Hi, I have a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT and the climate control is stuck blowing air through the floor vents only. Everything works, heat and cool, blowing hard and soft but it won't switch to defrost or through the dash vents. It is also making a clicking or knocking sound too. Any ideas if this is a striped motor, stuck door or something that I can easily fix without having to take in to the dealer. Thanks in advance!!

 

This is an issue that has been addressed by Chrysler already if it is not making noise like clicking, then most likely the RRT flash for the a/c Head will take care of it, but if it is clicking and stuck, an actuator will have to be replaced
there are 5 actuators "4 if you don't have the dual zone".
The recirculation door actuator can be changed with the glovebox off I think.
The driver, defrost and the floor/panel blend you have to pull the dash. The passenger blend you have to pull the whole hvac housing out.
Here is the sound the stripped actuator makes

 

Chances are it is only the motor that is bad if it is clicking or thumping.
Not very hard to fix really. I think most of these cases are the motor gears stripping and not the doors themselves.

If you know how to take the center stack bezel around the radio off you are halfway there. Don't forget about the screw over the 115V out let. Take the bezel off then the two side 12V acc. plugs. Remove the ring bezel around the cup holder if equipped.

The culprit is the lower center motor, unplug remove two screws and remove.
If the gears are stripped you can position the big gear 180 out from the smaller gear. The door only travels about 120 degrees so won't hit the stripped part.

Reassemble and you should be good to go. 1 to 2 hours of your time. If you want to get a new motor it is about $40 from Chrysler.

Hopefully this is the extent of your problem.

 

Here are pictures.

For some reason the pictures won't upload.

 

Great pics. I just took my truck in today to have this problem fixed under warranty.

 

THANK YOU ALL! Yes, it was the actuator and it is a recall item. I took my truck down and got it replaced yesterday. Thanks again!!

 

My 2011 is doing the same thing. Taking it in to the dealer tomorrow. Will post later on the fix!

 

revisit post, anyone know if the actuator rod/arm for floor, dash, and defrost should move when its bad ? looks ok from what i can see just stuck on defrost, 97 ram 1500 4x4 5.2 been eliminating vac leaks all the way back to climate controls...have 25 inch lbs of vac at the tubing just before this area there is another actuator same area think its a floor duct actuator...i am going to pull dash to replace its in pieces from sun damage...thanks dodgeordie oops guess i shoulda went to second gen rams sorry...

 

edit, was going to comment that you are on the wrong forum when I saw that you knew.

 

I'm having the same problem. No clicking as I've replaced the actuators. The lights on the A/C unit don't work. When I pop the console I can reset the A/C unit by unplugging it and plugging again. The lights work again, and I regain function. It might work for a day or two weeks. Any thoughts?