If I go on a long drive (eg 3+ hours), my air-con plays up. You can hear the air gushing around, but nothing comes out of the vents - put it on full bore and you can't even feel anything if you put your hands around 2 inches from any of the vents.

If I turn the air-con off (so it's fan only), it doesn't change. Leave it overnight or for a couple of hours, and it's as good as new again.

Never had it happen around town.

Any ideas?

I also experience this. I think its got something to do with the actuators controlling the mode/level settings in the heater box/blower fan, and I think its also only related to climate control equipped vehicles only. I find if I toggle the level settings (face/feet/both/etc) I will get some air out of the face vents, but on face level setting only, and not on face & feet setting until - like you said - a point of time comes (usually an hour or so later) when it finally kicks in.

weird, mine just clicks and makes funny noises when it wants to change something. but there's always air

I think its also only related to climate control equipped vehicles only.
I probably should have mentioned - my car doesn't have climate.


I find if I toggle the level settings (face/feet/both/etc) I will get some air out of the face vents, but on face level setting only, and not on face & feet setting
Unfortunately it doesn't seem to make a difference whether it's on face, feet, or a combination of both.

Could it be the resistor box? So when you turn the fan on high does it work?

Could it be the resistor box? So when you turn the fan on high does it work?
When you turn the fan speed up, you can hear the 'gushing' of noise increase in volume (and vice versa when you turn down the fan speed) - it's just that no air actually comes out of the vents :S

I probably should have mentioned - my car doesn't have climate.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to make a difference whether it's on face, feet, or a combination of both.

Sticking mode flaps maybe?

Sticking mode flaps maybe?

That's what i was thinking but why would it only happen on long drives?

Red is there any chance it could be more like when the vents get warm, rather then long drives? test that out, it may help figure out the problem.

Maybe one of the wire cables that connects your dials to the heater box to change the direction of the flow is loose?

Rip off your kick panels and look around for a purple and black cable that is like what you find on a bike. It should have a loop on the end of it. See that it is connected properly to a white lever and that it is in its wire U shaped holder. Also may be worth pulling out the centre console and seeing how the dials are functioning and whether they are moving the cables and levers enough.

This'll make more sense once you take apart your centre console and take out the drivers kick panel.

You have a Series 1 VR-X? Your car does not look almost 13 years old!!

is the air you feel cold at all or is it just a flow problem?

Sticking mode flaps maybe?
I'm not sure what that is, but that sounds like it might be what's causing it lol Where are the mode flaps?


Red is there any chance it could be more like when the vents get warm, rather then long drives? test that out, it may help figure out the problem.
For what it's worth, I've never had it happen in summer - it's only been on long drives. I use my air-con religiously so I'd notice if it wasn't working.

For context, it's happened to me a few times before, but it happened again on Monday - was driving from Coffs Harbour back to Brisbane (~5.5 hours in the car, with a 30 min break at Ballina). Air con worked fine until we were coming into Brisbane. Worked fine last night when I went for a drive as well. The previous time I can recall it happening was driving to Brisbane to Gladstone - by Maryborough (~3-3.5 hours) it had played up.


Maybe one of the wire cables that connects your dials to the heater box to change the direction of the flow is loose?
Thanks for the suggestion but I tried that once and it didn't seem to make a difference :S


is the air you feel cold at all or is it just a flow problem?
Air itself is still at the right temperature.

I'm not sure what that is, but that sounds like it might be what's causing it lol Where are the mode flaps?


They are in the heater case, if I'm not mistaken. Bit of work to get to.

you may have a TX Valve problem that is causing your evap to ice up solid.
when it happens remove the fan speed resistor and peer in the hole to see if you do indeed have an ice block in there.

Red is there any chance it could be more like when the vents get warm, rather then long drives? test that out, it may help figure out the problem.

I think that may have something to do with it also, maybe - if its accessible - it could be worthwhile to spray the hinge of the flaps (or whatever the contact points of the flaps may be) with some kind of dry-lube spray like Elmer's Slide-All, or CRC Dry-Glide, careful to not spray on the electrical components.
It may have also accrued gunk, dirt, dust, etc on the hinging point over the years; reducing the ease of movement.

you may have a TX Valve problem that is causing your evap to ice up solid.
when it happens remove the fan speed resistor and peer in the hole to see if you do indeed have an ice block in there.

It may also be worthwhile to check if the condition exists without using A/C from the outset, and again with the heater. Just run the fan only from when you first get in the car and see if the symptoms differ from that when using the A/C