2007, first repair, mode door actuator. What now?

[JimR_TN]

Hello all. I've had my 2007 Expedition XLT for a month now and really like it. Seems to be a solid vehicle, 153K and running good so I'm doing a few minor repairs. The first was the mode door actuator (drivers side above and to the right of gas pedal) which I replaced earlier today. I read many posts here and watched many videos and other than the uncomfortable position I had to get in it wasn't very difficult.

Unfortunately that didn't solve the problem. I was stuck with air blowing out the face vents and with the new actuator installed it is now blowing through the floor vents. But changing modes does nothing. I pulled fuse 15 to reset the climate system with no change. What next? I was able to move the mode door by hand to align it for the new actuator so I know the mode door itself isn't stuck.

How do I diagnose if it is a bad new actuator or bad switch or bad climate module or ???

 

[Logan97]

Hello all. I've had my 2007 Expedition XLT for a month now and really like it. Seems to be a solid vehicle, 153K and running good so I'm doing a few minor repairs. The first was the mode door actuator (drivers side above and to the right of gas pedal) which I replaced earlier today. I read many posts here and watched many videos and other than the uncomfortable position I had to get in it wasn't very difficult.

Unfortunately that didn't solve the problem. I was stuck with air blowing out the face vents and with the new actuator installed it is now blowing through the floor vents. But changing modes does nothing. I pulled fuse 15 to reset the climate system with no change. What next? I was able to move the mode door by hand to align it for the new actuator so I know the mode door itself isn't stuck.

How do I diagnose if it is a bad new actuator or bad switch or bad climate module or ???

Are you talking about the blend door actuators? If so there are 5 of them, 3 in front and 2 in back, might be another one needing to be replaced. I also have an 07 xlt with 209000 miles that I've had for a few years now. I can tell you everything I've replaced so far if you want to know.

 

[JimR_TN]

Yes, but I'm led to believe that the blend door controlling which vent air blows through is the one on the drivers side above and to the right of the gas pedal. I've seen it called a "mode door actuator". I replaced that actuator. Before the repair the air was blowing from the face vents and after from the floor vents. This makes me think I was in the right area but I still can't control the air flow. So if the mode/vent doors aren't stuck (they moved by finger) I'm unsure how to troubleshoot other than pulling and swapping the actuator again.

 

[Logan97]

Mine was doing the same thing, but I replaced all of them, I want to say that the one behind the radio was the one giving me issues.

 

[JimR_TN]

The one behind the radio is clicking, but that one is warm versus cold which still works. I have the replacement and will do it soon. The one that directs the air to the different vents is drivers side above gas pedal which I replaced, however I still can’t change which vent the air flows through.

I suppose I’ll have to pull the new actuator and figure out how to test it.

 

[sjwelds]

I'm pretty sure you have them reversed. If one is clicking that's usually the one that's bad.

 

[JimR_TN]

Ok, maybe I need to take a step back. Which actuator controls which vent the air blows through? Everything I’ve read says it is the one on the drivers side above the gas pedal. I don’t have dual climate in the front so I believe that is the only one controlling the vents. Can someone please confirm or correct?

Replacing the actuator above the gas pedal changed which vent the air is blowing through, but I suspect that is because I rotated it manually to line up with the gear in the actuator. I still don't have control over the vents.

The one behind the radio I can make click by moving the temperature control knob. However it does still change from cold to warm to cold as I rotate the temperature knob. Can someone please confirm or correct that?

 

[JimR_TN]

I just swapped the actuator again. I installed the one I bought to replace the one behind the radio. While the actuator was removed I did rotate the door by finger to face/defrost/floor so the one above the gas pedal is the one that controls the vents.

The new actuator still doesn’t work. I also hooked up both new actuators without them installed and I see no movement on either gear.

I again pulled fuse 15 to reset the system so it would self calibrate. When I put fuse 15 back in and turn the key I can hear other actuators running through their ranges, but still nothing from from the mode door actuator. A visual inspection of the wires didn’t see any issues.

Both new actuators had the arrow on the housing pointing to the flat part of the gear.

So I’m stumped. Any ideas on troubleshooting this?

 

[JimR_TN]

Quick update, I picked up another actuator, swapped it, still no vent control. Not sure what the next steps are in troubleshooting this issue. Again the wiring looks good as far as I can see it. The switch turns the AC on in that position and seems to change to defrost vent and floor vent but the actuator doesn’t move the vent doors.

