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2001 Mercury Villager Noise

Tiny
DADB
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 MERCURY VILLAGER
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 12,200 MILES
My car is equiped with climate control.
Some months ago I heard a ticking/grinding noise from under the dash. I traced it to a component on the side of the heater box just above the gas pedal. The "mode control motor" had stripped gears so I replaced it.
Presently, I have the ticking noise when the unit is programed for heat to the floor. No noise when turned to defrost. No auotmatic climate control or very erratic operation.
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Sunday, April 19th, 2009 AT 7:14 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
JASONRAY
  • MECHANIC
  • 213 POSTS
Does the noise sound like it's coming from that same actuator? If so, the door itself could be causing the problems. If it's hanging up inside the case, the new actuator may be fixing to go out just like the old one did. You may try removing the actuator and operating the door by hand. Feel for any 'hard spots' or anything but smooth operation. If something is detected, the case will probably have to come out and torn apart to see what's binding the door.
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Sunday, April 19th, 2009 AT 1:37 PM
Tiny
DADB
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I had checked for freedom of movement when I installed the new actuator. I'm not sure I mentioned in the original post, that actuator does move the linkage when the controler is moved to defrost. Turn to heat and the actuator returns to its original position and starts rocking back and forth making a ticking noise. I'm starting to wonder if the control head may be at fault.
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Monday, April 20th, 2009 AT 5:30 PM
Tiny
JASONRAY
  • MECHANIC
  • 213 POSTS
It's hard to blame the control head without looking at it myself. There IS/ARE position sensors for the electric actuators so the control head will know where they are. Seems to me that if the control head was told that the actuator was where it needed to be, it would just stop moving it. Not make it rock back and forth. It sounds like the door is in a bind and the position sensor is saying 'it's not in the right position', so the control head is still trying to move it. I would re-examine the door movement with the actuator off. Note where the linkage starts rocking and remove the actuator. Move the linkage to that point and see what happens. Also, while the actuator is off, operate the control and watch the actuator. See if it acts up while it's not attached.
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Monday, April 20th, 2009 AT 6:45 PM
Tiny
DADB
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Your suggestions made me go back and re-examine the door linkage. I didn't find any binding at the linkage so I decided to check the connections on the control head. Everything looked good there until I was reconnecting the plugs and couldn't get one to go into its socket. Upon examining the control head, I found that the printed circuit board was crooked. Some how it had come out of its keeper on one side. I preesed it back into its lock tab and reinstalled the control head and the mode control motor. Now, everything works fine.
One of those strange things that would not have been found had you not suggested rechecking my initual installation.
Thanks
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 AT 5:44 PM

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