KK - Passenger Heater Blend Door Actuator

[TheCanadian]

Does anyone have a guide to replace the actuator right behind the glove box? I'm wondering if there is an easier way to do it instead if ripping apart the dash and getting frustrated haha.

By the way heat only blows out of the defrost so if anyone knows of anything on this or it's happened to them any information is helpful!

 

[TheCanadian]

I've looked around a bit and people are sating that it could be a bad thermostat or a bad rad cap.

The engine does take it's sweet time to warm up.

 

[lfhoward]

Hey Canadian,
I’ve been there, done that with the blower only working on defrost. It could just be a bad actuator, but I’m my KK it was a busted set of gears on the air distribution box. See this thread for info and pictures of what you are likely dealing with.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=82363

 

[Billwill]

I know on the KJs that if the vacuum line going into the cabin from the intake manifold (vacuum pump for CRD) has come off or has a tear or hole in it then the air flow will only come our through the demister vents.

This vacuum is what activates the Blend doors.
On my 2002 Export CRD after I picked it up from the Dealers after a service I noted that the airflow was only coming from the demister vents. I turned around and drove back to the Dealers...they straight away re-fitted the rubber vacuum tube that they had knocked off from the vacuum pump.

This would not explain why it only happens on the passenger side though but it could be related ie. passenger side has lost vacuum somehow.

 

[ltd02]

Not exactly sure what the problem is, temp or direction? Blend door just controls temp not direction. I never had a KK but I thought Chrysler got less stupid with them and the blend door actuator is accessible without pulling the dash. You need to find someone who knows or a reliable diagram before you go tearing things apart.

 

[TheCanadian]

The issue is that the blend door behind the glove box doesn't open.

There is no heat at the floor and very little out of the dash. It's all out of the defrost.

 

[ltd02]

I could be wrong so maybe the KK is different. The KJ blend door is controlled by a small electric motor and just controls temp via mixing. Like Bill said the direction or function is controlled by a different vacuum actuator mechanism. Some people call this a "blend" as well but it really just switches things in the box to divert the air. Might have to just pull the bezel behind the selector switch and see what's back there.

Disclaimer: I have only had KJs. I thought some KK owners might have seen this too,

Look at reply #2 here:
https://www.jeepkj.com/threads/2012-jeep-liberty-stuck-on-defrost.63880/

 

[ltd02]

I had a defrost only issue in my 05 and it was at the switch behind the bezel. One of the lines (vacuum) was not connected. No vacuum to move anything. The default is the defrost for safety reasons.

 

[TheCanadian]

I had a defrost only issue in my 05 and it was at the switch behind the bezel. One of the lines (vacuum) was not connected. No vacuum to move anything. The default is the defrost for safety reasons.

I've Checked the dials and they are all connected tight and they work.

So the line goes from the air intake going into the cabin, I'll check on this and see what I can find.

 

[lfhoward]

Hey everyone,

I need to make a clarification here. The KK has no vacuum lines that control the HVAC at all. There are 3 electric actuator motors.
1 - behind the glove box. This one changes the setting to bring in air from outside or to recirculate the cabin air.
2 - to the right of the driver’s right knee, the lower position. This is the blend door actuator and changes the heat/cool setting by mixing air from the heater core and air conditioning.
3 - to the right of the driver’s right knee, the upper position. This is the mode door actuator and changes the vent position the air comes out of. If the gears break, it gets stuck on defrost.
For #1, you have to remove the glove box to get at it. For #2&3, you have to remove the kick panel below the steering wheel (comes out like the glove box does) and the sound insulation above the driver’s feet. You can unscrew and detach an actuator motor from its position, keeping the wiring pigtail attached, and move the climate control knob and test it to see if it functions. If it does, then your problem is the air distribution box, and the gears on it are likely broken.

 

[TheCanadian]

Hey everyone,

I need to make a clarification here. The KK has no vacuum lines that control the HVAC at all. There are 3 electric actuator motors.
1 - behind the glove box. This one changes the setting to bring in air from outside or to recirculate the cabin air.
2 - to the right of the driver’s right knee, the lower position. This is the blend door actuator and changes the heat/cool setting by mixing air from the heater core and air conditioning.
3 - to the right of the driver’s right knee, the upper position. This is the mode door actuator and changes the vent position the air comes out of. If the gears break, it gets stuck on defrost.
For #1, you have to remove the glove box to get at it. For #2&3, you have to remove the kick panel below the steering wheel (comes out like the glove box does) and the sound insulation above the driver’s feet. You can unscrew and detach an actuator motor from its position, keeping the wiring pigtail attached, and move the climate control knob and test it to see if it functions. If it does, then your problem is the air distribution box, and the gears on it are likely broken.

The bottom on on the drivers side does move. I believe it's the blend one.
I'll have to check the other one.

The passenger side one doesn't work at all. I'll try to get this one out today and see if I can move the door manually.

 

[TheCanadian]

So I checked the driver side ones.

Bottom one works fine. no grinding noises or anything.

The top one on the story is different. It does move but there is a grinding and clicking noise, more of a clicking noise.

Could this be cause by it not aligning correctly, or bad gears?

 

[lfhoward]

I’m sorry to say so, but yes, busted gears. See this one minute YouTube video for an explanation of why/how this happens. The rubber gasket on the door degrades and melts into sticky goo. The mode door gets stuck, and when the actuator tries to move it, the plastic gears explode.

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[lfhoward]

The actuator behind the glove box should engage when you hit the recirculate button. If it doesn’t, this is a separate issue from the mode door problem in my previous post.

 

[TheCanadian]

I’m sorry to say so, but yes, busted gears. See this one minute YouTube video for an explanation of why/how this happens. The rubber gasket on the door degrades and melts into sticky goo. The mode door gets stuck, and when the actuator tries to move it, the plastic gears explode.

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Well wonderful. I can't seem to get that off rockauto and ebay is like $40+$200+ for shipping or their just non-existent.

The actuator behind the glove box I'll have to try next. I don't believe that it is opening so I'll have to try and take that one out and see if it does work.

 

[TheCanadian]

The Part number is: 68004022AA if anyone else needs it.

 

[lfhoward]

The order number is: 68004022AA if anyone else needs it.

I bought mine on Amazon, but the price is higher there now. Summit Racing has them for around $170.

 

[TheCanadian]

I bought mine on Amazon, but the price is higher there now. Summit Racing has them for around $170.

I seen, I'll have to order is and use a heated garage. Winter decided to come so it's getting a tad colder.

 

[lfhoward]

Be sure to get the seal kit too so that the new box will mate back up with the ducts. 68003995AA

Sorry you have to take the dash apart etc. but glad you have a warm garage to do it in.

Here’s a great dash disassembly video.

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And here’s the LOST Jeeps How-to thread again.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=82363

I’m happy to help out with any advice, since I’ve done this before.

 

[TheCanadian]

I ended up buying a thermostat since it seems to take a dogs age to warm up. I can drive from my house to work/school before it's even quarter way warm on the gauge.

I don't have any over heating issues. I ended up buying a 195F thermostat as well with no failsafe on it.

I'm not to sure when it was replaced or even if it ever was replaced. It's currently got 268,000KM on it as it is so only god knows when it was changed haha.