Heater not working?

Tiny
MARIOBJUNIOR
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
Hi- maybe you could help me out. This pasty winter my vehicle heater has been coming out COLD. But at times after a few minutes and sometimes longer, I would hear a big bang. And then the heat would come out of the vents. Is this an issue that I must bring to a qualitied mecahanic. Or is this issue something that I can handle myself.I do some mechanic work such as brake changing, radiator changes, fan belts. But, just a bit curious. Im up for the challenge (if this is minor change out). A friend mentioned it may be the "A/C HEATER CONTROL. THANKS1
MARIO
Monday, September 7th, 2009 AT 8:42 AM

45 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,650 POSTS
Mario:
It sounds like the blender door is sticking. It is the door that opens to allow the air to pass through the heater core. If it doesn't work, the air won't pass through the heater core to warm the vehicle.

this guide and video can help.

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

and

https://youtu.be/SNRb6pSwYuU

Please let me know
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Thursday, September 10th, 2009 AT 9:29 AM
Tiny
MARIOBJUNIOR
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
The guide works, I found a coolant leak once I fixed it the heater started working again, thanks you this site is great.
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Thursday, September 10th, 2009 AT 10:10 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,650 POSTS
Glad you got it fixed
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Thursday, September 10th, 2009 AT 10:16 AM
Tiny
CHRISSY2571
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 56,000 MILES
I have a clicking ssound behind my my dashboard and have no heat?
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BILLYMAC
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,204 POSTS
Hi, you have a blend air vac motor stuck. Where you hear the clicking. Either the motor is bad or something is restricting the door. Or a bad controller. Look where the noise is with a flashlight and watch as it tries to move. You can see what is restricting the door. Thanks billymac
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HJ72
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 106,307 MILES
I have no heat all it dose is make a clicking sound when I turn on the heater. How do I replace the heater door actuactor?
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RICKMAR
  • MECHANIC
  • 170 POSTS
If you are going to replace the "Blend Door Actuator" yourself you will save $1000+ and that is no B.S. !!
$1000,00+ is if "you have it done". A large portion of the high cost is labor, because the whole dash needs to be removed !! Calm down...put on the brakes...there is another chapter to this "Blend Door Actuator" horror show called a "quick fix".


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/433905_Blend_door_fix_example_1.jpg


THE 1/16th" FINISH NAIL WILL SAVE YOU $1000.00+!! - There is more work that needs to be done to complete the "quick fix" but it is absolutely well worth it.

The "quick" fix is a step by step procedure with pictures. Take a look at it, actually not bad at all. Much better than pulling the whole dash out! which is a real S.O.B. to do.

The quick fix was done on a "1996" Explorer but they are all the same, "Mercury Mountaineers" included. Here is the link for the step by step Blend Door Actuator "Quick Fix":
http://www.blenddoorfix.netfirms.com
Check out what is states in Step:9 about how much you just saved!! doing it yourself.

I hope this information helped you out.

If you have any questions or need some more information, just private message me and I will get right back to you.

Rick
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-1
Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TODD.COUDRET
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
My 2004 Ford Explorer 6 cyl has a problem with the heater. Last winter some mice got into the fan housing and took a bunch of dog food up into it. I fixed that by dropping the fan and cleaning it out. It worked well all year, but this year The heat isn't working and I am hearing a knocking noise in the dash near the center consol. The noise only happens when I have the heat on. I can run the AC with no problem. Can you help?
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
If you have climate control, hit the off and floor buttons together then auto, see if a code 25 comes up on the display, I think you will find the blend door is stuck, and the actuator is making noise trying to move it! Take the actuator off and try spraying some WD40 in the door shaft area and work it with pliers to free it up.
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KAZE08
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I am having the same problem. How do you know if you have climate control and if I don't what can I do?
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
OK my mistake, hit floor and the button right next to it on the right. Post the codes.
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JOPIVE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 64,000 MILES
Hey guys some help here as I say fan works but no heat &i hear clicking sound by heater core. Yes the ac works great thanks for the help
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Blend door actuator electric motor that moves door from AC to heat.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/198357_Graphic_234.jpg

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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
04BLKFRDEXPLR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I am having the same issue. Heat doesnt work. But the ac seems to be working fine and there is a knocking/clicking sound as soon as you turn the truck on. Is the pic above from the glove compartment area or the drivers side and can I get to it thru the glove compartment or do I need to remove something else
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
EMMYLEVAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • 124,000 MILES
When I try to change it from hot to cold it makes a clicking noise. And the heater doesnt blow hot in the front but does in the back.
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Blend door motor has failed in the front unit. It needs to be replaced. You can purchase it at a parts store but requires about 2 hours in labor to replace.

Roy
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BRIAN L
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 104,000 MILES
The A/C works fine but if you change to heat there is a clicking under the dash and stays cold
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JASONRAY
  • MECHANIC
  • 213 POSTS
There's an electrical actuator on the blend door. That's where the clicking noise is coming from. That actuator turns the door inside the case from HOT to COLD or somewhere in between, depending on where you set the thermostat. Something's gone wrong inside the actuator and now it just clicks. Not that uncommon. The actuator will have to be replaced.
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:34 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MARTIN1411
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 FORD EXPLORER
Heater problem
2004 Ford Explorer 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive 109114 miles

Im not getting any heat in truck, and have a knocking noise in panel when I turn from cold to hot or other way, also checked line in engine compartment one side hot one side warm.
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:35 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,650 POSTS
It sounds like you have a sticking blend door. It is located near the heater core. If it is in the wrong position, the air doesn't oass by the heater core to warm it. Check that and let me know what you find.

Joe
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 AT 11:35 AM (Merged)

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