Blend door actuator location

Tiny
PATRICKELF
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 BUICK CENTURY
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
Air door actuator where is this located? When the control is placed in cooling mode for the drivers side heat comes out, when the control is placed in the same position on the passengers side cool air comes out. Is it possible the air door actuator is not functioning correctly? Is this vacuum activated?

Thank You
Friday, September 17th, 2010 AT 8:42 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Hello,

Yep the blend door actuator for the temperature is not working. Here is a guide that will give you an idea of what to look for when doing the job as well as the diagrams below of what it will be like on your car.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-blend-door-motor

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 AT 7:49 PM
Tiny
MIKE LUCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 38 POSTS
  • 1998 BUICK CENTURY
  • 3.1L
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Hi all, I have read a couple posts, but did not see my problem exactly. The air conditioner and heat wont blow out the vents in my car. The fan is running and a little air comes out everywhere. I replaced the blend door actuator and same problem. Also, the air conditioner wont work. The clutch is not engaging. I do not know if it is related or a separate problem. The wiring looks okay the compressor, and the relay is good (I switched it with the working horn relay) still no directed air. Any help would be appreciated. By the way, if I have an actuator, do I still have vacuum lines doing things? Also, it is dual climate control. Thank you.
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
I do not know why you would change a blend door actuator for a problem with the mode door. The blend doors control temperature, not mode. There will be two vacuum mode door actuators on the left end of the HVAC housing. Check the vacuum supply lines coming from the engine and make sure that line is not leaking and has full engine vacuum in it.
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE LUCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 38 POSTS
Thanks I will check!
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE LUCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 38 POSTS
Can you tell me what the mode door actuator looks like?
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
I do not have one for your exact car, but here is a basic picture of what vacuum actuators look like. Your car will have two, one for defrost and one for other modes.

https://www.2carpros.com/images/external/HeaterVacuumActuators.jpg
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE LUCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 38 POSTS
Okay, thank you again. I will let you know how it goes.
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
It is possible for actuators to be bad but the more common issue is lost vacuum somewhere else, The best way to find this is to actually cut the line coming from the engine and measure the vacuum and then use a piece of tight fitting vacuum hose to splice the plastic line back together. There is a plastic vacuum storage tank that is also a common cause of lost vacuum.
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE LUCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 38 POSTS
There is a rubber elbow coming out of the firewall just right of center. It is attached to a half inch hard line in the fire wall and is necked down to a small size. There is nothing plugged into it. I am having trouble seeing anything dangling around. I will keep searching, seems like a likely suspect.
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 48,363 POSTS
Hey Mike,

Yes check the vacuum source to make sure the heater air conditioner system is getting vacuum at the selector valve behind the control panel, the valve itself can fall apart and you might hear a faint whistle.

Let us know what you find

Best, Ken
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Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 AT 5:21 PM (Merged)

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