Blend Door Override?

[Ifixyawata]

Ok, I got a new alternator put on today so the flickering EATC problem is gone. Now I need to address the issue of no heat. Now, as luck would have it my blend door is stuck in full A/C mode and I wondered if there's a way to manually override it so I can get some heat until I have the time to pull the car apart and replace the actuator? I read something on SHOtimes I think that mentioned this. 30 degree weather with leather seats is no fun.

Anyone have further details?

 

[Ian]

I don't know if this will help you, but when I got my 89 the recirc door (in the heater case behind the glove box) was not working because the vacuum motor arm was off the door. put it back on and ac went into max ac and then normal butby the noise could tell recirc door was still in max ac mode. Checed and found door post was missing a "push nut" on therecirc door. Off I went to the local parts store got a couple of different sizes (all around 1/8 ") got home and pushed one on. Been there ever since. If you have no heat, check for vacuum at the blend door. If no vacuum you do have a problem but you should be able to tie the heater door in the full heat position with a tie wrap or some such device. Hope this helps. Ian R.

 

[Ifixyawata]

I'm not sure what exactly controls the blend door, but I believe it's controlled solely by the blend door actuator. The actuator, I think, is just a servo type motor that opens and closes the blend door. I do understand, though, what you're saying about the recirc door, a couple of my other cars have vacuum operated recirc doors. But is there a way, electronically or mechanically to override the actuator? I'm in need of heat.

 

[Ifixyawata]

Sorry to be a pest, but is there anyone at all who's done this? Thanks. It's 30-some degrees out and dropping.

Winter shoot

 

[clintonk]

Yes, the blend door is controlled by a servo motor. There's no way to move it if the motor has failed. Run the EATC self-diagnostic to confirm a blend door motor problem. It's a pain to change, but it's doable.

I assume you've already felt the heater hoses to confirm the heater core is hot.

Clinton Knight
'90 White 187K
'95 Green 58K

 

[Ifixyawata]

Yes, the EATC diagnostics confirms that it's a blend door issue, so off comes the dash I guess. Has anyone done this? What kinda time frame should I expect to have it done? I'll do the heater core at the same time.

 

[Ifixyawata]

Update. So last night I was reading through my Chilton book and I discover that there's one fuse that runs just the blend door actuator and when I looked for that fuse I realized that it wasn't even in the car. After replacing it, the heat now workds like new. I'm glad I replaced a 50-cent fuse as opposed to a $50 BDA. Just thought I'd share the good news.

 

[projectSHO89]

Congrats on finding that little nugget.

A recent poster here at the forum went through the trouble of replacing the blend door actuator only to still have no heat. He then found that fuse was blown...

Steve

 

[Rio]

funny how much a little fuse can do...lol...i "fixed" my heat by changing a blown fuse too... thumbs_u

 

[91 SHOplus]

Not to be the rain on your parade, but.....

If the blend door actuater goes out, it defaults to full heat. Your fuse may have fixed your heat, but your A/C next summer will be just a tad warm....

This SHOtimes link will explain in detail.

<small>[ December 17, 2002, 12:39 PM: Message edited by: 91 SHOplus ]</small>