I had an old account to an old email address so I started a new one. =)

Anyway, I thought I would get around to fixing the blend door. The old actuator would just spin in circles, and thus cracked the coupling. I ordered a new coupling and actuator off eBay (not sure if that was the first mistake). The actuator was $40, because I didn't want to pay the $200 from the other guys. When I have the blend door all the way cold, by manually turning it under the dash, and have it cold on the dash, then look at the actuator (not lined up perfectly already wrong), then when I turn the dial on the console all the way to heat, and reach under the dash and turn the actual blend door to heat, the actuator travels about twice the distance. Needless to say, I did install the part to see what would happen, and after twisting the dial on the console back and forth, it's like there is too much pressure, and the thing gets stuck and stops working. I have a feeling I bought a cheap piece of junk that is not calibrated correctly, unless someone else on here can please tell me otherwise. I read about re-indexing gears, but if the thing moves too much anyway, what's the point.

Thanks!

 

I don't know but I'd still open it up and verify indexing

 

The actuator is only going to be able to move the door from stop to stop. It has more travel than the door, to ensure that it CAN go from stop to stop. Reindex the motor, and door, and install it. Should work just fine. There is a procedure for that in the service manual. (get one here, if you don't already have one.)

 

I don't see anything in the service manual about reindexing the motor. I'm not sure if this part has that. I took it apart and it uses some kind of sweeper to find out where it is in position to the resistance value. I'm not sure if that is how the old one works (I threw it away already). Below is a picture of it.

 

I don't think the procedure for that actually IS in the service manual, their take on it is, if it ain't workin' right, replace it.... There IS, however, a procedure online somewhere on how to do it. I would almost expect it to be on the Heater Treater website....

 

Try link.... Don't know if it's in english or not.

 

This was going to be exactly my suggestion. Heater Treater instructions include it and if you can't download the instructions (I didn't look) there's numerous vids on YT

 

I contacted the people on eBay whom I purchased the part from, gave them my VIN number, and they said the part fits the "2001 Dodge Ram 1500 WS" and not the "2001 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT / ST" which I have ... right. I think for now my plan is to save up and buy a better one from O'Reilly and see how that goes. I can turn the blend door by hand if need to. Being in south Texas, it will stay on cold up until about November. ;-)

 

Really old post, but I fixed this by buying a used OEM part off eBay. Apparently these 'new' ones are not the same. The new ones have four pins and the original only have three.