Subaru defrost switching

Anybody familiar with the switching mechanism on the defrost of a Subaru?

Car is question is a 1998 Impreza. Heat works fine, fan works fine for the floor vents or the dash vents, but when the switch is turned from floor to defrost there is no discernible difference in the output at either. Still blows fine at the floor, nothing at the windshield.

So, I am assuming the defroster duct valve.

Anybody know if this is an electric valve or a cable operated one?

If I need to replace a fuse or switch, no problem. If there is an expensive motor driven valve, I'll probably pass. If I need to pull the dash to reattach a cable I might avoid it.

Yeah, I can probably find my own darned answer with a little trouble shooting- just thought the GRM brain trust would be quicker. I'm not interested in pulling the dash.

Thoughts?

It has been a while, but they are cable operated. Set the dials to "full hot" "def" and "fresh" before you undo it from the dash. Probably just a worn, sticky or unhooked cable at the back of the controls. DO NOT change any of the settings on the control while it is out of the dash!

If you dont have a copy of the service manual, Ken Gilbert probably has a copy on his site. You dont have to worry about motors and such until the GD/GG imprezas, but they have a nifty diagnostic mode that makes repair and well...diagnosis a bazillion times easier.

The car is obviously defective. It should be sold to someone much farther south who rarely needs heat.

I just did a dash swap between my 1999 and 1998 Imprezas (2.5RS models). They are cable actuated as Ojala said. There are three cables total for the HVAC and I can't remember which one does the windshield defrost. One of the cables is pretty easy to get to, the other two are a PITA. It might just be an issue at the controls. You can pull off the climate control panel pretty easy and check that everything is ok on that side, if not, you'll have to decide whether it's worth pulling apart more of the dash to get to the heater core where the other side of the cable mounts.

mid-'80's GL's were vacuum line operated ... I think ...it was a long time ago

Ok, thanks!...

...except for MrJoshua.

In reply to SVreX:

Front defrost HVAC box is controlled via cable (wire)... If there is no feeling when changing the door position, I'd be willing to guess the cable has come off on the pass side footwell.

Its a simple $15 OEM fix from Subaru.