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Blend door motor could be bad, this will keep the correct door in the heater (plenum) chamber from opening. There are several on each truck. Please tell us what yr. and model truck you are working on, and whether it has a/c or not.
The "blend door" is only concerned with temperature control. There is a vacuum-operated diverter (several, actually) that controls all the airflow direction in the dash.
As you have a diesel, you have a separate vacuum pump that supplies the HVAC (and 4X4, if present) with operating vacuum. You will need to verify that the pump is operating and that it is supplying vacuum to the HVAC system. The supply line should be in the same place as the gassers, ie, right between the battery and the firewall. Inspect that particular line for damage, also.
You are correct in thinking that there is a loss in vaccum. when this happens this doors default to defrost for obvious reasons. does your truck have hydro boost, or vaccum boost brakes?