Hvac recirculation actuator on passenger side is clicking

Air temperature and delivery are controlled via small actuators on the heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) box located behind the dashboard. These actuators operate doors inside the HVAC box in order to channel air through different passages to achieve the desired result. A "blend" door actuator can channel air through the heater core, around the heater core or a mix of these two to achieve the desired temperature. A "mode" door actuator can direct airflow to the ducts that lead to the defrost vent, front vent, floor vent or a mix between. When a vehicle has dual climate control (where driver and passenger sides of the vehicle can have different air temperatures) there can be multiple of actuators of each type which can make diagnosis difficult. The first step would be to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) from the HVAC Control Module using an advanced level scan tool; these codes help determine the location of the issue and if it's an electronic or mechanical failure. Electronic failures would include items such as HVAC control module failure, actuator circuit failure or actuator failure. Mechanical failures would include items such as actuator failure or internal HVAC box door failure. You can read more here: https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-components-of-the-heating-and-ac-system-are-most-likely-to-fail

It depends on what options your car has, but there will be 3-4 and they are all located inside of the HVAC box. You will have a fresh/ recirculating air door, a heat/ AC and vent door (on certain models there will be 2 of these for passenger side and drivers side), you will have one for defrost/ dash/ and floor.

Possibly an actuator in your HVAC system. There are actuators to move the blend door, mode door, recirc door, and possibly others depending on your HVAC options (climate control, dual control, etc). With your car running, can you change the temperature from cold to hot and back, and can you direct airflow to floor, defrost, and dash vents? When you select recirculate (max a/c), can you hear the change? If you have problems with any of these, you may need to replace an actuator or one of the doors may be jammed.

I assuming the blower motor is working ? Because you don't say one way or the other . When switching from floor to vent to defrost do you hear any noise from in back of the I/P ? Mode door actuator . When moving from heat to A/C does anything change ? Or stay the same ,little air flow ?

I know must people do not want to hear this but you should take it to the dealer an have it checked for DTC'S - diagnostic trouble codes ! The auto parts stores con not read these codes .
More then likely one of the system actuators ( electric motor ) is bad an code is present .
DTC B0229, B0414, B0424, B3761, or B3770
The following DTCs are for the HVAC door actuators:
• B0229 is for the recirculation actuator.
• B0414 is for the left air temperature actuator.
• B0424 is for the right air temperature actuator.
• B3761 is for the defrost actuator.
• B3770 is for the mode actuator.

DTC B0248, B0263, B0268, B0408, or B0418

The following DTCs are for the HVAC door actuators:
• B0248 is for the defrost actuator.
• B0263 is for the mode actuator.
• B0268 is for the recirculation actuator.
• B0408 is for the left air temperature actuator.
• B0418 is for the right air temperature actuator.

so find out which vent is dead,?
before 5 gallon LYSOL flush an a week long GAG !
make sure first never to use RECRIC, when wanting to defog.
and is the A/C running in dash defrost mode (compressor main shaft spins)

if a vent is dead, its a bad damper valve, (not saying a part, a function)
the book is free, you can read it, HVAC. see venting and dampers.
its very simple in concept, a fan, a damper and dry air. hot.
the heater core makes heat the non recirc, damage gives you fresh air, the A/C makes that air dry. and the dampers the supply all vents work work.
so make sure the controls are set right,
then see if the upper vents all blow, with hand waved on them.
see? that is easy, and not reporting a dead vent ,makes help harder.
the FSM is on line, ill look for you.
but first HVAC 101

1. does blower work on high?
2. does the recirc turn to fresh are,and you get fresh air with blower off moving, at all top vents. y/n
3. do you have full heat? 180F + engine heat (scan tool shows this as ECT)
4. do all vents top work , blower on?
5. is the A/C compressor working in A/c mode (cold) and Defrost?
6. more... below.

