2003 EB Automatic HVAC not blowing out of dash vents

[DZTEDDIE]

2003 EB Automatic HVAC not blowing out of dash vents.
When I start up and turn on the AC to 60 degrees and fan on high in auto mode sometimes the dash vents blow strong.

Then I here the blower working at full speed but the flow is not gale force more like a gentle breeze. Sometimes it works full strength for quite a while other times it just blows a gentel breeze from the get go.

I think it maybe the air mixing vent actuator but not sure.

this is the part number 1L2Z19E616AA that I found but when I look it up it says will not fit a 2003 but some sites says it does.

I'm a looking at the fix or am I missing something and should be checking somthing else.

I do not want to just throw parts at the problem If there are other things I need to check first please let me know.

Thanks

 

[DZTEDDIE]

So I did a test yesterday. Outside temp was 113 on the display.
Turned the dash AC set to auto and the rear AC vent on with the temp at 60.
The rear was blowing at full force using rear controls for over 30 minutes out of the rear but the dash vents were just a gentle breeze.
Then the rear temp got warmer, so I turned the rear off and waited about 2 minutes and turned it back on. Blowing cold like before.
The dash vent was the same cold but gentle breeze.
Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[AWAR]

I will assume that you and I have the same three zone system. My 04 Expedition is the same as both of my Navigators. The rear air is not automatic but the front is set to temperature dual zone with an automatic setting. Automatic is set to temp and the car decides where and how hard the blower is run. It will blend between dash and floor as the temperature commanded responds. It will also vary if the driver’s side request is different from the passenger’s. You can also select single front control so it is the same side by side.
There are also various not automatic functions available. All are airflow direction and whether the system draws outside air or recirculates inside air. The temperature is still set by you. For maximum cooling out the dash I select the dash only selection and recirculate at 60 degrees. I hope this helps.

 

[Gary Waugh]

If the fan is going at full speed, it you are only feeling a gentle breeze, then it would indicate that the flaps inside the HVAC system are not in the correct position to direct the cold air to the front vents. The actuators that move the flaps are prone to failing or going wrong. I would be trying to see what actuator directs air to the front vents and see if the actuator is working correctly. They can often be opened and cleaned with contact cleaner, or just replaced. Unfortunately most of the actuators are NOT easy to access, requiring the removal of many internal body trim panels and working in confined spaces.

 

[DZTEDDIE]

So I get in this morning and have not touch the AC since I drove it last night, fire the engine up and have a gale force wind blowing out of the dash and the rear vents.
Only drove it to move across the yard but it was blowing like it should.

 

[DZTEDDIE]

I will try using AC on Automatic with just the dash button pushed and rear AC on when I go to town in the morning and see what happens.

Note with the setting at 60 my temp of the air coming out is at about 60.

On my Jeep TJ or my Mazda 3 I see temp of the cooling air coming out of the vent at 38-40 degrees but these are just the regular crank it on max AC and fan at high speed not an automatic temp control.

 

[DZTEDDIE]

I found this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2Bh4pN27zI
Looks like fun to fix.

 

[DZTEDDIE]

I what is the fix for a dim message center display? Mine is dim and I will be having access when I open up the dash

 

[Gary Waugh]

I what is the fix for a dim message center display? Mine is dim and I will be having access when I open up the dash

There is no fix, it’s a very common issue, the cars use gas discharge displays which fade with age, the display is not available from ford and there are no aftermarket parts available. You are just stuck with a dim display. If it stops working completely, some owners have purchased aftermarket ODB readers which can show the information displayed by that display (total mileage, etc) but that has been the only known solution.

 

[AWAR]

I have purchased repaired instrument clusters from my local Ford Dealer. The come from a repair service, not a Ford part. There are online cluster repair places.

Measure temperature at one of the rear vents with it set to maximum cool. The front will only provide regulated temperature.

 

[Gary Waugh]

I have purchased repaired instrument clusters from my local Ford Dealer. The come from a repair service, not a Ford part. There are online cluster repair places.

Measure temperature at one of the rear vents with it set to maximum cool. The front will only provide regulated temperature.

I believe that if you purchase a replacement cluster the car has to be programmed to recognize the new unit and Ford garages will not do this due to the age of the car. So you either have to try and do it yourself or find an independent garage. I have not heard of companies offering repaired consoles but that is a great option if you can get the car programmed to recognize the new unit.