Author Topic: 74 c10 hvac control  (Read 1058 times)

Offline doneebaker

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74 c10 hvac control
« on: February 14, 2026, 04:52:36 pm »
Hello folks , new user here. I have a 74 c10 with a/c  that I cant get the heater motor to do anything. It will run on slow mode when I turn on the key but nothing else. While poking around in there I see an orange wire hanging from the hvac vacuum switch on the right side of the controller just hanging there not connected to anything and I can't see any other wires hanging down it should be connected to. I assume that it needs power but we all know about assuming things. Every thing else is intact. So if anyone would know where that wire goes to or what it is connected to that would be a huge help. I tried to find diagrams online but no luck. Thanks in advance for any help..

Offline bd

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Re: 74 c10 hvac control
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2026, 12:20:57 am »
This is exciting!  It's been quiet around here lately.  Welcome to the Forum!  (Que the music Zieg!)*

Using a test light, does the "dangling" orange wire probe battery voltage (B+)?

Assuming factory A/C, is the 4-wire harness with brown, yellow, light green, and light blue wires plugged into the blower switch (see attached diagram)?

Does the brown wire connected to the blower switch probe 12 volts with the ignition switch on?




* Inside joke...

Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline doneebaker

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Re: 74 c10 hvac control
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2026, 02:23:59 pm »
Thanks for the reply. So I probed the brown wire and it does have power with switch on. The orange wire does not. The orange wire in question is the one on the bottom right of the diagram. Connects to 52 , 2977253, in the picture. The diagram does not show where that goes to, and that is my question. And yes it is all original factory stuff.

Offline bd

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Re: 74 c10 hvac control
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2026, 03:08:17 pm »
As a WAG that dangling orange wire is for a different model application and should NOT be connected to anything on your truck.

Unplug the blower switch and jump the brown wire to the light green OR light blue wire in the blower switch connector.  With the ignition switched ON, does the blower motor spin at Medium or Medium High speed, respectively?  Now, jump the brown wire to the orange wire in the blower switch connector.  With the ignition ON, does the blower spin up to High Speed?
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline doneebaker

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Re: 74 c10 hvac control
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2026, 06:12:21 pm »
I checked them tonight and the motor does spin up on the blue and green wire, but does not on the orange wire.

Offline bd

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Re: 74 c10 hvac control
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2026, 09:06:05 pm »
At the very least, it sounds like you have a bad blower switch.  But, there is more to the story and problem.  Refer to the posted wiring diagram.  The 18-gauge orange control wire from the blower switch is for high blower speed; it energizes the high blower relay to supply B+ power directly to the blower motor via a 15-amp inline fuse and 10-gauge orange wire that are physically restricted to the engine compartment, bypassing all lighter-gauge wiring inside the cab.  Odds are that the plastic inline fuse holder connected to the firewall B+ junction block (located somewhere above the passenger-side engine valve cover) is melted, severing the high-blower fuse connection to B+ power.

Does the high blower relay "click" when you jump brown to orange at the blower switch with the ignition ON?  If "YES", replace the factory inline fuse holder and AGC 15 glass fuse.  I recommend upgrading to a 20-amp mini-ANL fuse and holder to help alleviate a repeat failure.  If "NO", replace the high blower relay, then recheck the high blower function (an underlying problem still could exist with the inline fuse holder).  Before replacing the high blower relay, read the Technical Article, "Blower Motor Relay info (Keeps blowing fuses)."

Edit:  The foregoing assumes the relay control wiring is intact and properly connected.  Before replacing the high blower relay because it doesn't 'click', use your test light to validate control power to the relay coil via the 18-gauge orange wire from the blower switch.  You should also confirm that the relay coil is effectively grounded via the connected 18-gauge black wire.
« Last Edit: February 17, 2026, 12:52:04 pm by bd »
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline Rapid Roy

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Re: 74 c10 hvac control
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2026, 11:46:26 am »
Check this fuse and replace if blown.
1974 Cheyenne 10 LWB STOCK 350 W HEI /TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet
Mopar by Birth
Chevy by Choice