Damn Blend Door

[JSMCPN]

Climate Control Q's

Blend door, code #2, air from defrost only. Not sure if stuck or what, as it blows outside air, no heat, no A/C.

Q's:
1-Does A/C not engage if there is a problem?
2-Can I rig it to blow hot air for this winter?
3-Anyone have pictures of the actuator motor replacement procedure?

Thanks!

 

[Rockledge]

Jesse,

The A/C will still engage if you have a #2 EATC problem code. At least mine did. If you don't want the A/C to engage while the unit is broken, pull the fuse, or pull the electrical connector off the A/C the cylcling switch.

If your EATC is blowing hot air through the defrost vents, then it sounds like it is already rigged for the winter...

As for BDA replacment procudures, you need to pull the dash back to gain access to the BDA unit, which involves unbolting a few of the under-dash components as well as the dash itself, unhooking several electrical connectors and speedo cable, dropping the steering column, and taking off a few other things. Not a hard job, just time consuming. If you send me an email I can forward to you a PDF file which has directions from my '94 Ford Manual on how to pull the dash.

You might have seen it already, but here is a thread discussing actual BDA part number(s) and installation issues:

http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=31156

The BDA is a dealer-only part. Cost me about $70 out the door. Had to wait a few days for them to order it. Ask for Part # FSDZ-19E616-A and you should get the proper unit.

 

[SHOman24v]

Have fun changing it lol i had to do mine, it wasnt fun, change your heater core while your at it..

 

[JSMCPN]

The air coming from the vents is the same temperature as the air outside, so when it gets cold this winter I'll get cold air only. The blend door must be stuck in a position that channels all the air from outside. It would help if I knew how the super-over-engineered system worked. I'm hoping to borrow a shop manual from a buddy but havent been able to reach him. Thanks for the input, it looks like I'll be pulling the dash this weekend and driving the Talon till it's done. Now all I have to fix is the strut bearing, fiberglass damage, seats, 60k, power steering pump....Man, I should have bought the 89 with 130k instead

 

[SHOman24v]

be prepared to crack your dash too (only if the car has seen alot of sun)

 

[JSMCPN]

What kind of flaws should I look for in the heater core? With 86k, I am not sure it really needs replaced, but who knows yet. I will if necessary to save from removing the dash again, but I already have one nice car that sucks all my money, so I'm really trying to save $$ on the SHO. I couldn't stand driving a tiny, slow, dangerous car as a daily driver any more so I bought a SHO. It's a DD, again, not my nice car, so I don't really care if it looks a bit rough, or if all the accessories work, as long as it's got the necessities like heat, lights etc.

 

[Rockledge]

Replacing the heater core involves more than just a little bit more work.

IMO, if it ain't broke...

 

[projectSHO89]

Replacing the heater core involves more than just a little bit more work.

IMO, if it ain't broke...

Hold off on it.

Besides, when it does go out, you'll know how to do half of the replacement procedure already.

Steve

 

[Shoaz]

I'd bought a preemptive spare heater core to put in when we (AZ Sho off and I) changed out the BDA in my car. I couldn't believe that the fasteners for the plenum over the heater core were on the engine side of the firewall. My car is an MTX, so there's essentially no clearance to get at those fasteners without a lot of hijinks.

Since my heater is fine, no failure systems, we punted and left the old one in. What a pain.

The BDA is bad enough, but even with the dash already out the heater core just looked like more pain than it was worth for a non-failed item.

 

[SHOman24v]

If i was you id change the heater core.... your there, so do it. id hate to be the one that said i told you so

just my $0.02

 

[projectSHO89]

To replace the heater core, you have to undo the A/C system.

That alone usually makes it so that it is worth leaving the core until it needs replacing.

Steve

 

[JSMCPN]

Yea, screw that. A/C doesn't even work right now, I don't know why. I am not going to empty out a system if it might still work. Again, this SHO is my beater so I want to spend as little on it as possible