blend door actuator replacement not working 2000 sle.

[SylerF]

My blend door actuators for some reason are not working even after I replaced 3/4 blend doors and verified door #4 (blower actuator) works.

I replaced the one on my passenger side first, it was the easiest job I've done and my ac worked for that side. I spend 6 hours doing my other two (3 hours spent looking for tools) and when I go to turn my car on the air only goes to the defroster. The driver side vents have a very slight hot air flow coming out and the passenger side has room temp air that I can't notice coming out.

Does anyone know why my passenger side and in fact all the air would be coming out the defroster. I tried unplugging the battery for a minute and then plugging it in to try and get my HVAC to recalibrate.

[harofreak00]

Pull the HVAC BATT fuse to recalibrate the actuators. Watch them during this process to make sure they are doing the full sweep both ways. If they aren't, pull the actuator and make sure you can move the doors by hand.

[SylerF]

Ok thank you I will try that tonight thank you. I may have installed it wrong too since I haven't done this before.

[57j2olds]

Does anyone have the part number for the Mode Actuator?

[SylerF]

I have a post on my account with the parts. It looks like the right part I compared them but for some reason my mode door actually isn't working now that I 'fixed' it lol. I think I just did something wrong

[harofreak00]

I have a post on my account with the parts. It looks like the right part I compared them but for some reason my mode door actually isn't working now that I 'fixed' it lol. I think I just did something wrong

Did you take off more than the mode actuator? Did you take off this piece as well?

[SylerF]

yes I did and I think im regretting it. I fixed what wasn't broke and now I broke it. Is there something I need to know

[harofreak00]

The 3 arms and fingers need to be in EXACTLY this position before putting on that piece or the doors will not sync correctly.

[SylerF]

Ok wow that worked. I did a little testing and it looks like that middle right lever controls defrost and is spring loaded in some way to automatically go to defrost in case of failure of the actuator. Once you press it in the other ones work. After a miraculous rig job involving a clothes pin I was able to get that lever to stay just long enough to seat in the mode actuator. THANK YOU!!!!

[harofreak00]

Excellent. Anyone doing this job please take note, when replacing the mode actuator, do not remove the rotating assembly behind the actuator!

[Jayramb]

This is an annoying GM problem!! I bought an actuator that is made in Canada and it solved my problem. THe issue is no one told me that you have to remove the actuator, hook up the wiring, have the car running, put the ac on max recirculating, watch the action of the little white dial. It should move back and forth when you switch from ac to the heat (temp inside the cabin). You have to be a little bit of a body bender. Have a knee pad for the concrete as you kneel up from the bottom up at the actuator. 99% chances it is not the door actuator mechansim, it's the actuator itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPCa2J0OyPQ&t=147s

This video is a good educational tutorial.