Rule one, dont work in dash until air bags are DEFEATED (injury) (pull battery neg lug, and wait 1hour)

got fsm page open, ill state some facts needed to fix this.

first ill prove the dash system does not need total dismantle
for all jobs. Does NOT.
Air /mix blend door
Single Zone/Dual Zone Driver's Side(FSM)

1. Disconnect and isolate the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the instrument panel silencer from the driver side of the instrument panel.
3. Remove the three screws that secure the blend door actuator to the driver side of the HVAC air distribution housing .
4. Remove the blend door actuator from the air distribution housing and disconnect the HVAC wire harness connector from the actuator.
5. Remove the blend door actuator from the vehicle.

next page, is blend door 2, type.
has vacuum servos.
we move the controls and make sure all servo vacuum motors
work

this car has driver side and passenger side seperate blend doors.
so,,, we are getting close here>
?
if the defroster fails,(seems not) then that is electric motor drive
and very hard to test . (if not door jam)

in any case, we need to know what part is failing,
if the passenger blend is dead.
seen below,
we then must find out why
1: just stuck.
2: servo actuator failure
3: controls to #2 above bad, or connections to each.



login to alldata.com see HVAC chapter, read how it works and the tests.

Air Door Actuators/Motors Removal & Installation Recirculation Actuator 1996 - 1999 1996 - 1999 HVAC Actuators

To Remove:

1. Remove the left sound insulator panel.
2. Disconnect the vacuum hose from the recirculation actuator.
3. Remove the recirculation actuator from the valve.

To Install:

1. Connect the recirculation actuator to the valve.
2. Clip the recirculation actuator to the air inlet.
3. Connect the vacuum hose to the recirculation actuator.
4. Install the left sound insulator panel.

2000 - 2005 2000 - 2005 Recirculation Actuator

To Remove:

1. Remove the instrument panel compartment.
2. Remove the right sound insulator.
3. Remove the dash integration module from the bracket.
4. Remove the 2 dash integration module bracket fasteners and position the bracket to gain access to the recirculation actuator.
5. Disconnect the electrical connector from the recirculation actuator.
6. Remove the recirculation actuator.

To Install:

1. Install the recirculation actuator and torque the fasteners to 12 in-lbs (1.4 Nm).
2. Connect the electrical connector to the recirculation actuator.
3. Install the dash integration module bracket and torque the fasteners to 12 in-lbs (1.4 Nm).
4. Install the dash integration module into the bracket.
5. Install the right sound insulator.
6. Install the instrument panel compartment.
7. Recalibrate the actuator.

Defroster Valve Actuator 1996 - 1999 1996 - 1999 HVAC Actuators

To Remove:

1. Remove the air distributor assembly.
2. Unclip the defroster valve actuator from the air inlet.
3. Disconnect the defroster valve actuator from the valve.

To Install:

1. Disconnect the defroster valve actuator from the valve.
2. Clip the defroster valve actuator from the air inlet.
3. Install the air distributor assembly.

Heater/Bi-Level Actuator 1996 - 1999 1996 - 1999 HVAC Actuators

To Remove:

1. Remove the air distributor assembly.
2. Remove the clip and the screws that fasten the 2 halves of the air distributor assembly and separate the air distributor assembly.
3. Unclip and disconnect the heater/bi-level actuator from the valve.

To Install:

1. Connect and clip the heater/bi-level actuator to the valve.
2. Fasten the 2 halves of the air distributor assembly together and torque the fasteners to 13 in-lbs (1.5 Nm).
3. Install the air distributor assembly.

Temperature Actuator 1996 - 1999 1996 - 1999 HVAC Actuators

To Remove:

1. Remove the instrument panel assembly.
2. By snapping the rod out of the valve, remove the temperature valve link rod from the temperature valve.
3. Disconnect the electrical connector from the temperature actuator.
4. Remove the temperature actuator.

