Hot blowing air (drivers side floor) when on parkway

[StevenF]

I needs some advice.  When driving on the highway, I feel a hot breeze coming from under the steering column which blows approximate at my calves.  To explain it better, it is not "heat" because our cars "run" hot, but a constant flow of air.  I will be installing insulation under the carpets in the very near future, but this "hot blowing" needs to be addressed.  Is there a grommet lower down the firewall that would allow air to come through when highway driving?  Is there a valve that needs to be closed? 


I do not have a manual on the proper way to set the heater and I am not sure what all the levers do--but they seem rather easy to figure out---any advice with regards to heater operation would also be helpful. Currently I have the top left lever shifted all the way to the left and all others are set in the middle.
Regards
Steven

[66andBlue]

With the levers set as you described there should be no hot air coming into the cabin and the heater valve should be closed. Take a look at the photo here (scroll down):
https://www.sl113.org/wiki/Electrical/HeaterControlValve

[StevenF]

Alfred,
Thank you for the information.

The latest update :  I took my car on the parkway and reached underneath to feel where the air is coming in---
Low and behold, there are 2 openings/holes on the steering column.  When I put my finger in the hole the air stopped coming through.
I did the same for the second opening and the air stopped coming through.

Does anyone know what those 2 openings are for?  I plan on taking a small piece of metal tape (like the tape for a dryer vent) to cover the holes .

[Jordan]

Post some pictures.  It would help us to identify the holes easier.

[rgafitanu@gmail.com]

There is a bushing insulating the steering column from the engine bay where the steering shaft enters the firewall plate. If this bushing is missing it would explain the hot air.

[Cees Klumper]

Not only that, but your car is probably a whole lot noisier than it should be also. Holes that large (but even tiny holes) will let a ton of engine noise into the cabin.  One approach is to put a work light in the cabin, at night in the garage, and then looking under the hood at the firewall to track down any holes / openings that let noise through. Close them. You will be surprised at the difference in interior noise.