E450 dash vents

[2soon]

2017 Thor Four winds E450 chassis. No air coming
from drivers side dash vents.
Fords best kept secret, even tech can't answer.
Do other RV'rs have/had this issue?


2soon

[Dutchman1]

I had this problem on my 2011 F150. One of the vent operator motors jammed shut and had to be replaced. Haven't had a problem in years now...

[2soon]

I can see the unit arm moving but there is only one, I don,t
have dual comfort controls.
I did have some shredded paper in the vents
that blow out.


2soon

[The Gritz Carlton]

Shredded anything could be a "mouse dam" in there.

[Chinasrig]

Had the same problem but mine was easy to fix the hose had come loose from the dash vent.

Have you checked yours on both ends?

[2soon]

Chinasrig,
Where are they located?
Possible pic?




2soon

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by 2soon

Chinasrig,
Where are they located?
Possible pic?




2soon

His Axis/Vegas HVAC is built by Thor, yours is built by Ford. Very little cross-over.

[Chinasrig]

Sorry Ace is correct, I just noticed the E450 and missed the fact that you have a class C. Our last rig was a Jayco class C on the 450 chassis and the HVAC system in it was stock Ford. Our problem on the Vegas was just poor workmanship from Thor.

[Lt Keefer]

My last Ford E450 had a vacuum controlled HVAC system. Mice are notorious for chewing stuff up and in mine they chewed enough vacuum lines to disable all but the defroster setting. To repair mine, the entire dash had to be removed to get to all the damaged lines.

[2soon]

Well found this post on another forum:
May invest $25 in a Harbor Freight scope!!


08-14-2022, 12:08 PM #11 kenandterry
Kanadian Kamper



Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 6,726


Got it fixed!
Sorry to everyone……I forgot I’d posted this trouble.

To summarize, in discussions with a Ford service expert (for a minimal fee) it was determined that in order to really gain access to the entire dashboard air plenum, you have to remove the steering wheel, gear selector column cover and piece by piece, the entire dash unit from door to door and windshield to floor.

I was not about to tackle this in the middle of camping season.

With the help of an endoscope camera, numerous extendable coat hangers and such, then using an air compressor nozzle, along with an industrial shop vac, I cleared a whole lot of pink insulation and dirt that were clogging my side of the plenum…..thanks to some critter….squirrel, chipmunk, or whatever.
I spent several days at it, until virtually nothing more would exit the vents anywhere.

Good powerful air ventilation, with or without air conditioning.

Done, and so glad it works as designed. My next project, try to figure how to block future critter activity.
__________________

Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count

[2soon]

Success!!!!!!!!!!!! Was able to clear the plenum as to the previous post with the same tools!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't leave napkins in/on the console, or any paper product.
Fortunately no nest but some odor to correct with air
freshener.


2soon

[Chinasrig]

Your point about the paper products is a good one but we use it in the inverse. Most everything is removed from the rig in the winter but we do keep an almost empty roll of paper towel in the kitchen. It's the mouse alarm, if we see it chewed on it's time to breakout the tack strips and peanut butter.

The smell could indicate a problem. We came home from a trip to the mountains a couple years ago with three in the RV and one in the tow car. The strips worked on the ones in the RV but the one in the Mini Cooper was a stealthy little sucker. I opened the rear hatch one day about three weeks later and there he was laying in plain sight. He was approximately 2 inches long including the tail but from the smell you would have thought he weighed 15 pounds. To this day when it gets warm outside you can still get some residual smell and I can assure you we've tried everything.

Were you ever able to find out how they got in the duct work in the first place?

[Lt Keefer]

Originally Posted by Chinasrig

Your point about the paper products is a good one but we use it in the inverse. Most everything is removed from the rig in the winter but we do keep an almost empty roll of paper towel in the kitchen. It's the mouse alarm, if we see it chewed on it's time to breakout the tack strips and peanut butter.

The smell could indicate a problem. We came home from a trip to the mountains a couple years ago with three in the RV and one in the tow car. The strips worked on the ones in the RV but the one in the Mini Cooper was a stealthy little sucker. I opened the rear hatch one day about three weeks later and there he was laying in plain sight. He was approximately 2 inches long including the tail but from the smell you would have thought he weighed 15 pounds. To this day when it gets warm outside you can still get some residual smell and I can assure you we've tried everything.

Were you ever able to find out how they got in the duct work in the first place?

Had one in a previous toad and the only way to get rid of the smell was to sell the car in the winter.

[2soon]

You can seal all nooks and crannies, keep doors and compartments closed while
out traveling etc.
Think of them as flies and mosquitos!!!!!!!
Also stink bugs!!
Once the mice are in, it's discovery for them.
(They are the best burglars)

2soon