The vacuum switch on my ac controls does not work properly. I guess I'm getting a little leak and it's causing the cowl door vent to not open and close consistently. Does anyone know if this swich can be fixed? Can it be bought new? I know it's cold in many places, but before I install all interior, I want to get this working properly. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

If its that little 3 hose bib Vac connection with vac hoses running to the kick panel and cowl, Ive not seen that bugger reprod anywhere. Maybe some silicone or some flex putty that can patch rubber and hold yet flex to seal the leak up. Or check for crackes vac hoses, they are very tiny size but can be replaced with NAPA type small hose but adapt to that 3 part grommet on the side of your control.
The elec switch that starts up the compressor is different, it either works or doesnt. that part is around yet.

That's the one. Is there a way to determine if a used one is good?

Eric I discussed 2 parts, the Vacuum connection and the elec. switch. You said 'thats the one' but which one? :) If its elec. it can be tested with OHM meter for continuity like any switch. It either passes elec. thru it when pushed in, or it doesnt pass thru if its broken inside. Not sure how else I can describe it. Put the meter to it and push the button in and out. Not sure I explained that right, let us know.

Your response is funny to me becuse I considered that you may not know which one I was talking about, and I wrote it anyway. It's not the electric one. The 68 only has a vacuum switch.

Im under the impressing that the vac control is the same on 68 and 69 but Im not 100% sure... if its vac is the same, that little connector is prone to be brittle and crack. You need to pull the unit out, unscrew one very tiny screw that holds the rubber part to the control frame, then pull the rubber boot off the terminals and check for cracks, its not reprod so do your best to preserve it and fix with flex rubber bond of some type. thats all I can suggest :)

I'm not sure we are talking the same part. If I have time to pull on Sunday I'll get a picture.

Eric here is a close up of the vac connection Im talking about. Is this similar to yours?
http://www.brainerd.net/~knudsen/69RS/Interior/ACvacConnection3Hose.jpg

Mine doesn't look like that. And yours is a 68? I figured 68 and 69 would be the same. Maybe even the 67. Mine came out of a Nova, a 69-74, can't remember which year. The control panel looked identical to 69 Camaro.

Jim, what did yours come out of?

Larry

Larry mine is 69 unit. My pic only really shows the hose side connection but your photo shows the actual valve too. Im pretty sure camaro and nova were the same too. Now maybe Eric can hone in on what he is having problems with. :)

OK, I can see the valve under the connector now. Do you think the 68's are the same?

Larry

I really dont know for sure, hope someone with a 68 can advise us all .

Eric, I'm not sure which one of the switches your needing, but if its the one on left out of the two pics, I just broke the tab off of one. Fortunatley, I had another doner switch to steal from. If it will help you, your welcome to the one with the broken tab. JB weld may hold it together. Let me know, Gary

The 68 is different looking from the ones in your pictures, but I think the valve or switch has the same function. The vacuum connectors on the 67 and 68 extend from the side of the switch, not from the top. The 67 has three prongs, one from the vacuum can under the driver fender, one which goes to the cowl and kick panel doors and one which goes to some electrical switch on the other side of the control unit. The 68 vacuum switch only has two vacuum connectors, one to the vacuum can under the fender and one to the cowl and kick panel doors.

I had an opportunity to squeeze my hand between the radio support and dash this past weekend and removed the switch. I slightly prier apart the two pieces of the switch and placed a little lubricant between the two sliding surfaces, moved the two pieces back and forth to get the lube on all the rubbing metal surfaces. I then took my air hose and placed on the tube where vacuum was moving inward and tapped on the air to see if I could hear the diaphram. I tapped twice and heard a little pop like the diaphram did what it was supposed to do under vacuum pressure. I then spent the better part of an hour trying to reinstall. Finally got the pin lined up and started car. For now, the switch is working. I plan on looking for some old crapped out units this swap meet season and see if I can get another just in case.

By the way, I have a picture of a 67 switch, but photobucket is down. I'll post when it's back up and running.

Here's a picture of the switch for a 67.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v240/stope4/ACvacuumswitch.jpg

Eric, I saw this and thought this might be what your looking for.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-1972-chevelle-SS-camaro-Z28-RS-SS-NOS_W0QQitemZ8031965314QQcategoryZ33645QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem

Thanks Jerry. This part is interesting. On the 68 the two vacuum ports are at one and three compared to the 67 three port switch. The one in the picture shows the vacuum ports at one and two. Not sure if it means they operate different.