[arizonian]

Hello
I have just found this forum and think it is high quality. No flaming going on. A lot of good information on this site.

My 96 Taurus with the electronic climate control blows hot air all the time. The compressor turns over, the freon (allright, 134a) level is correct, the suction side at the firewall is cold. I can't determine if the blend door is moving or stuck. Can the blend door be muscled into a different position from outside the plenum box? What are the chances of breaking something? Will the door stay put once it is moved?

Is the blend door actuator something that gets jammed and will work again once it is freed? Or is it an item to be tossed and a new one installed?

Many thanks. AC is needed in Arizona on a daily basis. Some times even in the winter.

Bill

 

[Sablewagon]

Bill, welcome to TCCA!

Now, you need to check the vacuum lines that control the actuators and so forth on the climate control. You can also run a self-test of the Climate control, but I've really forgotten how to do it. I think it requires pressing a couple of the control head buttons simultaneously and holding them for several seconds. Maybe another TCCA member will come to your rescue...

 

[arizonian]

Sablewagon
Well, I don't know what the real problem was, but it is fixed. It seems the blend door actuator was jammed. After I spent all afternoon getting the actuator out of the car and running electrical resistance tests on it, I stuck it back in and it worked. I wonder if it will go south again fairly soon.

Thanks for the reply.

Bill

 

[firespirit]

Welcome to the site, Bill!

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[detroit_raver]

Originally posted by arizonian@May 15 2004, 12:15 AM
Sablewagon
Well, I don't know what the real problem was, but it is fixed. It seems the blend door actuator was jammed. After I spent all afternoon getting the actuator out of the car and running electrical resistance tests on it, I stuck it back in and it worked. I wonder if it will go south again fairly soon.

Thanks for the reply.

Bill

i've been having the same problem as well. and i've been in the midst of getting to the blend door. but, i can see that i can not get to the whole thing unless i take apart the dash. did you take apart your dash? i took out my glove box hopeing i could get to it from there, but it still looks like i need to take the dash apart. pain in the butt!! if you did, did you take it all off from the drivers side, or is there a way to just take some off on the passengers side. also, if i just go ahead and add the r-134a, and it doesn't need it, will i wreck something by adding it?

 

[jj57]

Bill,

Do a self test on the EATC controls.

Hold the OFF and FLOOR buttons at the same time, release them and within 2 seconds, hit AUTO, you will see a blank window or a spinning thing..... Then you will get a code after about 30 seconds, if all the segments or 888 is displayed, then there are no errors, otherwise, you will get a code. To exit push the Front Defrost Button.

Get back to us

 

[jj57]

Sarah,

DO NOT OVERFILL ON R134A!!!!!

This is worse than a low charge, your shaft seal and O-rings will blow out long before the high pressure cutout.

 

[arizonian]

Thanks for the welcome

detroit_raver,

To get to the actuator, I pulled the radio/cassette/control panel and used two 1/4 drive socket set with all my extensions and wobblies. The computer (I should know what the computer is called, but it escapes me right now) is to the right of the actuator, and has to be removed first. I also pulled the glove box off for visibility and to hang a droplight. There are four screws. The last screw (for me) was in the upper right corner of the actuator. I could hardly see it because it was partially hidden by the computer and the interior of the dash. A flashlight was also needed.

Most of my work was done leaning across the console, with my legs hanging out the drivers door when needed. It was more comfortable than coming in from the passenger side. If I had a lift, that might change.

Powerstroke folks are using a Ranger heater valve to shut the water to the heater off. It would make the "Climate Control" inoperative for a set temperature, but I live in Tucson. I think in terms of "HOT" :chili: and "COLD" h34r: , not 70 to 72 degrees. That is an option I might explore later.