Driver's side AC not cold--UPDATE: not bad actuator...

[agrazela]

2004 LeSabre. Automatic dual zone HVAC system.

Driver's side AC doesn't blow cold, but passenger's side OK. From checking here and the old BC, I suspect a bad (driver's side?) actuator.

(These are electronic rather than vacuum on 2000+, right?)

I don't have an FSM for the 2004; so can anyone tell me where to find this device?

Are there separate driver's and passenger's side actuators? Can I swap them around for testing?

Thanks.

[JBMark33]

Have you already checked the pressure in your A/C system?

[agrazela]

Have you already checked the pressure in your A/C system?

I only have a gauge for the low-pressure side; it was OK according to my 1998 FSM's HVAC pages (40 psi IIRC). I do not have a high-pressure side reading.

The tubing on the low pressure side is cold and the passenger's side blows the temperature the (1998) FSM says it should (while the driver's side is blowing ambient temperature air). The condenser is clear of debris.

I don't think there's an issue in the cooling system itself (compressor, lines, etc.), but rather in the routing of the air through the vents.

[JBMark33]

Mine is right around 40 as well and it works fine.

The driver side actuator is hiding under some plastic under the driver side's footwell.

If you take the couple plastic covers off, you can see if the gray part of the actuator is spinning to open/close temperature on the driver side.

[agrazela]

OK, using your description and this diagram Archon had posted on a BC thread:


I believe I found the driver's side actuator:




This actuator did not move when I switched between HVAC "Off" and the lowest temp cooling (though it did move when I went to highest temp heating).

The "mode door actuator" just above it moved in all HVAC modes.

I did disconnect the harness and reconnect in case of bad connection; no change.

So, before throwing a new driver's side actuator at it, is there something I can test in the wiring harness to the actuator? Anyone got some wiring diagrams for the 2000+ that might help me out?

Anything else I should check?

[Archon]

This is the wiring diagram for the air mix actuators. Perhaps it will help

[agrazela]

Archon,

Thanks for the diagram. That might help me meter-test the wiring.

Also, I wonder if you have a drawing showing where the passenger's side actuator is (like that drawing in my first post); I'm wondering if they are the same module and can be swapped to see if the problem moves with it?

[JBMark33]

I am not sure if the right and left actuators are swappable. I'll check the part numbers.

FYI - The default setting for the actuator is the defrost position. So, if you try to swap them everything will work out fine until you try to go through all the different vent settings, and then you will hear a bad clicking noise, which meant it wasn't aligned properly.

As long as you don't turn on the climate control center when an actuator is not plugged in, then you won't have to worry about this like me.

- trust me you don't want to have to deal with that haha

[Archon]

This diagram is for the passenger side of the 2000 Bonneville. Checking for parts at Rock Auto for a 2004 LeSabre.
DORMAN Part # 604106 {OE Solutions}
Controls A/C Blend Door; Air Inlet Door; w/Automatic AC Control
Controls A/C Blend Door; Temperature Door; w/Automatic AC Control; Right
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 2 business days

[agrazela]

UPDATE

So I got a replacement driver's side actuator from Morad. No change, it still blows not quite cold on the driver's side. The original and replacement actuators have exactly the same range of motion.

I can see that the actuator is rotating the "rod" that apparently is connected to the door. With the actuator out I could rotate that rod by hand and feel and hear that a door is in fact moving...but now I'm thinking maybe the ducting is cracked/broken or that the door maybe has a broken hinge or a loose seal around it (grasping at straws here)

What do you think...tear out the dash and inspect the ducting and blend door? That sounds fun

[Archon]

It probably should have been mentioned earlier, but have you checked the charge on the system? Warmer air on the driver's side is one of the symptoms of low refrigerant.

[JBMark33]

Above he stated that he had 40 psi, I think mine is right around 45 psi.

I don't know for sure what it is rated for though.

[Archon]

I read the thing several times, and missed that each time! I would think the 40 would be enough.

I wouldn't be excited about tearing the dash apart. Do you have an IR thermometer where you could check temps along the ductwork?

[david]

what is the outcome????

[skregal]

Like Archon said, my GXP was blowing hot on one side and cold on the other
and it wasn't the actuators. It was something wrong with the system
and can't remember but I believe it was just low refrigerant - dealer fixed it
so I can't remember, but I do know that I looked at the invoice and there
wasn't any actuator listed. Hope this helps if you run into a dead end
with the actuators.

[Archon]

The thread is almost 6 years old, and I haven't seen Andy on the forum for some time. So, I doubt you'll get an answer from him. IIRC (there may be another thread on it) he did tear the dash apart, checked the duct work and doors, put it back together without making a change. He added a bit more refrigerant and that solved the problem.

[skregal]

Wow, didn't realize it was a resurrected thread.

[Normdata]

2004 SLE, 125K miles. Inherited from my father. A/C cold on passenger side, lukewarm on the driver's side. Checked actuators under the driver side dash and they were functioning normally. I read through the earlier threads and saw mention of low Freon charge causing this anomaly. The low pressure side line in the engine compartment was ice cold so I was skeptical. I connected a Gauge anyway, and it was on the low side, but not low enough to drop out the compressor. I had to add one can of Freon. And behold, the driver side A/C was cold once again. I guess the low charge was preventing the evaporator coil from cooling along its entire surface and it affected the driver side ducting passing through that side of the coil. The system only needed a top off after all. Hopefully this will prevent someone from having to tear into the dash for nothing.

[nos4blood70]

2004 SLE, 125K miles. Inherited from my father. A/C cold on passenger side, lukewarm on the driver's side. Checked actuators under the driver side dash and they were functioning normally. I read through the earlier threads and saw mention of low Freon charge causing this anomaly. The low pressure side line in the engine compartment was ice cold so I was skeptical. I connected a Gauge anyway, and it was on the low side, but not low enough to drop out the compressor. I had to add one can of Freon. And behold, the driver side A/C was cold once again. I guess the low charge was preventing the evaporator coil from cooling along its entire surface and it affected the driver side ducting passing through that side of the coil. The system only needed a top off after all. Hopefully this will prevent someone from having to tear into the dash for nothing.

Welcome to the forums sir.

Next time feel free to start your own thread.

Nonetheless, it should be noted that if you notice AC being warmer on the driver side, checking charge should be the first step.

[Sirius]

Since this is the second resurrection, is this considered an 8 year old thread or a 14 year old thread?

LOL!