Help - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

anth331 · 03-20-2021, 06:54 PM

My 2012 ss is only blowing hot air. It will blow cold for about 5 seconds and then back to hot air I’ve seen the compressor engage and then after 5 seconds it disengages. Also the heater doesn’t put out real hot air. I’m old and live in the Houston area and haven’t had to use the AC until today since the freeze. It shows to be full of Freon Could it be the “Blend Door? I’m at a loss as of what is going on If anybody has advice for this old man please, pass it on Thanks

ariZona28 · 03-20-2021, 09:45 PM

Head on over to the 5th Gen General discussions section of this forum. "Heater Blend Door Hack" is currently on pg 10. Grab a sandwich and something to drink and give it a good reading. Lots of trouble-shooting and plenty of good info. Your problem SOUNDS like a broken blend door but you're wise to properly diagnose first. One of the quick checks was to pinch off your heater hoses and see if the A/C feels considerably cooler. If it does, I'm sorry. I personally have yet to perform any of the trouble-shooting techniques but I do disconnect the actuator seasonally to reduce excessive cycling.

anth331 · 03-23-2021, 09:35 PM

It is the blend door. I had it put on a vacuum and then recharged. There was no difference. After I got home I let it cool down for a couple of hours. I then pinched the hot water hoses and it blew nothing but, Ice cold air. Thanks for your help ariZona28.

Camaro2ss2010 · 03-24-2021, 08:02 AM

Sounds like at this point you have a few options. 1. Not us AC(not an option in Texas). 2. Remove dash to replace it or 3. Cut the firewall to access the blend door. Good luck with whatever option you choose and keep the temperature knob about 3 clicks to the right of cold so maybe it does not happen again.

ariZona28 · 03-24-2021, 11:43 AM

If you can't do the cut-job repair maybe you can find a local shop or individual that is familiar with the procedure. The nice thing about that is you'll have an access "door" for future repairs. One other option is to bypass the heater core, no heat in winter but it will get you by until you make a decision. As with any heater hose maintenance use caution, if you damage or break the ports the dash MUST come out for heater core replacement.

anth331 · 03-24-2021, 04:47 PM

I’ve already bought a blend door and a hot knife I’m going to do it myself after watching a whole bunch of YouTube videos Nothing ventured nothing gained

ariZona28 · 03-24-2021, 06:23 PM

That's the spirit! I know if I was going to do it I would remove the driver seat to get maximum room. When I was poking around under the dash I did this little trick with cardboard and a couple of old tires, makes it easier on the back!

anth331 · 03-24-2021, 07:51 PM

I saw that, great ideal. Being 58 I don't want to throw out my back worse than it is.

anth331 · 03-31-2021, 08:22 AM

Took the front seat, changed the blend door. It fixed the problem. I hope that I never ever have to do it again.

ariZona28 · 03-31-2021, 12:16 PM

Glad to hear you accomplished the task! Maybe treat yourself to a good hot tub soak or a trip to the Chiropractor. Or both!

anth331 · 03-31-2021, 01:28 PM

At my age, I need the Chiropractor. Forget everything else

03-20-2021, 06:54 PM	#1
anth331 Drives: 12SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton, Tx. 77535 Posts: 728	Help My 2012 ss is only blowing hot air. It will blow cold for about 5 seconds and then back to hot air I’ve seen the compressor engage and then after 5 seconds it disengages. Also the heater doesn’t put out real hot air. I’m old and live in the Houston area and haven’t had to use the AC until today since the freeze. It shows to be full of Freon Could it be the “Blend Door? I’m at a loss as of what is going on If anybody has advice for this old man please, pass it on Thanks

03-20-2021, 09:45 PM	#2
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,766	Head on over to the 5th Gen General discussions section of this forum. "Heater Blend Door Hack" is currently on pg 10. Grab a sandwich and something to drink and give it a good reading. Lots of trouble-shooting and plenty of good info. Your problem SOUNDS like a broken blend door but you're wise to properly diagnose first. One of the quick checks was to pinch off your heater hoses and see if the A/C feels considerably cooler. If it does, I'm sorry. I personally have yet to perform any of the trouble-shooting techniques but I do disconnect the actuator seasonally to reduce excessive cycling. __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course. Last edited by ariZona28; 03-24-2021 at 11:30 AM.

03-24-2021, 08:02 AM	#4
Camaro2ss2010 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SSRS M6 Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Alabama Posts: 1,286	Sounds like at this point you have a few options. 1. Not us AC(not an option in Texas). 2. Remove dash to replace it or 3. Cut the firewall to access the blend door. Good luck with whatever option you choose and keep the temperature knob about 3 clicks to the right of cold so maybe it does not happen again. __________________ ECS supercharger, Texas speed stage 3 boosted cam, Johnson 2110 race style lifters, ported throttle body, long tube headers, aeromotive fuel pump, fic injectors, ATI super damper, Corsa Extreme exhaust, elite engineering catch can and many other things.

03-24-2021, 11:43 AM	#5
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,766	If you can't do the cut-job repair maybe you can find a local shop or individual that is familiar with the procedure. The nice thing about that is you'll have an access "door" for future repairs. One other option is to bypass the heater core, no heat in winter but it will get you by until you make a decision. As with any heater hose maintenance use caution, if you damage or break the ports the dash MUST come out for heater core replacement. __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.

03-24-2021, 06:23 PM	#7
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,766	That's the spirit! I know if I was going to do it I would remove the driver seat to get maximum room. When I was poking around under the dash I did this little trick with cardboard and a couple of old tires, makes it easier on the back! Attached Images __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.

03-23-2021, 09:35 PM	#3
anth331 Drives: 12SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton, Tx. 77535 Posts: 728	It is the blend door. I had it put on a vacuum and then recharged. There was no difference. After I got home I let it cool down for a couple of hours. I then pinched the hot water hoses and it blew nothing but, Ice cold air. Thanks for your help ariZona28.

03-24-2021, 04:47 PM	#6
anth331 Drives: 12SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton, Tx. 77535 Posts: 728	I’ve already bought a blend door and a hot knife I’m going to do it myself after watching a whole bunch of YouTube videos Nothing ventured nothing gained

03-24-2021, 07:51 PM	#8
anth331 Drives: 12SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton, Tx. 77535 Posts: 728	I saw that, great ideal. Being 58 I don't want to throw out my back worse than it is.

03-31-2021, 08:22 AM	#9
anth331 Drives: 12SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton, Tx. 77535 Posts: 728	Took the front seat, changed the blend door. It fixed the problem. I hope that I never ever have to do it again.

03-31-2021, 12:16 PM	#10
ariZona28 Give speed a chance Drives: 2015 Camaro 2LS, 2015 Camaro Z/28 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 2,766	Glad to hear you accomplished the task! Maybe treat yourself to a good hot tub soak or a trip to the Chiropractor. Or both! __________________ 2LS: a TREMENDOUS machine. Z/28: it's a BIT MORE POWERFUL, of course.

03-31-2021, 01:28 PM	#11
anth331 Drives: 12SS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dayton, Tx. 77535 Posts: 728	At my age, I need the Chiropractor. Forget everything else