Blender door actuator replacement

2012 CHRYSLER 300
58,000 MILES • 3.6L • 6 CYL • 2WD
Avatar
BRUCE MEYER2
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I am about to replace the A/C blender door actuator on the passenger side of my car listed above LE. This will be the third or fourth time I am replacing this actuator in about five years. After I replace the actuator I can tell it is straining because of minor sounds it makes that come from the actuator. After some time the actuator goes bad again and starts making that really loud clicking noise.
I believe I may not be setting everything up properly when I install the new actuator. But I have been unable to find anything on proper positioning of either the door itself or the settings in the AC center controls. I did find a way to supposedly reset the system.But that really doesn't help my issue.
What I need to know is what settings should I set my A/C for when changing the actuator and do I set it before or after I take out the old one. I also need to know which direction should I turn the door itself before installing the actuator. I can turn it clockwise or counter clockwise about a half a turn each way. I can easily turn the door and I can hear it thump into place each time but not sure which way to have it turned before I install the actuator.
I really hope you can help with this.
Oct 9, 2019 at 5:30 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
ASEMASTER6371
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 52,796 POSTS
Good morning,

You are positioning it correctly.

What brand actuator are you using?

Roy
Oct 10, 2019 at 2:22 AM
Avatar
BRUCE MEYER2
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have used 3 different ones so far. The first one was the cheapest I could find. When the cheap one went bad I went with OEM's and have ever since. The second one I got was from Mopar itself and these last few were from Advance Auto. The ones from Advance Auto last the same as the Mopar one but the last one from Advance Auto (that I will be probably replacing tomorrow) lasted longer than all of them.
So it doesn't matter if the door is turned clockwise or counterclockwise when I put the actuator on? Nor does it matter what the settings on the climate controls are set to? That would seem odd because the actuator has a pattern to the teeth (see the attached image). I was wondering if that is the reason why it keeps going bad. I'd like to reiterate that after I put a new one in and start the car you can tell the actuator is struggling, but it works for between 6 months and 2 years until it starts with the loud clicking sound again.
FYI, I opened the first (cheap) one that went bad and one set of the plastic gears were completely stripped.
Image (Click to enlarge)
Attached Media
Oct 10, 2019 at 5:07 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
ASEMASTER6371
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 52,796 POSTS
Yep, that's what happens to them.

Did you install the other one yet?

You just install these, there is no calibration for the actuator.

Roy
Oct 10, 2019 at 5:22 PM
Avatar
BRUCE MEYER2
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I will install it tomorrow. I need to, the actuator in the car now clicks for 20 minutes or so even if the climate controls are off!
If there is no calibration needed then what is causing the strain and eventual fail of the actuators? To reiterate I can move the door by hand (when I remove the actuator) about a half turn either way and I can hear it thump into place.
Oct 10, 2019 at 7:38 PM
Avatar
ASEMASTER6371
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 52,796 POSTS
If you can move it by hand, then the door is unobstructed. There should be no issue at all.

Just to be sure, after you install it, remove the HVAC fuse for 1 minute. Then install it. Turn on the key and wait 2 minutes. See if you hear the door moving back and forth.

Roy
Oct 11, 2019 at 2:26 AM