Newbie needs help plz!!!!!

[Exproblems]

. The upper one is not broken where the metal attaches to the plastic arm, but I did notice that the black plastic arm has an unusual wobble to it. So I grabbed it and shook it and it appears there is indeed a break, however it is inside the box that the black plastic arm is attached to. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

SeanM,

I just saw this in another post. Take a look at the photo from "Essam" in the web link below. Is that the broken arm you see behind your dash?

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2802993&postcount=5

 

[Seanmarty93]

Exroblems, Yes that indeed is the part/arm that I am speaking of. However, the break seems to be on the inside of the "box" . My black plastic "arm" and the metal actuator arm which is attached to it, have no visual breaks. When i put that assembly in motion by switching vent selection knob. the assembly moves but it has a severe "wobble" as it moves. and when I grab that black plastic arm and wiggle it or shake it, it feels as if it has broken on the inside of the box to which it is attached. If that makes sense. So I am assuming that plastic arm is attached to a "flap" or some type of unit that directs the air to different areas (defrost vents, floor vents, or the vents facing passengers) I'm thinking that slamming on the breaks hard is causing that part to fall or move with inertia and then allowing the air to flow through the vents which blow out of the dash. Once a bump is hit or just through the vibration of driving, it seems that the broken flap must fall back into place to where it forces air back out to just defrost. Of course this is only an assumption. That being said, do you or anyone else have a reccomendation or an exploded view of the parts inside that "box" or have any information on repairing it? Thanks again for your help.

 

[Exproblems]

Exroblems, Yes that indeed is the part/arm that I am speaking of. However, the break seems to be on the inside of the "box" . My black plastic "arm" and the metal actuator arm which is attached to it, have no visual breaks. When i put that assembly in motion by switching vent selection knob. the assembly moves but it has a severe "wobble" as it moves. and when I grab that black plastic arm and wiggle it or shake it, it feels as if it has broken on the inside of the box to which it is attached. If that makes sense. So I am assuming that plastic arm is attached to a "flap" or some type of unit that directs the air to different areas (defrost vents, floor vents, or the vents facing passengers) I'm thinking that slamming on the breaks hard is causing that part to fall or move with inertia and then allowing the air to flow through the vents which blow out of the dash. Once a bump is hit or just through the vibration of driving, it seems that the broken flap must fall back into place to where it forces air back out to just defrost. Of course this is only an assumption. That being said, do you or anyone else have a reccomendation or an exploded view of the parts inside that "box" or have any information on repairing it? Thanks again for your help.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I don't know what the actuator in that photo hooks up to, from the other post I gave to you. I dont know if it connects to the air recirculation door panel or something else that operates the vent selection on the dash. If it happens to connect directly to the air recirc door itself and is what turns it back and forth, then you would need to replace it with a new one and remove the old broken armature that is inside of what ever it connects to. Maybe you should read some of those other posts where that photo came from and see if they mention what that actuator connects to. Maybe post a new question to someone there even if the posts are old ones from a year or two ago. I do not have a photo of it or a break down of the assembly back there. I even looked in my Haynes Manual and couldn't find any good photo's to go by. I really need the name of it and what it connects to. If you can find that out, let me know and I'll look it up in the Haynes manual. Good luck!

Update, I just looked at that other post with the photo, that motor in the pic is a "vacuum motor" and it appears that the black plastic arm coming off of it connects into the side of the "blend door box". I'm assuming that inside the blend door box is a series of vents openings to the dashboard vents and this vacuum motor controls the flow of air to specifc vents when working right by opening and closing some kind of door panel. I know removing the blend door box is a big job. Thats all I got for you right at the moment.

 

[Seanmarty93]

Exproblems, Thanks for your help. I'll continue to sniff around and see what I can come up with. Using the term "blend door box" will aid in my search, instead of saying "The black box thingy connected to the other thingy" LOL Thanks again!

 

[Exproblems]

Exproblems, Thanks for your help. I'll continue to sniff around and see what I can come up with. Using the term "blend door box" will aid in my search, instead of saying "The black box thingy connected to the other thingy" LOL Thanks again!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Check this is out, it is from "Essam". I wrote a message to him about that photo I showed you the other day and this is what he said about that vacuum motor:

Essam quote: >>>>>>>>>>Ford calls that HVAC door motor or actuator (Motorcraft part # YH-589), the one behind the glove box attaches to the circulation door, it directs air either to the defroster or to the dash vents.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This should set you straight on what the part name and part number is and what it connects to, the "circulation door" that directs air flow to the defroster or to the dash vents. I sent him another message today asking him if he knew hard it was to remove and replace that HVAC motor. I'll let you know what he says and you can view it yourself at the forum link below.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2902907#post2902907

 

[Exproblems]

I'll continue to sniff around and see what I can come up with. !

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

SeanM,

in case you haven't checked this out for yourself yet, here is what "Essam" says about that HVAC motor breaking down >>>>>>>>>Essam quote>>>>
if we're talking about the one behind the glove box, it's pretty easy to remove. two bolts and you're done.
however, i don't get it that the motor is to be removed, as far as i know they hardly fail! I'd rather check for vacuum leak if the motor arm is not moving. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Maybe check for a vacuum leak in the line going to it, before you try removing it and replacing it.

 

[Seanmarty93]

exproblems, thanks again for your research and help. In the photo you showed me the black plastic arm is broke, and the metal arm coming out of the actuator motor is hanging down and no longer connected. in my situation, all of that is intact and visually there is nothing wrong when viewing it. but if you notice the black plastic arm which is broken in the photo is part of something that goes through the "wall" of the box or part that has has the white writing on it that says 3CO on it. It appears that my black plastic arm is broken on the other side of that writing which is not visible. (hopefully that makes better sense) I've yet to find anymore info about what all that is involved in taking that apart and repairing it. I think I might be better off to go to the ford dealer and see if they can guide me in the right direction. I would hope that they have a parts catalog that would show what exactly is going on in that area. I'll let you know what I find out. Hopefully I can make it there tomorrow. Thanks again!!!!!!!

 

[Exproblems]

exproblems, thanks again for your research and help. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Not a problem, your welcome!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> but if you notice the black plastic arm which is broken in the photo is part of something that goes through the "wall" of the box or part that has has the white writing on it that says 3CO on it. It appears that my black plastic arm is broken on the other side of that writing which is not visible. (hopefully that makes better sense)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

No, I understood you all along. That your actuator arm is broken some where inside of the vent air blend box not visible like the one from that photo is, which broke externally.

>>>>>>>>>>>I've yet to find anymore info about what all that is involved in taking that apart and repairing it. >>>>>>>>>>>

As far as removing the actuator motor, "Essam" said it is mounted by 2 screws or bolts and easy to remove. But I would think you need to also remove the broken half of that actuator arm that is inside of the air box hole. Just an idea here, maybe remove the motor and see if the arm is really broken in two and try to fish out the rest of that broken arm with an ice pick, drill bit or something narrow enough to reach into the arm hole and pull it out. Hopefully, the HVAC vent air door panel didn't drop down inside the box when the arm broke in two.

>>>>>>>>>>>I think I might be better off to go to the ford dealer and see if they can guide me in the right direction. I would hope that they have a parts catalog that would show what exactly is going on in that area. I'll let you know what I find out. Hopefully I can make it there tomorrow. Thanks again!!!!!!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Yeah, better to show up there in person rather than phone them. Ford dealerships don't like to give out "free" help over the phone, trust me, I tried. Good luck with them!