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1997 TJ Jeep Defroster Problem

36K views 32 replies 20 participants last post by  Hey Grandad 
#1 ·
Ok, so the problem is that when I turn on the defroster it shuts off after about 1 second. I removed the kicker panel below the steering wheel and saw that both the panel mist and defroster L piece that goes into the hole in the panel were broken. I have both the pieces on order to be shipped, the main problem right now is trying to get the L piece off the actuator arm off without snapping/breaking the arm. Any ideas how to do this?

Here's a picture of the assembly that I'm dealing with.



Thanks for any help.
 
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#5 ·
I'm not exactly sure, but I do believe the 97 and 98 heater boxes are unique to those years. It's not uncommon for the heater box pivot shafts to snap internally in the box. You may need a replacement heater box from a wrecking yard. There is a guy in Portland Oregon who specializes in TJ, and I sourced a box from him. He advertises extensively on Ebay. Good luck.
 
#6 ·
I have the same problem with the fan slamming an inside flap shut on a '97 TJ. It looks like of the plastic pieces at the end of the metal arm of the defrost actuator is broke. It's hard to see up there and I didn't think it was broke at first. I saw somewhere someone used a self tapping screw to connect the broken plastic pieces without taking out the entire box?
 
#7 ·
Well I definitely know that the plastic lever is broken, if you are having the same problem I suggest taking the driver seat out, unless you're young and haven't wrecked your back yet, and get underneath the dash on the driver side by the pedals, and look to your left. That's where you should see the levers and whether they are broken or not.
 
#9 ·
I am having the same issue. 2 of the plastic levers are broken on mine -- the Panel/Demist Door and the Defrost Door. I got the L piece off the actuator arm without snapping/breaking the arm by removing the little clip and fishing the L piece out of the actuator arm.

The issue is how to fix. It appears that the lever that works the defrost door flap inside the air box broke off in the box itself. I can get a deck screw into the broken end of the lever but cannot fish it out of the hole. I think I am screwed and will need to take out the dash and the air box to fix it, unless anyone has any suggestions.

Excellent picture Ripsaw
 
#10 ·
Sorry but the only way to repair it is to do it right. Out comes the heater box.
You'll have to split the box to replace the door(s) that broke.

Nice weekend project for most. Not that hard of a job, it's just a lot of screws that need to be removed to do it, most of them identical, and the ones that aren't are easy to spot and return to the proper place.

And while you are in there, it would be wise to replace the heater core and evaporator. That's what I just did about a month ago.

Like said not a hard job, but once done it's not a job you want to do more then once.
 
#13 ·
I just fixed mine by running 1" deck screws through the broken lever into the piece still in the air box. Maybe not the best solution but my defrost and other settings now work, I'd say about 90% correct. Meaning there maybe a little air blowing through the defrost when the setting is set to floor, for example. I can live with that. Plus it may just be a temporary fix until I get a chance to fix it the right way.

All you need to do is familiarize yourself with the diagram Ripsaw provided and how the actuator arms work and position themselves as you change heater positions from floor to defrost. With the control set to the floor position, flap for the defrost will be closed. I screwed the broken lever back into position. making sure to go through the hole on the piece that was broken off in the air box. I then hooked up the actuator arms and round clips. That's it.

I hope this helps others.
 
#15 ·
Ok so I finally got around to fixing it today. My problem was that the two plastic levers had broken, and the half with the star shaped gear and long skinny connector was stuck in the gear hole. I took a drywall screw and screwed it in there as tight as I could, and with the kicker panel taken off I used a pair of vise grips to pull on the screw and get out the remaining part.

Unfortunately only half it came out, the long skinny part stayed in. Knowing the skinny part was only there to keep the part in there and the star shaped piece controls the door, I took the new plastic lever piece I bought and reluctantly cut off the skinny part, leaving only the star shaped gear on the end.

In the end I connected the actuator back up with the plastic piece and got the defroster to work.

Tip for anyone doing this; take out the actuators, it frees up more room in the cramped quarters and allows you to put the plastic bit back on the metal lever before you reinstall it, just give the actuator a good pull and it will come out.
 
#19 ·
I've had this problem with my 99 TJ, and reading this thread almost a year ago I had diagnosed it as being one of these actuator levers. But then winter made me not want to be out doing it, and then I didn't need defrost. Now winter is coming again, so I decided to go about fixing it. Took the seat out today, and I don't know if the lever is broken or what, but definitely "loose." The one giving me trouble is the defrost actuator, and the defrost has never worked since I got the jeep. I just pushed the black plastic piece into the hole, and it seemed to kind of "seat," and now my defrost and everything works for the first time, yeah!

But not so fast... Now the fan is making a sound like it is hitting something, regardless of what setting the heater is on (vents, floor, defrost, or combos). I dont know if I somehow pushed something into the fan or...? And if so, the fan might eventually knock the plastic piece back out again? As you can tell, I'm definitely a novice at this. I was reading about removing the fan motor and checking if some sort of debris is in the housing, but couldn't figure out how to do that. I removed the battery and found what appeared to be where I would access the fan (which I think is actually located above the passenger foot area), but I wasn't sure, so didn't mess with it.

Any advice from anyone on this would be greatly appreciated.
 
#24 ·
thanks fourjeeps, that got mine to pass inspection
 
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