HVAC actuator "clicking".

[w2db]

Lots of talk about these HVAC actuators but none like mine so bear with me as I explain. I have a 2013 Expedition Limited, and love this truck. 213K and going good. But I have a few "minor" issues one being the clicking from HVAC. I have the multi-zone automatic control and the system seems to be working ok, temp adjusts air comes out of the right places. BUT the clicking when it goes to regulate temp. Most descriptions that I have seen say it is the drivers side blend door actuator that is the one Ford says you need to remove the dash. (I have seen a few videos on how to do this without pulling the dash-much preferred method). But here's what is confusing me- the clicking isn't from the center bottom of the dash where the console meets it, the sound really is from lower left of dash by gas pedal. So my question to the assembled multitude is " does it sound like the "defrost panel" actuator clicking? Is there a way to read an error code from the HVAC controls like on my old Merc Mountaineer? I have Forscan but it shows nothing about HVAC controls though I may be not doing something properly with Forscan and not seeing errors. At my age I don't think it would be good to crawl around more than needed so really need help figuring which one this is.

Also...I read somewhere that it could just need calibration though disconnecting battery and reconnect didn't change anything

Thanks for any input
GeorgeC
Crowley, TX

 

[BigOleFordFan]

Well, take it from someone who's "been there, done that"...the 3rd gens (and prob others too) are notorious for this issue.

My '011 had that "stickin & clickin" noise about a year after I bought it in '20, so I had the actuator replaced with a factory part, which failed again in 2024, at which time I told my mech to find another brand to use, even if it cost a little more. He did and it did, but only about $25 or so, and they are still working great atm...

My neighbor's 2012 also had this issue in 2017, and he & his brother ripped the whole dash out & replaced all the parts (actuators, blower motor, rocker switches, relays ect themselves, and he hasn't mentioned anything about it since, so I guess he got lucky or used some really good quality parts...

And AFAIK, the battery trick only/might only works for the electronically-controlled versions in later models, but the 3rd gens use mechanical controls, hence the name "actuator"

 

[AWAR]

If it is the driver’s side temp blend door actuator making noise, it is on the bottom of the hvac box. Ford says to discharge and remove the entire box to replace. It is on the bottom of the box fairly close to the throttle pedal. Here is the picture of the box with it removed and inverted. The heater diffuser is shown on top, which is the bottom in the car. I do not know if you can remove the center console and the carpet to gain access.

 

[jbbillett]

I had the same issue on my 2017. There are plenty of Youtube videos on how to replace the module. You don't need o remove the dash or sonsole.
The best one, I found, was to remove the 3 bolts on the throttle pedal mount and tie the pedal to the side. This gives some acccess to the 8mm bolts. Remove the bolts with a combination of small socket and wrench, disconnect the wire and then reverse. One trick is that you have to rotate the module to line the post op wih the socket on the blend door.
Watch the videos. I had to do one of the two rear blend door actuators as well. Actually it was the heat/cool door. That was more of an adventure removing those rear side panels.

 

[w2db]

Thanks guys for the input.
Gonna get to this in a few weeks. Temp is controlled just fine but at startup and every so often the clicking by the left side.

GeorgeC