To Install:

1. Install the temperature actuator and torque the fasteners to 12 in-lbs (1.4 Nm).
2. Connect the electrical connector to the temperature actuator.
3. Start the vehicle.
4. Set the fan to position to high.
5. Set the temperature to full hot.
6. Allow a minimum of 45 seconds for the temperature valve actuator to move to the full hot position.
7. Move the temperature valve to the full hot position.
8. Snap the temperature valve link rod into the temperature valve.
9. Install the instrument panel assembly.

Mode Actuator 2000 - 2005 Mode and Left Air Temperature Actuator

To Remove:

1. Remove the left side sound insulator panel.
2. Remove the knee bolster.
3. Remove the instrument panel cluster. (Automatic HVAC)
4. Disconnect the electrical connector from the left air temperature actuator. (Automatic HVAC)
5. Remove the left air temperature actuator. (Automatic HVAC)
6. Disconnect the electrical connector from the mode actuator.
7. Remove the mode actuator.

To Install:

1. Align the mode door levers with the cam slots.
2. Install the mode actuator and torque the fasteners to 12 in-lbs (1.4 Nm).
3. Connect the electrical connector to the mode actuator.
4. Install the left air temperature actuator and torque the fasteners to 12 in-lbs (1.4 Nm). (Automatic HVAC)
5. Connect the electrical connector to the left air temperature actuator. (Automatic HVAC)
6. Install the instrument panel cluster. (Automatic HVAC)
7. Install the knee bolster.
8. Install the left side sound insulator panel.
9. Recalibrate the actuators.

Left Air Temperature Actuator 2000 - 2005 Mode and Left Air Temperature Actuator

To Remove:

1. Remove the left side sound insulator panel.
2. Remove the knee bolster.
3. Remove the instrument panel cluster.
4. Disconnect the electrical connector from the left air temperature actuator.
5. Remove the left air temperature actuator retaining screws.
6. Remove the left air temperature actuator.

To Install:

1. Install the left air temperature actuator and torque the fasteners to 12 in-lbs (1.4 Nm).
2. Connect the electrical connector to the left air temperature actuator.
3. Install the instrument panel cluster.
4. Install the knee bolster.
5. Install the left side sound insulator panel.
6. Recalibrate the actuators.

Air temperature Actuator (Manual), Right Air temperature Actuator (Automatic) 2000 - 2005 Right Air Temperature Actuator

To Remove:

1. Remove the instrument panel compartment.
2. Disconnect the electrical connector from the air temperature actuator.
3. Remove the right air temperature actuator.

To Install:

1. Install the air temperature actuator and torque the fasteners to 12 in-lbs (1.4 Nm).
2. Connect the electrical connector to the air temperature actuator.
3. Install the instrument panel compartment.
4. Recalibrate the actuators.

Air Door Actuators Removal & Installation Console Mode To Remove:

1. Remove the center console from the vehicle.
2. Detach the air outlet duct from the center console.
3. Disconnect the console mode actuator connector.
4. Detach the console mode actuator from the center console.

To Install:

1. Attach the console mode actuator to the center console. Torque the screws to 17 in-lb (1.9 Nm).
2. Connect the console mode actuator connector.
3. Attach the air outlet duct to the center console. Torque the screw to 17 in-lb (1.9 Nm).
4. Install the center console into the vehicle.

Left Side Air Temperature To Remove:

1. Remove the instrument panel carrier from the instrument panel.
2. Disconnect the left side air temperature actuator connector. HVAC control module - left side
   
   
3. Detach the left side air temperature actuator from the HVAC module.

To Install:

1. Attach the left side air temperature actuator to the HVAC module. Torque the screw to 17 in-lb (1.9 Nm).
2. Connect the left side air temperature actuator connector.
3. Install the instrument panel carrier onto the instrument panel.
4. Recalibrate the left side air temperature actuator.

Right Side Air Temperature To Remove:

1. Remove the instrument panel carrier from the instrument panel.
2. Disconnect the right side air temperature actuator connector.
3. Detach the right side air temperature actuator from the HVAC module.

