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My heater is not working - blows cold air?

Tiny
DALMATIONMOM3
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
Heater problem
2003 Ford Explorer 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

heater blows cold air and makes ticking sound
Friday, November 13th, 2009 AT 4:31 AM

42 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
It sounds like the blend door actuator it is stuck and it determines if you get heat or AC. I'm confident that is where the problem is.

and this guide and video can help.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-heater-not-working

and

https://youtu.be/SNRb6pSwYuU

Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 AT 4:56 PM
Tiny
RSLADE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • FORD EXPLORER
I'm getting no heat on the passenger side only on my 2003. Brought it to local shop, they went thru it and everything is working, there is no fresh air vent. The actuator is working properly. The cold weather is creeping in and trying to figure out.
PLEASE HELP

RW
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like you have a blend door actuator that is not working. Here is a guide to help you see what you are in for when changing the actuator out.

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

Check out the diagrams (Below) of all blend door actuator locations

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Cheers, Ken
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKE HLAVAC
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I found the actuator and linkage was a little messed up from rust? Weird one I replaced the actuator and cleaned it up no more cold air. Thanks for the guides really helped.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GEORGE A
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Yep same problem here did the replacement and now I have heat!

Many thanks :)
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:58 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
If you remove the passenger side under dash trim panel. Grab a flashlight and look up were the foam rubber seal meets the a/c plenum, is the foam torn or missing? This foam is oval shaped and joins the air intake opening under the hood with the heater and a/c plenum.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GEORGE A
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have found that the plastic arm coming out of the air inlet duct is broken. Can I take the air inlet duct box out w/o having to take the entire dash apart. It seems that if I remove the fan I would have access to the interior bolt or bolts for mounting the air inlet box. If I can, is there room to pull the box out. Thank you in advance for any info.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Which arm? The door control lever? Maybe it can be glued with some of the newer epoxies? You will have a lot of work to get the whole plenum out.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
LEONARD MUNIAK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I had the same trouble with my explorer. Wife complained of the cold air. I didn't want to pay $600.00 to $800.00 for the mixing door to be replaced (i heard they don't last long). I opened the glove box and popped the (2) side stops and let the box hang down. I then cut a section out of a heavy duty trash bag around 2ft bigger then the opening (it could even be cut bigger. I then pushed the plastic into the opening and pushed the overlapping plastic evenly above - on sides - and below around the inside of the glove box. I then snapped the box back in place. I had to reach above after I opened the box a few times to re-stuff the plastic. It stopped the air from blowing thru the box and help stop a lot of the air from below. The wife's happier and it does help. Good luck
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NIK0LAS3
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
  • 87,000 MILES
Hi,

I am not getting heat in my 2003 ford explorer. First I replaced the blend door actuator motor and blend door in plenum box with heater treater parts and solved that problem. My blend door actuator had broken. The blower works and the two hoses going to the heater core are hot. I replaced the thermostat and the heater control valve. I also back flushed the heater core. When I back flushed the heater core it flowed fine it did not seem to be restricted. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Nick
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Does the actuator work now? It is the most common issue with fords

Roy
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NIK0LAS3
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Yes the actuator and blend door are working.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Hoses are hot, blend door working, thermostat good, ok, I know you flushed the core but it sounds like there is not enough flow to give you heat. Take it to a radiator shop and have them flush it with an acid flush to see if they can unclog it.

Roy
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
NIK0LAS3
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks alot I will look into that. I would not have thought of that. I appreciate you responding to my problem.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good luck

Roy
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CHADRICK46
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 72,000 MILES
The damper sounds like it does not know what to do. No matter what you set the heater on you get cold air. The temperature gauge is normal. What would the problem be.
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
It sounds like the blend door is not working. It is what determines where the air flow goes, past the heater or the AC. Start with having that checked.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 11:59 AM (Merged)
Tiny
EARNHARDTFAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 78,000 MILES
From everything I have read on the web it sounds like I have a heater/ac blend problem. There is a somehwhat of a loud clicking noise under the dash and I have no heat but the air works fine. I am a general knowledge repair person and was wondering how can I get a repair manual and how difficult it would be to replace such a thing?
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Earnhardt fan and you drive a Ford? LOL just kidding. What you need to do is remove the sound shields under the dash and locate the source of the clicking. Sounds like the blend door actuator isnt working. Could be the actuator or the door is broken, so once you locate the noise, see if you can watch the center shaft to see if it is turning, may need to remove it and manually try to move the door to see if it changes the temp
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)
Tiny
EARNHARDTFAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yea I drive a ford but at least its paid off! Lol. Do I have to pull the dash in order to get at it?
Is the actuator expensive and where could I get a repair manual to show me how to do it?
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Sunday, September 27th, 2020 AT 12:00 PM (Merged)

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