Another stuck on defrost thread

[07EddyB]

So my Ex has been stuck on defrost mode for a few weeks. I played with it last weekend but didn't decide anything. Figured the easiest thing to do would be to get a new check valve first. I put the new check valve in today - no help. Started tearing into things - unplugged the vacuum canister and heard the air escaping. Oh crap - it has vacuum so it's probably an actuator. I now have the center panel off and the glove box out. The door is free swinging. Sure enough, the arm broke on the door so the actuator is no longer connected. I managed to find the piece that broke off but I don't think JB Weld will help me in this case. It's not easy to get to. So off to research how hard that door is to replace. And then decide if I just give up and use the dowel rod trick. FYI - the dowel rod trick works because the door is hinged at the top - you are just pushing it open. I had read about it here but wondered why it worked. Now that I have everything tore down it's obvious.
Just wanted to let everyone know that it isn't always the check valve. At least it isn't for lucky people like me

 

[07EddyB]

Almost an hour researching and I can't even find the part. In the one diagram I saw it on they conveniently left out the part/reference number for that assembly. Anyone done this before?

 

[07EddyB]

After a lot of reading, and looking at the part again it appears that I should be able to take the arm off the door which will give me the freedom to do a glue up on the bench while reinforcing it. I'm going to give that a shot tomorrow. It won't easily pull off - I tried that. But it might pry off.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Thanks Eddy -

Keep posting the steps and the solution. If it happened to you, it will happen to most of us here.
If you get any pictures, that would be even better.

 

[07EddyB]

So it doesn't look like I will be able to pry the arm off without a lot of damage to the housing. It's the only thing I have to pry against and it would be a bad thing to break. Looks like I'm going to plan Z now. As I explained to my wife, plan Z is not really an actual plan but it involves duct tape and cable ties and is made up as you go along. It's plan Z because failure leaves no other options.
Well, except for tearing the dash out and fixing it right but that's certainly no fun.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Out of any repairs I have to do, removing the dash is by far the worst.
The only other one is dropping the entire engine/tranny/struts/wheels with the subframe on the front wheel drive cars.
I would never attempt to do an engine or tranny swap on my wife's Murano

 

[07EddyB]

OK - so the deed is done. After much web research and study - I just drilled a freaking hole in what was left of the pivot arm and connected it to the actuator arm with a cable tie. I can't share pics since I'm not a paying member. But basically, I drilled a 1/8 inch hole almost at the top slightly to the left side (because there is a rib on the back in the center). Then I just put a cable tie on it. Of course, it wasn't that easy in such a limited space - it required several pair of mini pliers and some serious patience which was recharged occasionally with bursts of obscenities.
I can see how it eventually broke - at full extension the actuator arm goes past the point where the pivot was - maybe not much but there was definitely some pressure on it in defrost mode. If I had tried to glue it back it would have broken from the pressure required to reattach the actuator arm.
If it breaks again soon I'll let you know. The actual good part about the cable tie is that it does have a little slack on it so that might relieve the pressure some. On the other hand, the metal actuator arm is going to be hitting it with every cycle with the edge of the hole so failure is inevitable.
If you have this problem and want to investigate - all you really have to do is remove the glove box. I have the whole center stack out right now but that isn't necessary. I did that thinking I had a vacuum issue and wanted to get to the back of the controls. Just pull the glove box and look left and up. Don't lay on your back - knees on the ground - lean in and look up.