"text": "Actuators, in the case of blend door actuator symptoms, is basically a small motor. The work could easily be done by any local independent garage. Remove the dash panel covering the blend door actuator. A car or truck with a failed blend door actuator will have an air conditioner that blows air directly into the cabin i.e. If you adjust the temperature and it doesnt seem to change, you likely have a burnt-out circuit. While the symptoms are fairly conclusive for blend door failure, the only way to really check it out is to remove the blend door actuator motor and look at the axle. Every Cherokee in this range either has, or will have, this common failure. Keep in mind that a faulty relay may cause this noise. Your email address will not be published. The blend door actuator motor is located in the upper left hand corner of the passenger side foot well. In turn, this makes the repeating clicking sound you might be hearing. "acceptedAnswer": { The fix is really easy and MUCH preferable to disassembly of the entire dash and engine cooling systems. When this happens, people usually notice fog forming on the windows as well as ice building up much faster than normal which makes sense if you dont have a defroster working at all. As an example, the blend door actuator for a 2006 Toyota Camry is $225 according to Toyotas website. These blend door actuators are almost always found within the dashboard. Blend door actuators are normally not serviced per see they, simply fail when their internal motor or gears wear out these parts are no longer available separately from the manufacturer. Another symptom is that your A/C will also blow cold air instead of the warm or hot air which is what its supposed to do. This will be an inconvenience and driving will be uncomfortable. These can sound like squeaking or grinding noises. 2022 When it comes to the blend door actuator, there are two ways you can save a bit of cash: either you get a cheaper non-OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or aftermarket part. It's a very simple process. This means you dont have to worry about replacing them regularly and you wont have to waste money on them. In order to replace a blend door actuator, you will need an 8mm socket for the screws on the front of your heater box and a small flat blade screwdriver. Check out some of these other related topics: What Causes a Clicking or Knocking Noise in the Dashboard? Some people will attempt to repair the actuators and there are some methods out there of repairing them with epoxy and other things, but its extremely difficult and almost impossible to do so without causing further problems down the road such as air leaks or reduced performance. As for when the motor has burnt out, you will likely be unable to control the temperature settings. This is because the obstruction will prevent the blend door from moving and it will make the plastic gears inside grind harder and the teeth may break off. Well, the blend door is what controls the direction of the airflow in your cars air-conditioning system. There are other issues as well that might be present, but most of them are rarely dangerous and repairs can wait if you can live with the inconvenience. Some common obstructions include pens, toothpicks, small toys, and bubble gums. The car will also likely run rough and the heater will work sometimes but not others. In most cars, the blend door actuator will recalibrate the position of the door every time you turn on the ignition. If you have a bad relay, simply replace it with a new one. }. Its about as low-tech as you get in a car. Once open, remove all contents from inside of glove box and set aside for safekeeping. The blend door actuator would then shut off airflow to vents leading to your feet and body. If the instructions with other fixes start out with remove the heater box, be ready for considerable work. Either way, youll need to replace the blend door actuator. The blend door actuator is located on the passenger side of most vehicles and controls. If you see any of the blend door actuator symptoms we mentioned above, you likely have a blend door actuator problem. Once all 8mm bolts have been removed, carefully pull back on the HVAC assembly just a little bit and then disengage the black plastic sleeve from its metal retaining clips by prying a flat blade screwdriver between them and pushing down until they pop off. Also, if it turns out that the non-OEM part is just as expensive as the OEM part, then youre better off buying OEM anyway. Hold your ear against the back of the case with your left hand and place the stethoscope head against the outside front surface of the heater case (noted below). A blend door actuator replacement cost is $120 for the part plus $100 to $150 labor depending on where you go. Replace with a new one and reinstall everything in exact reverse order making sure not to skip over steps or forget anything! "@type": "Answer", },{ After 2 minutes, turn it off and then on again. Once thats done, leave your car running for 2 minutes. Mercedes Blind Spot Assist Inoperative (Causes and Fixes), Mercedes SRS Light Comes On (What It Means and How to Reset), Where Is the ESP Reset Button on a Mercedes? Leave the ignition for 15 seconds. NOTE: If tapping produces no change in noise level followed by clicking, then an internal door has opened up due to increased thermal expansion, meaning the actuator needs replacement. The location of the buzz (relative to where you first heard it) will provide a clue as to what part or assembly is bad. "text": "To