Poor Heat Distribution in Drivers Area of Vehicle (Install New Heat Diverter Ductsj)

Some customers may comment that there is very little heat in the driver's area of the vehicle.

This condition may be corrected by installing a newly designed center heat duct and diverter tube. Use the following procedure and the part numbers listed below to install the new ductwork.

1. Remove the screw covers from the top of the instrument panel (IP) extension and remove the retaining screws.
2. Remove the retaining nuts from the bottom of the IP extension.
3. Remove the IP extension from under the IP by pulling the extension outward and disconnecting the electrical connector.
4. Remove the screws (total of 3) that retain the driver's knee bolster to the IP.
5. Disconnect the park brake release cable from the park brake assembly and remove the knee bolster from the vehicle.
6. Place the knee bolster on a clean, flat surface with the colored side up. The knee bolster will be resting on the lower edge tabs on the bench. The right side tab is where the tube must be attached.



7. Lift the knee bolster and place the mounting of the flexible heat duct on the right side mounting tab of the knee bolster. Mark and drill two 5 mm (13/64 in) holes in the knee bolster mounting flange.
8. Attach the mounting flange to the knee bolster with the screws.

Tighten
Tighten the screws to 2 N·m (18 lb in).

9. On panel vans, it will be necessary to remove the duct attaching screws from the floor of the vehicle.
10. Remove the original center heat duct from the vehicle by grabbing at the top left corner of the duct and then pulling the duct to the left and out of the vehicle.
11. Position the new heat duct to the floor outlet, if equipped, and snap into the heater case.
12. On panel vans, reinstall the retainers for the heat duct into the floor of the vehicle.

Tighten
Tighten the retaining nuts to 2 N·m (18 lbN·min).

13. Reinstall the knee bolster to the vehicle. Position the new heat duct into the opening of the IP support brace and onto the outlet from the center heat duct.
14. Reconnect the park release cable to the park brake assembly and install the three knee bolster retaining screws.
15. Reposition the IP extension to the IP and reconnect the electrical connector.
16. Install the retainers.

Tighten
Tighten to the retainers to 8 N·m (71 lbN·min).

17. Install the screw covers to the IP extension.

Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

For vehicles repaired under warranty, use: