Could anyone confirm whether the 1994 facelift XJS has electric actuators for opening/closing the center vent when fresh air/AC is used? Is there any vacuum involved or is it the electric actuator itself that actually opens/closes the vent?

I worked on my 94 CC several years ago but have forgotten!

Richard

 

The center vent and defrost vent actuators are vacuum operated. The defrost vent MUST be closed in order for the center vent to open, as they are mechanically interlocked. So the center vent not opening could be either a fault of the center vent, or the defrost vent. Without vacuum, the defrost vent stays open. With the engine running, and the HVAC controls set to anything other than defrost and set to full cold, see if lots of air is coming out of the defrost vents. If there is, troubleshoot the defrost vent first.

The vacuum actuators for the defrost and center vents are both located on the right side of the passenger compartment. You have to remove the lower dash panel, then lay on your back to see them. A hand vacuum pump is helpful to test the actuators themselves.

The vacuum to the sctuators is controlled by solenoids actuated by the HVAC computer board.

 

Here some images from the late model parts manual and the workshop manual for the face-lift cars.

The actuators are both #6.


Jon