1994 Dodge Spirit radio, heater controls, dome light

PATRICO

MEMBER
1994 DODGE SPIRIT
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
210,000 MILES

Radio button back lights work but thats it, no sound, no display, nothing. Also heater controls cannot not be adjusted, well temp controls work but I cannot switch from floor to dash vents. Its just vents in front of windsheild that work. And last but not least my dome light does not work properly. I can touch a wire to bulb and then to ceiling mount and it lights but it door switches or dash control wont work. Can all of these problems be of the same cause or is it just bad luck coming all at once?

Monday, May 3rd, 2010 AT 10:22 PM

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
34,330 POSTS

Hi patrico@tiptop. Welcome to the forum. Don't worry about the radio until the dome lights are fixed. The radio's station preset and clock memory circuit is tied into a circuit that is always live, in this case, the interior lights. There is one model of radio that can become dead, and it's a real simple fix, but more than likely it's related to the memory circuit.

The heater controls are spring-loaded to go to defrost mode when a problem occurs with the vacuum controls. That's a safety feature. Your feet might freeze, but you'll be able to see out of the windshield. Look under the hood for a small black plastic vacuum hose that is cracked or disconnected. The hose is rather hard, and only about 1/8" in diameter. Near the firewall will be a check valve in the hose close to where it goes through into the passenger compartment. The standard valve is about the size of a stack of two or three nickels. The upgraded valve is about 2" long and 1 1/4" in diameter. If you find that valve, follow the hose in both directions to look for a leak or break.

Caradiodoc

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Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 AT 8:40 PM