Resetting Your Ford Blend Door Actuator: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you curious about the process of resetting your Ford blend door actuator? This article provides detailed information on what it is, the causes of its failure, and how to reset and replace it.
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In this article, you will find information on what a blend door actuator is, the causes for its failure, and how to reset and replace it.
What is a Blend Door Actuator?
What is it?
Blend doors are flat plastic panels within a vehicle’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that direct cool or warm air into various vents to maintain optimal cabin temperature. Learn more about HVAC systems.
Blend door actuators, also known as HVAC actuators, are small plastic-covered electric motors that regulate the vehicle’s climate control system. They manage settings like fresh air, temperature, recirculation, defrost, and vent modes. These units control the position of vents, directing airflow to different areas of the cabin and triggering the movement of temperature and air direction doors inside the heater system.
Newer Ford blend door actuator designs are smaller and more compact but tend to fail more quickly than older versions.
Read more: Why is my Dodge truck A/C switch stuck on defrost?
How it works
When your car is cold, the blend door directs heated air into the passenger area. As the vehicle warms up, it adjusts to divert only part of the heated air. When cool air is needed, the blend door restricts heated air from entering the passenger area, mixing cold and hot air to achieve the desired temperature.
The driver or passenger can select the temperature using the dual climate control system. The car’s climate computer sends electrical commands to the actuator, and door position sensors provide feedback signals. These signals pass through the blend door actuator when you turn the dial to adjust the temperature or airflow.
The location
Usually, there is one on the driver side and another on the passenger side in cars with two actuators in a Ford car. Credit: bobdavis321.blogspot.com
Identifying a blend door actuator can be challenging for inexperienced mechanics. Cars with two actuators usually have one on the driver’s side and another on the passenger’s side, especially those with backseat temperature and airflow controls. You typically won’t need to remove the dashboard to access these units in such models.
Many newer model cars have three to four blend door actuators located in various areas around the HVAC system, often on the climate control case at the back of the dash, underneath the glove box, or beside/on the heater box. Consult your car’s repair manual or repair database to pinpoint the precise locations of its actuators.
Causes and Symptoms of a Failing Blend Door Actuator
The causes
A damaged or faulty actuator can cause the blend door to stop working, leading to problems in the car’s HVAC system. Common causes include:
- Broken Gear Set: The plastic gear set can become fragile and break, often accompanied by ticking or clicking sounds from the dashboard.
- Burnt-out Electric Motor: The unit becomes unresponsive to commands.
- Loss of Output Shaft Gear Position: Common in newer Ford designs, where the contact pins of the output shaft gear lose contact with the gear track on the board.
- Other less common causes include a blown fuse and a shorted or defective wiring harness.
The symptoms
Look out for these symptoms to prevent problems from worsening:
Noisy and repetitive knocking sounds
This noise usually comes from behind the glove box or center-dash console area when you start the car or change the AC settings. Cold air may come out when the vents aren’t providing heat.
Read more: Why Does My Car Engine Knock On Startup Then Goes Away?
Repetitive clicking sounds
Faint or loud clicking sounds from the dash indicate worn-down gear teeth. A faulty relay might also produce this sound.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms include wrong temperature, inconsistent temperature, inconsistent airflow, droning sounds, popping sounds, and squeaking sounds. These sounds may get louder when you turn on your AC or change the temperature. Newer Ford blend door actuators have sturdier gears that don’t break easily, so you won’t hear clicking noises from them.
To identify the faulty actuator, operate your vehicle’s heater and air conditioner. If one side works well while the other malfunctions (e.g., cool air on the driver’s side, hot air on the passenger’s side), the actuator on the malfunctioning side is likely the issue.
Get a friend to help you switch the climate temp in various modes while observing the movement. The actuator won’t move as the climate temp is switched in different modes if it is wrong. Have a look at the blend door and the linkage to ensure that everything is OK.
Don’t ignore the issue for too long, as it can cause your engine to stall or shut off. Replace the actuator as soon as possible. Other causes of a faulty climate control system may be issues with the AC.
How to Reset the Ford Blend Door Actuator
When your Ford blend door actuator isn’t working, try resetting or recalibrating it before considering a replacement. The actuator may reset itself when you pull the proper fuses in the relay box. Follow these steps:
- Fuse removal: Remove the actuator’s fuses (CJB fuse 5 and CJB fuse 13) from the fuse panel in the driver’s footwell for 60 seconds.
- Start the car: Turn on the ignition.
- Run the AC system: Run it for a few minutes to allow the HVAC system to initialize and calibrate the actuators (about 30 seconds).
- Switch the car off: Turn off the AC and the ignition.
- Reinstall the fuses: Put back the removed fuses (5 and 13).
