I replaced my passenger side blend door actuator a while back and now my driver side one has begun making noise every once in awhile. No temperature variations yet, but I imagine it is only a matter of time until it fails like my passenger side one did. My question is has anyone replaced it themselves? I realize this is a dash removal so I'm curious if anyone else has undertaken that task in their garage yet.

 

I was going to replace both of my actuators because I procrastinated and didn't get it done prior to 36k miles. But when I looked at the service manual, the fix requires opening the A/C lines and then recharging that system. And I don't have the equipment or knowledge to do that. It's also around a 9 hour job, so I think I shall live with cold coming out of the port vent and heat coming out of the starboard one.

 

I tapped my driver side one with my finger and it hasn't acted up since....now of course by saying that it'll start making noise again tomorrow. But regardless, looking at it I believe you might be able to get it out without removing the dash.

 

If you tapped it and it started working where is it? Mine is making noise, matter of time before it goes out, the dealer quoted me $700 to replace it! any guides to replace the drivers side actuator by myself?

 

This should be a recall issue, imo...unreliable parts in a poorly engineered system that is a bitch to get to! Cost me $400 for passenger side and drivers sounds like a morse code competition under my dash!

 

After a $700 estimate, I took a look under the dash myself and found the control motor (actuator) attached right to the side of the plenum (im assuming) just to the right of the gas pedal. looks a bit tight, but certainly the dash doesn't need to be taken apart to get to it. Seriously? $700, they can say that with a straight face, it would probably take the dealer less than an hour to replace it. The part probably costs less then $50, they should be ashamed of themselves for ripping people off like that. All of that being said, is this the same control mother above the gas pedal, to the right, that others have described removing? Looks like just three bolts holding it in place, do I just remove and replace? anything to watch out for? I bought a chiltons guide but doesn't have too much info on the replacement. if anyone has a guide from a service manual that would be helpful.
Thanks

 

Is that what that sound is in the dash? I tell my son that their is a monkey in the dash. LOL

 

I could have swore it was the CD player...damn near had an aftermarket unit installed before coming on here to research the matter

 

I'm guessing the part you're looking at is not what you think it is. There have been a handful of do-it-yourselfers here that have changed the drivers side actuator and by all accounts it IS a quite involved process taking far more than an hour.