Driver side actuator for the installation?

Hello Rolf,

It looks like the driver's side blend door actuator is on the left side of the dash. Remove the old unit and plug the new one in, adjust the HVAC to full cold, the actuator will move to that position. Then work the vent door to full cold and mount the actuator and you are all set. You recalibrate the system if needed by pressing and holding "AUTO" and "Recirculation" buttons for 5-10 seconds. Check out the images (below). Please upload pictures or videos in your response.

What is the proper position of the vent door at the time I put the actuator on?

Can you upload images for what you are talking about? The actuator only goes on one way.

I figured out how to mount the actuator, Ken, but I just discovered that with the actuator not installed, I still do not get cold air on the driver's side. A/C was checked and charged, all okay there.
I understand that with the actuator off I should get cold air out of both sides and that is not happening. The vent door operates freely.
Is there another issue here?

Another issue is the recycle light comes on automatically when I turn on the A/C. This has been going on for years and I don't think this is related to no cold air on the driver's side.
Your thoughts?
Appreciate your fast response.
Rolf

When you remove the actuator turn the A/C system on and work the blend door by hand to see if you can get cold air out of it, this way we can tell if it is the door itself or the actuator controls.

In one position, the blend door gives me ambient air, in the other position I get real hot air, as if the heater is on!

So you move the blend door lock to lock and no cold air, just normal then hot. It seems like something is wrong inside the HVAC plenum like part of the blend door is broken. There is only one evaporator core so if one side is cold so should be the other if the doors are working correctly, here is the actuator in question so we can be on the same page. Also, can you hear the door contact both stops, hot and then cold? Check out the images (below).

The diagram is accurate, that is what I see.
Yes, I can hear the door make contact when moving all the way from one stop to the other. Moves freely.
Is there another vent door in there? I thought I read there may be 2 more doors, accessible from the passenger side?
Thanks again
Rolf

I don't think there is, you can look at the diagram in my first post to see.

Hey Ken, in an earlier response, you make reference to other doors.."There is only one evaporator core so if one side is cold so should be the other if the doors are working correctly".
What doors are these and could they impact lack of cold air going to the driver's side?
I am at a loss as to what to do next..thanks
Rolf

Yep, I think since you work the blend door by hand and still cant get cold air there is a problem inside the HVAC plenum itself. I cant think of anything else. I will post this question in your expert forum to see if anyone else has an idea.

If someone replies from the expert forum, will I be notified, or see those comments?
Thanks for all your help.

Ken has it correct there are a total of 4 actuators. one controls the recirculate door (flashing recirc lite means that there is an issue with the actuator) Then you have the mode door, that selects floor, dash or defrost air flow. Then last are the left and right side blend doors. In operation they simply direct the air through either the heater core or through the AC core. As you get cold air on the other side and moving the door does get you heat and ambient air on the opposite it sounds like an airflow issue through the evaporator core. What I would try is to pull the cabin air filter out and use an inspection camera to go into the HVAC box and look at the core itself. The air goes through the AC core first so see if something got in there and blocked the core. Then use it to go down into the case through one of the vents and check that side to be sure the door is moving all the way to the AC position. There are seals on the doors and one may have come loose so the door isn't going fully into cold. I would say to pull the blower motor but that is a real can of worms because you have to remove the entire case.