To Install:

1. Attach the right side air temperature actuator to the HVAC module. Torque the screw to 17 in-lb (1.9 Nm).
2. Connect the left side air temperature actuator connector.
3. Install the instrument panel carrier onto the instrument panel.
4. Recalibrate the right side air temperature actuator.

Mode To Remove:

1. Remove the left floor duct from under the instrument panel (I/P).
2. Disconnect the mode actuator connector. HVAC control module - left side
   
   
3. Detach the mode actuator from the HVAC module.

To Install:

1. If installing a new mode actuator, move the mode door to the middle position.
2. Attach the mode actuator to the HVAC module. Torque the screw to 17 in-lb (1.9 Nm).
3. Connect the mode actuator connector.
4. Install the left floor duct under the instrument panel (I/P).
5. Recalibrate the mode actuator.

Defrost Valve To Remove:

1. Remove the instrument panel carrier from the instrument panel.
2. Disconnect the defrost valve actuator connector. HVAC control module - left side
   
   
3. Detach the defrost valve actuator from the HVAC module.

To Install:

1. Attach the defrost valve actuator to the HVAC module. Torque the screw to 17 in-lb (1.9 Nm).
2. Connect the defrost valve actuator connector.
3. Install the instrument panel carrier onto the instrument panel.

Recirculation To Remove:

1. Remove the HVAC module from the instrument panel.
2. Detach the air inlet assembly from the HVAC module. Recirculation actuator removal and installation
   
   
3. Disconnect the recirculation actuator connector.
4. Detach the recirculation actuator from the HVAC module.

To Install:

1. Attach the recirculation actuator to the HVAC module. Torque the screw to 17 in-lb (1.9 Nm).
2. Attach the air inlet assembly to the HVAC module. Torque the screw to 17 in-lb (1.9 Nm).
3. Connect the recirculation actuator connector.
4. Install the HVAC module into the instrument panel.
5. Recalibrate the recirculation actuator.

The blend door actuated by solenoids may not be working correctly causing a/c cool air to come out of the windshield vents, rather than the regular front vents.

Defroster Valve Actuator 1996 – 1999 1996 – 1999 HVAC Actuators

To Remove:

1. Remove the air distributor assembly.
2. Unclip the defroster valve actuator from the air inlet.
3. Disconnect the defroster valve actuator from the valve.

To Install:

1. Disconnect the defroster valve actuator from the valve.
2. Clip the defroster valve actuator from the air inlet.
3. Install the air distributor assembly.

Heater/Bi-Level Actuator 1996 – 1999 1996 – 1999 HVAC Actuators

To Remove:

1. Remove the air distributor assembly.
2. Remove the clip and the screws that fasten the 2 halves of the air distributor assembly and separate the air distributor assembly.
3. Unclip and disconnect the heater/bi-level actuator from the valve.

To Install:

1. Connect and clip the heater/bi-level actuator to the valve.
2. Fasten the 2 halves of the air distributor assembly together and torque the fasteners to 13 in-lbs (1.5 Nm).
3. Install the air distributor assembly.

---
Removal & Installation Recirculation Actuator 1996 – 1999 1996 – 1999 HVAC Actuators

To Remove:

1. Remove the left sound insulator panel.
2. Disconnect the vacuum hose from the recirculation actuator.
3. Remove the recirculation actuator from the valve.

To Install:

1. Connect the recirculation actuator to the valve.
2. Clip the recirculation actuator to the air inlet.
3. Connect the vacuum hose to the recirculation actuator.
4. Install the left sound insulator panel.

once you disconnect the battery your body control module loses power and memory you have to get some one with a scanner with reprogramming capabilities and have the computers reset ,dealer?

Air Door Actuators Removal & Installation Air Temperature Actuator Air Temperature Actuator Replacement

To Remove:
CAUTION
Do not apply power to the actuator when it is removed from the HVAC module.

