What is this part?

[agsexplorer]

What is this part? Picture added

Sorry guys - I'm an idiot. I've been wildly busy. The picture should display now.

I found this in the passenger footwell of my 03 Explorer. It looks like it might be an actuator arm or hinge of some sort. Since everything seems to be working, I can't figure out where it came from.

It is somehow attached to the diverter knob for my front AC. The air now blows through every vent in my dash. I figured this out when I tried to defrost my windshield one icy morning.

Can you identify it?

 

[ROBinGa]

Image isn't working for me

 

[drdoom]

Found one today myself, can post a functional pic later. I am guessing an HVAC door mechanism. So I've got that going for me...

 

[drdoom]

.

 

[drdoom]

 

[EXPLORER04]

that is the arm for your fresh air/recirc door that has broken off

 

[drdoom]

Thanks for the reply EXPLORER04. Have you ever replaced one?

 

[EXPLORER04]

Yes, I have replaced mine. Part number is 1L2Z-18B259-AC

how to: http://www.denlorstools.com/autoblog/2008/08/2003-ford-explorer-ac-not-cold-enough/

 

[agsexplorer]

Should've Read the thread

Thanks for that!

 

[Number4]

That is the sign of good times! Times when you say, "Ford, your engineers are awesome.
Send one over so I can kick 'em."

You need to replace the vacuum actuator as well. I've been told by Ford that it has failed and in doing so, breaks the attachment piece. Are they right? Don't know, I think it's just a crappy design.

I was going to pick up two non damaged doors (recirc/fresh air and the defrost/front vent) and see if a local shop could C&C something that would be light enough.

 

[rocco123]

I just bolted the door shut. 2002 just isn't worth tearing that far into the dash for me.
Mine broke several years ago. Closing the door keeps the cold air out (around glove box)

 

[drdoom]

So after having a look behind the glove compartment, the situation with my rig is that the door is closed in the fresh air position, and without the actuator arm it does not have the ability to switch over to recirculation mode. Works well enough for now I suppose, but I'll see how it does in hotter weather. I am at some point going to purchase a new door assembly. *Sigh* another thing to put on my list.

 

[Number Twelve]

I just frisbeed my outdoor air flap and sealed the intake (under the windshield wiper cowling).
Virginia...we don't need to introduce 95 degree outdoor air in Florida.

 

[Harpua216]

you can remove a few bolts and reach your hands in there and grab the door. put you r hands in the grate and scrape knuckles feeling for the door. if its there you can pull it out and tape up the fresh air vent on the outside of the car. The air is amazingly powerful.

just did it. easy enough. the dash has to at least swing out and it doesnt look like fun.

 

[agsexplorer]

Mine appears to control whether the air comes out of the vents, floor, or defrost. So, are there two - recirculate and defrost?

 

[Number4]

Mine appears to control whether the air comes out of the vents, floor, or defrost. So, are there two - recirculate and defrost?

There are two doors that break. The one you are speaking of can be seen by dropping the glovebox and looking up toward the radio. This is the hardest one to fix.

 

[Number Twelve]

For that flap that is up, high, to the left of the glove compartment...I saw that the vacuum powered actuator had broken off the flap handle, so I twisted the flap into "dashboard vents" position and ran a screw in the pivot joint so it can never move. Maybe this is a Florida only fix. Cold air out the dashboard is 99% of what we need in Florida. The heat still works, but I'll be darned if I know where it's coming out.

Summary: Frisbee the outdoor air flap, lock the difficult to fix flap into, "dashboard vents only", and hope I still have defrost for those 2 days a year when I need it. If anybody knows whether I still have defrost, please reply.

 

[faberj]

On my 04 I pushed the door shut and it's being held closed with a piece of foam. I got this idea from a you tube video. For winter defrost close the vents and I think that should redirect it to the defrost for the winter.