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-   -   Vent blend door actuator (https://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-caravan/353336-vent-blend-door-actuator.html)

Big Dogy 04-15-2013 01:03 PM

Vent blend door actuator
 
Well, appears I am having the same problem as I did last year this time. I am getting hot air blowing on the passenger side and cold on the driver's when I put the a/c on. It was a bit warm in the van this past weekend so I figured I would put the a/c on for a bit to cool it off and got a blast of hot air from the passenger side. This happened almost the same time last year so the dealer put in a new blend door actuator. Now that the basic warranty is up (have 64,000 kms on the clock) and over a year since they replaced it, I am on my own now. How much am I looking at to replace one of these?

Big Dogy 04-15-2013 01:06 PM

Forgot to include that it is for a 2011 g/c.

Tizzy1 04-15-2013 03:27 PM

This is a known issue without a known repair at this time. Does it come out of it's funk by turning the temp knobs? If you have rear, is it also stuck full heat?

Big Dogy 04-16-2013 04:00 PM

Just spoke to the dealer again and they are going to try and cover under "good will" warranty as the vehicle is still under 3 years old yet still has just over 60,000 kms.

Town 04-18-2013 10:13 AM

My son's 2012 model has just started the same problem. Very hot air out the passenger vents. Turning the heat dials did not change the problem, so he tuned the system off. He is covered under warranty, but it is a distressing beginning to Dodge ownership.

Has anyone tried disconnecting the battery negative terminal to reset the electronics to see if this "resolves the problem"?

Tizzy1 04-18-2013 11:11 AM

yep, it doesn't. What I found is that no matter what you try to do, the actuator won't move. So I unplugged the control head and jumped power and ground to the actuator and then it would move. Once you get it to move, plug everything back in and it works. I have replaced control heads and had it come back with the same issue and replaced actuators and had it come back so what causes it, not sure.

Town 04-18-2013 12:01 PM

Thanks for the update.

Is the actuator accessible without removing the dash?

Ford have a cold boot procedure that recalibrates the actuators. Here is the procedure:

"The purpose of the cold boot process is to allow the EATC module to re-initialize and calibrate the actuators. To carry out the cold boot process, follow the steps below.

Clear the DTCs.
Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
Disconnect the EATC module electrical connectors.

Inspect the module connectors for:
corrosion.
pushed-out pins.
incorrectly seated connector.
Wait one minute.

Connect the EATC module electrical connectors.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
Select any position except OFF on the EATC module.
The EATC module will now initialize and calibrate the actuators. Calibration of the actuators will take approximately 30 seconds."


Sounds like you accomplished the same thing with just the one problem actuator. The Ford EATC is the electronic automatic temperature control and sounds the same as the Dodge Control head.

Tizzy1 04-18-2013 02:14 PM

Yes, it's on the passenger side. I pull the glove box and then I can see better. These used to have a manual procedure but not anymore, can only calibrate with a scan tool.

Town 04-18-2013 02:33 PM

Thanks very much for your information and expertise. Sounds like a 20 minute job to replace the passenger side blend door actuator. I feel better already.

Tizzy1 04-18-2013 03:17 PM

20 minutes, good one. You can see it anyway :)

Town 04-18-2013 03:32 PM

So, although you can see the actuator there is more to do than just lower the glove box, remove the electrical connector and attaching screws and pull the actuator, replace the new one, and re-position the lower glove box?

How much more complex could it be?

Thanks for your patience.

Tizzy1 04-19-2013 11:00 AM

There are 2 actuators there, I believe yours is the top one. The connector is on top so you pull the mounting screws, lower it down and then unplug it. It's not that bad, I just like being melodramatic. Probably the fact that it only pays .3 hr and I end up with hand cramps.....lol.

Town 04-19-2013 12:12 PM

Thank you very much, that procedure is a big help to my understanding of the van.

Town 04-28-2013 01:07 PM

Yesterday, the Dodge dealer replaced the passenger blend door actuator and the excess heat problem is fixed.

Thanks for all the help.

Mark Luscombe 03-28-2016 06:02 AM

My blend door was acting up for a month. Every time I started it the rear defrost light flashed for 2 min before the air would blow. Low and behold, yesterday it fixed itself!

Monkeysweat 05-26-2016 12:07 PM

FYI - I had same problem, but usually just the back section of van would be stuck on hot - I had this repaired at least 8 times on my 2011 van,, was recalled last year after off warranty -- after they did a good will warranty..

my new van (2015) just had same issue and is in shop today, with a recall for that item.

can't believe so many issues on same problem.


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