Open to ideas. Thanks

 

[JimR_TN]

Another update, I replaced the Blend Door behind the stereo today. The back bolt was tough but no more clicking and I have full control over the temperature. Still no sign of the mode door moving at all as the vents remain on the floor. Possibly the issue is in the Temperature Climate Control module with the 3 rotary switches.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

* defrost/panel/floor mode door actuator: underneath the LH side of the instrument panel
* Mode Door Actuator — Air Inlet Door: RH lower A pillar
* Temperature Blend Door Actuator — LH: under the heater core
* Temperature Blend Door Actuator — RH : center stack behind the stereo
* Auxiliary Mode Door Actuator — Expedition, Navigator: under the rear RH quarter trim panel utility tray.
* Auxiliary Temperature Blend Door Actuator — Expedition, Navigator: behind the rear RH quarter trim panel

 

[JimR_TN]

Thanks!

So I don’t have dual climate up front, but I do have rear air. Do I still have both a LH and RH temperature blend door actuator?

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Thanks!

So I don’t have dual climate up front, but I do have rear air. Do I still have both a LH and RH temperature blend door actuator?

You do not.

Manual:

2011 Expedition, Navigator Workshop Manual
The temperature blend door actuator moves the temperature blend door on command from the HVAC module.


The temperature blend door actuator contains a reversible electric motor and a potentiometer. The potentiometer circuit consists of a 5-volt reference signal connected to one end of a variable resistor, and a signal ground connected to the other. A signal circuit is connected to a wiper which is driven along the variable resistor by the actuator shaft. The signal to the HVAC module from the wiper indicates the position of the temperature blend door. The HVAC module drives the actuator motor in whichever direction is necessary to make the actuator wiper voltage agree with the expected HVAC wiper voltage value.

The temperature blend door actuator is located on the top of the heater core and evaporator core housing.

Auto:

2011 Expedition, Navigator Workshop Manual
The dual-zone EATC system uses 2 temperature blend door actuators to control 2 separate temperature blend doors. The temperature blend doors independently vary the LH side and RH side temperature settings, as desired. The temperature blend door actuators each contain a reversible electric motor and a potentiometer. The potentiometer circuit consists of a 5-volt reference signal connected to one end of a variable resistor, and a signal ground connected to the other. A signal circuit is connected to a wiper which is driven along the variable resistor by the actuator shaft. The signal to the HVAC module from the wiper indicates the position of the temperature blend door. The HVAC module drives the actuator motor in whichever direction is necessary to make the actuator wiper voltage agree with the expected HVAC module wiper voltage value.

 

[JimR_TN]

Thank you!

 

[JimR_TN]

Finally fixed this one!

Replaced the switches with no success. So I started examining the wiring and I found this!



Not only did someone do a sloppy job of wiring this with twists and electrical tape but they crossed the yellow wires! Rewired correctly with butt connectors and I now have full control over my vents.

 

[bobgriner]

@JimR_TN totally following your thread. I have an SSV and have "exactly" the same issue. Replaced the "Mode" actuator above gas pedal and still not change of air location. My blend actuator for the temp has worked fine all along. What I "did" notice, was that when I pulled the Mode Actuator (completely) and turned the ventilation system on, the rear actuator clicked. Kind of odd. After I put a new Mode Actuator in, the rear actuator stopped clicking, but the location of the air wasn't affected up front.

 

[Yupster Dog]

JimR_TN >> totally following your thread. I have an SSV and have "exactly" the same issue. Replaced the "Mode" actuator above gas pedal and still not change of air location. My blend actuator for the temp has worked fine all along. What I "did" notice, was that when I pulled the Mode Actuator (completely) and turned the ventilation system on, the rear actuator clicked. Kind of odd. After I put a new Mode Actuator in, the rear actuator stopped clicking, but the location of the air wasn't affected up front.

For the member to get an alert, you can quote thier post like i have you.
Or you can put "@" in front of members name to mention them in a post and they get alert.

Welcome to the forum

 

[tekrsq]

For the member to get an alert, you can quote thier post like i have you.
Or you can put "@" in front of members name to mention them in a post and they get alert.

Welcome to the forum

By any chance, do you know if the blend doors/actuators/etc are set up the same way on a 99 Eddie Bauer with the EATC, and if they are all the same doors and actuators ? I'm not trying to hijack this thread (I have one started in the "Heating & Cooling" section), but I haven't gotten any help on my thread. THX !!!!!

 

[Yupster Dog]

(I have one started in the "Heating & Cooling" section), but I haven't gotten any help on my thread. THX !!!!!

I have seen your thread and did not answer because i do not know the answer.

I'm not trying to hijack this thread

And yet you posted a perfect example.

You can do the same thing without the hijack by mentioning a member in your post on your thread.
To mention a member put the @ symbol in front of thier name in your post on your thread.
@tekrsq and they will get an alert to your thread without the hijack.