Expert: Roland Finston - 6/16/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I have a problem with my 1999 town and country A/C not working properly. When I turn on the A/C, the air on the drivers side is really cold, but the air on the passenger side is hot. It has dual zone temp control. I ran a diagnostic test I read on here, and the rear wiper, and intermitent wiper led's flash at the same time after the test. I am not sure if it is the control module or what. Please let me know if you have heard of this problem and might know how to help me. Thanks Ron Criger

ANSWER: Hi Ron,
It sounds to me that the passenger side blend door actuator is not working properly or the door is mechanically hanging up. The diagnostic testing to verify this is complicated and would best be shared if I xerox copied the 8 pages of the manual that describe in detail how to do that. On the other hand, it is fairly easy to access the actuator, remove it, check for the motion of the door, and if necessary replace the actuator (this would be only a couple of pages to copy).
Let me know what you want me to copy and tell me your postal mailing address via a 'private' option follow-up question. I will be pleased to send you a couple of pages for free, but if you want all the 10 pages then I will do that too, but I would appreciate that after you receive them you would send me back three 44-cent stamps to cover my costs.
Roland

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QUESTION: Can you just email me the documents that you are talking about sending me through the postal mail? I can just print them out from my email, and you wont have to waste an envelope or a few stamps. If not, I understand. Thanks Ron

Answer
Hi Ron,
I only have the pages as a 'hard' copy (the '98 manual) and I don't have a document scanner. If you want to have a look at the blend door actuator you remove the panel under the steering column* which allow you to get to the left end of the underdash air distribution box, then you remove the abs controller that is in the way, and then you will see the end of the box. You will see three separate actuators: the upper one is the mode door, the lower front is the driver blend door, and the lower rear is the passenger blend door. Just disconnect the plug and remove the screws and pull the actuator off. Note the position of the interconnection between the actuator and the door for reassemply at a later time. You may be able to observe the 'action' during a calibration if the shaft of the actuator is visible, but in any case since you are getting control on the driver side but not the passenger is is likely either the actuator or the door is binding. I doubt it is the wiring.
Roland
*remove screw holding parking brake release handle to panel, remove 3 or 4 screws holding bottom edge of cover to panel, and remove 1 upper right screw; then disconnect the brake release cable from the handle (2-step process), and remove the cover