Blend door vote

[dogfriend]

Re: Another blend door fix

Originally posted by c96drumm
Here's how I fixed my blend door.

If any of this isn't clear, say so and I will try to clarify it.

I don't suppose that you have any pictures of this?

Did you have to remove anything to get access to the rod? How long did it take to make the repair?

The biggest pain with this problem is the need to remove the dash to get to the rod. Does your repair eliminate the need to remove the dash?

 

[c96drumm]

Try those for some very bad pictures.
Didn't remove dash. The actuator can be pried out of it's clips gently with a screwdriver. You just need to disengage the top of the glove box so it hinges out all the way to expose the actuator and top of the plenum.
You need a mirror to see down into the hole where the actuator shaft engages the door. Once you have the actuator out and look at it and look into the hole where it engages, my description of this repair will be a bit clearer, I hope.
Good luck!

 

[dogfriend]

Cool.

So, if I understand correctly, you removed the actuator rod, devised a method to extend it enough to engage the unbroken part of the door, and then reinstalled the longer rod in place of the original.

Much better than removing the dash

 

[c96drumm]

Yes. I did this in April and it's still working. (knock on wood, cross fingers)
Any more questions, please feel free to ask!

More info on this subject:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=24962&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

 

[glitchy2003]

Blend

Just happened to '98 XLT, (126,000). Problem was new to me, but after internet search found that this is a prevalent problem. Dealers quotes $950 - $800. Will probably try one of the fixes from this forum.

 

[BensBud]

Yup did this too. Last fall it seized (truck had 70k-75k on it at the time). Had it replaced in the spring (it was stuck on heat). I forget the damage, but it was more than $500 and less than $800. It was the last straw for this dealer. I don't take any work to them anymore.

 

[razrbackfan2000]

I just got a quote to fix mine...at Firestone, I was quoted $139 installed....they said it'd be ready today. After reading about all the problems with the blend door I was expecting to drop anywhere from $700- 1,000...so when he called and told me the problem was the blend door (which I was sure was the problem after reading this forum) and told me it was $139 installed, I was more than happy to tell him to get all over it!!!!!

 

[BensBud]

Oh man! I'm guess I'm not in Kansas anymore! You said Firestone? As in, a tire dealership?

I'm pretty completely convinced, after reading here for a few months, that DIY is my best route...

 

[razrbackfan2000]

Yep...good ol' Firestone! This group is great though, I've had them do some other things for me - general stuff like thermostat, replaced my oxygen sensors, etc. They always do a great job for me and much cheaper than a dealer. It might be worth making some phone calls out where you're located to some local places and see if they can give you an estimate on replacing it for you...

 

[glitchy2003]

Blend Door Fix WORKED

After serious depression over prospect of $900 plus job to repair the blend door, I had decided to just deal with either all heat or Max AC. Then I started to read through these internet posts and discovered that some clever people came up with a fix - in particular "jfrank". Many thanks to jfrank - the fix worked. Total time for fix was less than 2 hours. I did have some doubts and feared that the line up wouldn't work, or that i would be unable to get the controller back in the correct position. It was, however, no problem. I did study the mirrored image of the door shaft receptor for a long time just to try to make sure that my brain was in gear.

**** many thanks to jfrank et al *****

 

[PUR PONY]

My moms 96 has NO problems
My 96 has NO problems

My dads 98 has a broken BLEND DOOR

 

[PghBill]

Happy New Year! Blend Door Broke!

Started '04 with no ability to control temperature. For a couple months, the door was making a rubbing sound when I adjusted the temperature. Today, only hot air. 86K miles. Oh, well, it's winter and its stuck on heat. From reading all the posts, the options seem to be:

1. Pay lots of $$$ to someone to have it fixed
2. Try one of the low cost/no cost "fixes"
3. Never buy another Ford because of too many factory/design screw-ups
   [/list=1]

 

[PUR PONY]

sorry to hear that... I had a pretty bad start to 04 as well. Was watching my year old big screen TV and it blew up on me!!!!!!!!! good thing for a warrenty.

On a good note... I fixed the broken blend door today on my sisters truck.

Took me less then an hour!!!! give it a shot- you have nothing to lose.... this is the site I used and followed it exactly!

http://home.earthlink.net/~kandc1/ford/blenddoorfix.html

 

[rfuree11]

95 with no problems, im assuming its a 96+ problem ?

 

[jsgreen]

Just paid $900

to have mine fixed - '96 Eddie Bauer.

I don't get why Ford doesn't recall this for safety reasons (can't defrost if you only have AC in the winter in New England)

 

[X24]

I dont know why you people dont call ford customer service about this. In order for it to be a recall it either has to be a safety issue or a certain percent of the vehicle population has to have the problem. If I remember correctly its like 1%. If you ask me, I think manufacturing defects should also be recalls, but why would they want to do that and lose all kinds of money. I've said it several times and I'll say it again... I called ford customer service about mine and they paid for 80% of mine. All it takes is a phone call. It cant hurt.

 

[98BlackXSport]

I just called Ford Canada about this problem last week. They gave me the same BS about it not being a recall but if there is one in the future they will refund me. They also said they have never heard of this problem before...ya right. All I can ask of anyone who has or had this problem is to at least call Ford so they at least have a record.