment air is exhausted from the vehicle through open windows or body air vents.