Two Questions, Possibly Related

2003 SCREW 4x4 4.6 Auto, 116K miles

My HVAC system likes to park itself on blowing through the defrost vents. Switching to A/C panel will maybe eventually blow through the dash but then reverts to the defrost, same is true for floor/heat and other settings. I assume there is a vacuum hose problem somewhere but would appreciate specific guidance.

While checking/replacing some of the vacuum lines I pulled the line I'm pointing to in the pic. It came loose on the wrong end! (meaning the one that runs down next to the battery. I can't find where that little fella is supposed to go.

As always, thanks for your help


Where does the other end of this little fella go?

 

That's the supply to the HVAC so it passes through the firewall. It has been repaired before so it's probably brittle.

Gasses from the battery can make them brittle. Personally, I'd remove the battery and battery tray before messing with them. Its tight in there and too easy to make even more problems for yourself by breaking more lines.

 

Thanks Ray.
I guess this just became a project.

 

For Posterity...
Ray was absolutely correct. It would be nearly impossible to do this job without removing the battery and tray. That little hose goes to the grommet in the firewall. What I learned, after much searching and then pretty much standing on my head with a carefully aimed flashlight, is that the grommet in the firewall is a vacuum fitting. There's a very small hole in the recess of the grommet. Once you push that somewhat stiff (but not nearly stiff enough) hose in there, you're done. Use rubber line from the auto parts store to patch the original where it's compromised.
Don't take the grommet out
Don't poke around for a broken fitting
Don't take all the under dash stuff apart
Just ease the vacuum line into that little hole and gently push until it stops.

 

Glad I found this older thread. I did the same thing, replaced a short hose and pulled this out. I finally figured out it goes through the firewall. Glad to know I might be able to fix it by just reinserting into the grommet, without having to get into the dash. Hopefully get it fixed tomorrow. Thanks!