Hi all--longtime lurker and first time poster here.
I bought a 2003 QuadCab SLT, 4.7, auto with 73000 miles in July. The first owner kept the truck in excellent shape.
Just recently I've started having intermittent problems with the AC mode...it will not blow through the panel vents. I've searched posts at this forum and subscribed first to ClintonDIY.com and, because Clinton was not very helpful, subscribed also to AlldataDIY.com, which was helpful (as you can tell, I would highly recommend AlldataDIY over ClintonDIY.) Here is what I have learned:
Contrary to a few posts here (and to some of Clinton's info), my 2003 is purely electrically actuated--no vacuum is involved. I crawled under the driver's side dash and located both the blend door actuator and the mode door actuator. While the truck was idling, I operated the AC mode controller and saw that the actuator was operating--spinning the cam that controls the 3 doors--floor, panel and defrost. At this point I wanted to double-check the panel door lever to make sure that it is not stuck. I removed the actuator and the cam and manually operated all 3 doors individually--all doors felt normal (at least to me as an automotive AC neophyte.) I reassembled the cam and actuator and still got the same results--no panel airflow. When set at the panel positions, it blows out of the floor vents.
Upon further reading at AlldataDIY, it said that there is a recalibration procedure that is actuated by the DRB III scanner. I'm now thinking that I need to get this system scanned and the HVAC doors recalibrated since I've visually confirmed that the mode door actuator and AC controller are operational. Would you agree? Should I take it to the local Dodge dealership or an auto AC shop? Once there, should I just ask them to scan and recalibrate the AC doors or should I expect them to give me the results of any DTC's that are logged?
Thanks in advance to all who respond.
I bought a 2003 QuadCab SLT, 4.7, auto with 73000 miles in July. The first owner kept the truck in excellent shape.
Just recently I've started having intermittent problems with the AC mode...it will not blow through the panel vents. I've searched posts at this forum and subscribed first to ClintonDIY.com and, because Clinton was not very helpful, subscribed also to AlldataDIY.com, which was helpful (as you can tell, I would highly recommend AlldataDIY over ClintonDIY.) Here is what I have learned:
Contrary to a few posts here (and to some of Clinton's info), my 2003 is purely electrically actuated--no vacuum is involved. I crawled under the driver's side dash and located both the blend door actuator and the mode door actuator. While the truck was idling, I operated the AC mode controller and saw that the actuator was operating--spinning the cam that controls the 3 doors--floor, panel and defrost. At this point I wanted to double-check the panel door lever to make sure that it is not stuck. I removed the actuator and the cam and manually operated all 3 doors individually--all doors felt normal (at least to me as an automotive AC neophyte.) I reassembled the cam and actuator and still got the same results--no panel airflow. When set at the panel positions, it blows out of the floor vents.
Upon further reading at AlldataDIY, it said that there is a recalibration procedure that is actuated by the DRB III scanner. I'm now thinking that I need to get this system scanned and the HVAC doors recalibrated since I've visually confirmed that the mode door actuator and AC controller are operational. Would you agree? Should I take it to the local Dodge dealership or an auto AC shop? Once there, should I just ask them to scan and recalibrate the AC doors or should I expect them to give me the results of any DTC's that are logged?
Thanks in advance to all who respond.