- Start the car again: Turn the ignition on again and wait 30 seconds before verifying proper mode door actuator operation.
- Test the Reset: Check if the blend door works correctly or if the fault symptoms have stopped.
- Plan B: If the reset fails, check the relay or climate control module before deciding to replace the unit.
What should you do if the reset fails?
If the reset doesn’t work, you may need to diagnose the air-conditioning relay or the climate control module.
Diagnosing the air-conditioning relay
Locate the AC relay using your vehicle owner’s manual. Pull it out and shake it. If it rattles, replace it. A relay costs about $15.
Diagnosing the climate control module
A Ford scanner can pull codes and monitor the blend door position and needed commands. The Ford IDS (integrated diagnostic system) scan tool is the current OEM diagnostic tool for Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury cars (1996-present).
Getting the system to diagnostic mode without a scanner
For models with dual heat/cool controls, you can try this method if you suspect a stuck blend door:
- Press the heater and AC buttons simultaneously and hold for about two seconds.
- Release the buttons.
- Push the heater button again to run diagnostics. The vents will cycle air for about 20 seconds.
- Look for codes at the top right and left corners.
- Press AUTO to reset the code or any other button to exit diagnostics.
You can also test the actuators by disconnecting the vehicle’s negative terminals to pull codes. Calibrate the system afterward if you have a calibration machine. Inspect the heater hoses for temperature issues.
How to Replace the Ford Blend Door Actuator
Tips before replace blend door actuator
Before replacing the actuator, consider these quick workarounds to get cold or hot air:
Cold Air
If your actuator issue relates to the above mentioned examples, you can jam the blend door to cold and lock it there. The steps below may be valid for a while before you perform a DIY replacement or take the car to an auto repair shop.
- Take one of your old actuators apart.
- Remove its gear/shaft.
- Replace the current gear/shaft with the one you took out from the old actuator.
- Slide the gear/shaft into the door.
- Use a tape or tie strap to pin it on “cold”.
Hot Air
Flip down the blend door hinge towards the heat side by reaching behind the dashboard control knob area. This is a temporary solution and needs repeating daily.
Steps to replace the Ford blend door actuator
Replace the actuator if resetting it doesn’t work. Follow these steps:
Eight steps to replace the Ford blend door actuator.
Step 1. Purchase the right spare part and tools
You’ll need an OEM replacement actuator and a toolset with screwdrivers, a ratchet handle, and a 5.5mm socket for Ford cars. Actuator spare parts are relatively inexpensive and take about one to two hours to install. Non-OEM types can cost as low as $25, while OEM types may cost around $200. Ensure the non-OEM type is suitable for your car.
Step 2. Safety precautions
Disconnect your car battery before removing or replacing the blend door actuators to prevent electric shock. Ensure the vehicle is switched off during any repair/replacement.
Step 3. Locate the old actuator
Consult your repair manual to find the actuator’s location. You can access actuators located in the dashboard by removing the lower dash panel or glove box. Use the screwdriver, socket, and ratchet handle to remove screws and mounting bolts.
Step 4. Remove the old actuator’s wiring clips and connector
Carefully undo the safety clip or wiring clips holding the actuator’s wiring connector with a screwdriver to avoid breaking anything. Press the tab on the wiring connector and pull it off after removing the clips.
Ensure the connector is free from obstructions like rust or corrosion. Clean it with an electrical cleaner if necessary.
Step 5: Uninstall the old actuator
Remove the screws or mounting bolts holding the actuator in place (usually two or three). The actuator may fall off as it is unfastened, or you can wiggle it off after unscrewing.
Step 6: Turn the air door pivot
Manually turn the blend door to each side to ensure it isn’t stuck. The blend door’s movement should be accessible when turning in full position. Resolve any blocking issues by removing the heater plenum and fixing it.
Step 7: Install the new actuator
Compare the old and new actuators and their wiring harnesses. Mount the new unit and fasten its screws carefully. Socket the wiring connector once you torque down the actuator.
Step 8: Test the installation
Check if the installation is correct by switching on the vehicle and testing its climate control system before reinstalling the glove box or dashboard cover. Ensure all screws are tightened correctly. Don’t fully tighten the first screw until you’ve partially screwed in the others.
A video about how to replace the Ford blend door actuator.
Cost for blend door actuator repair
If resetting and replacement don’t solve the problem, a visit to an auto repair shop is necessary. Professional input will be needed, especially when the issue is beyond your DIY skills. Expect to pay $200-$500 for a replacement, with labor costs alone potentially reaching $75 or more.
Conclusion
A DIY Ford blend door actuator reset or replacement can save you money on labor costs. Remember to use your vehicle’s manual to aid your repair work.
Read more: My Car AC Sometimes Works Sometimes It Doesn’t: Why and How to Fix