1. Remove the instrument panel hush panel.
2. Disconnect the connector from the air temperature actuator.
3. Remove the air temperature actuator mounting screws.
4. Remove the actuator from the HVAC assembly.

To Install:

1. Position the air temperature actuator on the HVAC assembly.
2. Install the actuator mounting screws.
3. Install the electrical connect to the air temperature actuator.
4. Install the instrument panel hush panel.

Right Side Air Temperature Actuator (2003-2007) Right Air Temperature Actuator Replacement

To Remove:
CAUTION
Do not apply power to the actuator when it is removed from the HVAC module.

1. Remove the instrument panel carrier.
2. Disconnect the connector from the right air temperature actuator.
3. Remove the actuator mounting screws.
4. Remove the right air temperature actuator.

To Install:

1. Position the right air temperature actuator on the HVAC assembly.
2. Install the actuator mounting screws.
3. Connect the electrical connector to the actuator.
4. Install the I/P carrier.
5. Calibrate the actuator.

Left Side Air Temperature Actuator (2003-2007) Left Air Temperature Actuator Replacement

To Remove:
CAUTION
Do not apply power to the actuator when it is removed from the HVAC module.

1. Remove the I/P insulator panel.
2. Disconnect the connector from the left air temperature actuator.
3. Remove the actuator mounting screws.
4. Remove the left air temperature actuator.

To Install:

1. Position the left air temperature actuator on the HVAC assembly.
2. Install the actuator mounting screws.
3. Connect the electrical connector to the actuator.
4. Install the I/P insulator panel.
5. Calibrate the actuator.

Mode Actuator Mode Actuator Replacement

To Remove:
CAUTION
Do not apply power to the actuator when it is removed from the HVAC module.

1. Remove the floor air outlet from the floor duct.
2. Remove the center console and center console duct (if equipped).
3. Disconnect the electrical connection at the mode actuator.
4. Remove the mode actuator mounting screws from the HVAC module.
5. Remove the mode actuator with the actuator cam attached.

To Install:

1. Position the mode actuator with the actuator cam to the HVAC module.
   • Align the heater/defroster valve lever with the cam slot
   • Align the A/C valve lever with the cam
2. Install the mode actuator mounting screws.
3. Connect the mode actuator electrical connection.
4. Install the center console duct and the center console (if equipped).
5. Install the floor air outlet duct extension to the floor air duct.
6. Calibrate the actuator.

Air Inlet Actuator/Recirculation Actuator Delphi Recirculation Actuator Replacement (Delphi)

To Remove:
CAUTION
Do not apply power to the actuator when it is removed from the HVAC module.

1. Remove the instrument panel upper trim panel.
2. Remove the instrument panel lower trim panel and glove box assembly.
3. Remove the passenger side air bag.
4. Disconnect the connector from the recirculation actuator.
5. Remove the recirculation actuator mounting screws.
6. Remove the recirculation actuator from the HVAC assembly.

To Install:

1. Position the recirculation actuator on the HVAC assembly.
2. Install the recirculation actuator mounting screws.
3. Connect the electrical connector to the recirculation actuator.
4. Install the passenger side air bag.
5. Install the instrument panel lower trim panel and the glove box assembly.
6. Install the instrument panel upper trim panel.
7. Calibrate the actuator.

Visteon Recirculation Actuator Replacement (Visteon)

To Remove:
CAUTION
Do not apply power to the actuator when it is removed from the HVAC module.

1. Remove the HVAC module assembly.
2. Remove the evaporator core cover from the HVAC module.
3. Remove the recirculation actuator from the HVAC module assembly.

To Install:

1. Position the recirculation actuator on the HVAC assembly.
2. Install the recirculation actuator mounting screws.
3. Install the evaporator core cover to the HVAC module.
4. Install the HVAC module assembly.
5. Calibrate the actuator.