Replaced the Heater Control Valve and went to connect the vacuum line that goes to it. The vacuum line was so brittle that it broke. I have some questions about where the vacuum line goes. Took off the shroud above the front passenger tire. Can trace the lines back to firewall under black cylinder shaped item. Behind the coolant and window washer fluid reservoirs.

Shroud above passenger tire is off.

Gray line that I'm holding goes onto Heater Control Valve. It broke off as you can see in picture.


This is the end that broke off that attaches to heater control valve.


I can take the black elbow off.

I traced the gray line back under the firewall.


Gray line goes into black connector along with a black line.


Tracing the black line leads me to a black ball shaped item. Near the alternator.


Anyways. The black connector that the gray and black lines goes into seems to go into the glove box area. I look under the glove box and above the inertia switch (passenger side under glove box), and find the other side of black connecter. Looks like white connector.


I open the glove box and see these lines behind it. Looks like gray line turns into white line behind glove box.


White line splits off into two directions. Black line only one direction. The two continue behind where the stereo bay would be.

Question I have is this:

How do I disconnect the gray line so that I can replace it? Does it just pull out of the black connector? Or do I need to disconnect some stuff from inside the glove box. Don't want to break anything here.

 

Its a vacuum line so you can just slide a snug fitting "rubber" vacuum hose over it to repair it at the break, a splice, no clamps needed, thats how you fix any of the hard plastic vacuum lines, just FYI
Parts stores sell the rubber vacuum hose by the foot, get a few feet of correct size, you will need it, lol
Take that short grey piece in with you to get correct size, it just needs to be snug not super tight, its a VACUUM line, so pulls together, its doesn't try to push apart like a coolant hose or ??, so no clamps needed

The grey line connects to the White line in the cab, the connector for the two lines(picture 8) can be disconnected inside the cab, then the grommet folded over and push thru into the engine bay, no need to do this but that's how it comes out or is installed

The black line in engine bay and the cab is the Vacuum Source line, it runs to the vacuum reservoir(picture 7) in front of the passenger side tire, down low behind inner fender of wheel well, looks like a black ball
The black line runs to cab panel controller, it provides all the vacuum for vent control, defrost, panel, floor..............also fresh air or re-cycled air

You might be able to find a replacement Grey line in a wrecking yard, but may be as brittle at yours.........or worse

The white line connects to the Fresh air Vent vacuum "motor"(picture 9), and to the grey line(the splitter) that goes to the Heater Core By-pass
There is only Vacuum in the white(or Grey) line when selector is in OFF position or MAX AC, it has no vacuum in any other settings

There is usually a Vacuum manifold connector on driver's side of glove box opening, where all the red, yellow, blue, white and black lines connect, this is an assembly splice, dash is assembled then control panel is added and its vacuum hoses are plugged in there, like a "wiring connector" but for vacuum lines
Just FYI, if you ever need to replace the control panel

Diagram here of the Ranger vent vacuum lines: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/a...ntid=517&stc=1

On the right you will see the white and then Grey lines
At the top the vacuum source, black line and vacuum "tank"

The By-pass valve doesn't control "heat", its an on/off valve no temp control
When system is OFF it closes and sends coolant from upper intake directly back to water pump, by-passing the heater core in the cab
Or in MAX AC as well, but the re-circulating air vs Fresh HOT air makes the biggest difference in cooling in the cab, also good to use this setting on a dusty road, closes fresh air vent

In any other position the by-pass valve is open and coolant runs thru heater core
On the heater core is the Blend Door, its electric, this is the Temp Control, the Temp **** runs this door
The Blend Door routes the air from the Blower/fan either thru the heater core(HOT) or around the heater core(COLD), or.........anywhere in between
Blend door Actuator is a common failure on 1995 and up Fords, Rangers included

 

Thanks Ron. Lots of good information here.

Based on what I'm reading here, if you were testing the vacuum in the gray/white lines, you would want the settings in the off or max ac position? Otherwise there will be no vacuum?

Would the valve need to be attached to get vacuum in white line?

This vacuum line won't effect heat in car, because the valve is closed when heat settings are on?

What happens if I'm not getting heat? I get air blowing out but no heat when in heat settings. Does this mean something else is wrong? Such as heater core?

 

Yes, grey hose in engine bay and white hose in cab only have vacuum present in OFF or MAX AC selections

No, valve doesn't need to be attached, but if not capped it can effect vacuum in white hose

The heat control **** in 1995 and up Rangers operates an Electric motor door, so vacuum has no effect on heat/temp
Called the Blend Door Actuator, and a common failure on many Ford Models

Google: Ranger blend door actuator

Many videos on ways to replace this device without pulling out the dash(Fords recommended method)

 

My hose is completely gone, do you know the size of it???

 

Welcome to the forum

This thread is from 2021?

You should start your own thread, go here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/genera...discussion-15/
On the left click on "+ New Thread"
Make up your title
Then post your question
DO NOT FORGET, Year of your Ranger, Engine Model, manual or automatic may matter but never hurt to include too much info, lol

 

you know what truck I'm talking about because you are looking at the thread. If you don't know the answer just say that.

 

do you know the size of your hose that you are referring to in this post. My hose is completely gone.