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Chrysler Repair/'05 Town and Country Limited: HVAC air distribution stuck

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Expert: - 11/18/2011


Question
I am unable to change from air vent to windsheild defrost no matter what mode I choose on the control panel.  The knob is turned to the defrost but the air comes blasting out of the vent.  How do I fix this?

Answer
Hi Chris,
The HVAC unit under the dash has actuators that move the various control doors that determine the distribution of air (mode door) and temperature (blend doors). If you remove the lower panel on the driver side of the dash you should be able to view the left hand end of the unit. The upper-most of the actuators is for the mode door. Either the door is binding up or the actuator has failed. It held in place by 2 screws and has an electircal plug. If you remove the actuator you could try to rotate the door by hand using a device similar in size to the tab on the actuator. That may free up a stuck door. If the problem is not that then the actuator is probably faulty.
But even before you do any of the above, you might try a calibration of the unit which may self-correct any problem with the mode door. Let me know if you have the manual temp control or the automatic temp control unit and I will tell you the procedure for doing the calibration.
Roland
PS Sorry for the delay but I just found your question in the pool to which it had been sent by Kevin.

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Roland Finston

Expertise

I specialize in Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth cars, minivans, and SUV's for the model years 1982-2008 based upon my 50-year DIY experience, factory shop manuals and wiring diagrams. I offer fast repair advice to help you minimize repair costs by helping you diagnose and do it yourself. Problems with electronically controlled engines and transmissions as well as body wiring problems are my specialty.

I take questions one at a time between 8am and 10pm CT and attempt to answer within 20 minutes. "Maxed Out" means I am answering another question of otherwise busy, so try again later.

There are answers on file to more than sixteen thousand Chrysler questions at your finger tips: put a few key words in the "find" box (above) or click on "view past answers" for a chronological list of my q and a's. Don't use "Add to this answer" if you still have a question...ask it. As to trucks and jeeps I only have manuals for the '04-'06 model years.

Experience

Five decades as a 'do-it-yourselfer' on domestic and imported cars

Organizations
Yahoo Autos Group called The Chrysler Lebaron Club (co-moderator)

Education/Credentials
Degrees in Physics/bruised knuckles.

Awards and Honors
"Top expert of 2010" and "2011" at Allexperts. Among top 50 experts for years 2006-2009 at Allexperts.

Quickest "average response time" at Allexperts (currently no. 1).

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