best find the location of the blend door actuator, it's a good idea to refer to your car's owner's manual. Remove the glove box by pulling it out and then up to disengage it from its retaining knobs. If it does, you may need to replace it, and well be discussing the replacement cost and how to do it yourself as well. There are two types of blend doors in most cars manual ones which allow air to flow through all the vents when they are turned fully open, or automatic ones which restrict airflow depending on outside/engine temperature. Theyre not visible unless you open your dashboard and you dont really notice it working because they work fine most of the time. button to check. The issue with the system is that the drive motor has a wider range of motion than the movement of the door will allow. A typical blend door actuator moves one way for defrosting and another for cooling. That being said, here are faulty blend door actuator symptoms: As mentioned, the blend door actuator has several gears inside to operate the blend doors. If you have children, make sure they dont insert anything into the air vents since it can obstruct the blend door. Next, locate and remove the A/C fuse for 1 minute. "@type": "Answer", Theyre not always bad, and sometimes theyre cheaper because they dont charge a colossal mark-up as carmakers do. This kit replaces the plastic door and axle with stainless steel components that can withstand the force and will last longer than the Cherokee. Actuators also work towards moving around powered seats, rolling up and down the windows, or propping open the rear liftgate." If it comes from the central dashboard area or the area where you control the A/C system, theres a good chance that the blend door actuator is causing this. But if you find it too uncomfortable, we recommend changing it. Solve your shifter issue once and for all with Dorman's OE FIX manual shift tower repair kit. The process entails removing the heater box which requires - removing steering wheel and steering column, removing radio and all dash panel control modules, unbolting all attachment points for the dash panel, evacuating and disconnecting the AC compressor, draining and disconnecting the radiator, removing engine side bolts that hold the heater box in place. This means something has opened up due to increased thermal expansion, such as an internal door in the actuator. (if the motor is broken, we can help with a replacement). A blend door actuator may have a few different symptoms. We recommend checking your owners manual or with online owners forums to find the correct procedure for your car. { Unplug the wiring harness going to the heater core located behind where the glove box used to be. To date we have achieved that goal and have no intention of letting up. Remove all 4-10mm bolts then remove the black plastic cover. Dremel bits, and all hardware is provided. In any case, yes you can drive without replacing your blend door actuator. In which case, the replacement cost will double. "text": "Recalibrating the blend door actuator is surprisingly easy. The motor is attached with three 5/16"(or 8mm) screws that can be easily accessed and removed. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Welcome to Motor Verso. Thus, they can be somewhat confusing to track down. On average you can expect to pay around $150 for the actuator itself. Generally speaking, actuators greatly vary in shape, design, and operation. Or do both if you want to save even more money. You should hear a click when its installed. Application Summary: You can do this by using a socket and ratchet, but the sizes will vary depending on the car. When those 2 minutes are up, turn the ignition off, and then on again. On some automotive systems instead of hearing a click, you will hear a ratcheting noise. But often they are cheaper because they are lower in quality. Leave it running for 15 seconds, and see if your blend door actuator is working properly again." However, its actually quite an important part of your cars air-conditioning system. Aside from that, clicking and knocking noises emanating from the dashboard could be it, too." If you can, its a great quick fix for an air conditioner with little or no airflow coming from the vents. Check with the owners manual to see where its located, and then remove the dashboard cover. "@type": "Answer", You should see an area about 6 wide by 3 high behind where the glove box used to be which has HVAC printed on it which stands for Heater, Ventilation, Air Conditioning. Since the blend door is what controls and diverts the airflow in your cars air-conditioning system, inconsistent airflow is a good indication that you have a blend door actuator problem. If you dont have enough slack in the harness, simply unplug it. Fixing the door is relatively easy, but the labor(and cost) of getting to the door makes this a time consuming and expensive job. Your email address will not be published. The usual symptom is an inability to effectively control the temperature of the HVAC system. But when heat is not desired, the blend door actuators direct that airflow away from the heater core. Once the door breaks, you lose control over the ability to regulate between heat and AC. However, a faulty relay or dirty contact points may cause the relay to engage and disengage quickly. Your vehicle may have a blend door actuator located in different locations or your vehicle may not even use this part at all, but the steps are essentially the same no matter where this part is located or what type of vehicle you own.