HVAC / AIRBOX / BLEND DOORS

[TGVET]

My blend doors quit working years ago. I think it was five years or so old and the cheap plastic components broke. This has got to be the year I finally commit to removing the HVAC unit and replace the blend doors and servo motors.
Has anyone done it and does anyone have any links to videos showing the proper steps to removing the HVAC / AIRBOX unit in one piece ? Years ago there was a "soso" video on here but not all that detailed.
Thanks all.

 

[Yo Hoot]

 

[Wiredawg]

I fixed mine on my former 03 Ram. The manufacturer of the kit I purchased had great detailed instructions with photos. Pretty easy Googling 3rd Gen Ram Vent Door Fix. Buy the kit and never worry about it again, unless you lose a motor.

 

[bighammer]

It was quite a job on my '03. It's amazingly stupid that they designed it in a way that pretty much the whole dash has to come out. If you have A/C, you will need to disconnect that to get the box out. My dealer wanted to charge 2 hrs labor for the free refrigerant I was giving them, so I just chopped the lines. I rarely use A/C here and the truck was at the point of not travelling far from home anymore.

 

[CVR222NV]

You might want to look at the removal and install videos for a 3rd Generation truck on the Blend Door USA website. I'm currently taking my dash out and it does not look like the video posted by Yo Hoot. Mine looks like the video posted on the Blend Door USA website. They also have video on disassembling the box and installing the new blend doors. I believe that the consensus on this forum is Blend Door USA over Heater Treater.

 

[TGVET]

I watched Part 1 on BDUSA. The Heater Treater way I watched years ago was a HACK and CHOP job. Glad I never went that route. Part 2 BDUSA this weekend. A long time ago on here someone posted they found a dealer to do the whole job for around $800.00. I would gladly pay that but I doubt I'll ever find a dealership even wanting to attempt it let alone for under $2000.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I watched Part 1 on BDUSA. The Heater Treater way I watched years ago was a HACK and CHOP job. Glad I never went that route. Part 2 BDUSA this weekend. A long time ago on here someone posted they found a dealer to do the whole job for around $800.00. I would gladly pay that but I doubt I'll ever find a dealership even wanting to attempt it let alone for under $2000.

I had in done under warranty a very long time ago. I they at the time it was an $800 job if I had to pay for it.

 

[CharlesinGA]

These are the best videos I have encountered on blend door replacement. The guy is through and detailed.

RAM heat and air blend doors break and fall apart, the best videos for doing this are………


Part 1 Removal of unit from truck

Part 2 Replacement of damper doors

Part 3 Unit reinstallation in truck

Part 4 Mega Cab damper replacement

Videos are produced by https://www.youtube.com/user/flopster843/videos

Which is CarboniteCummins.com

Doors available from www.BlendDoorUSA.com

Little late but hope this helps someone.
Charles

 

[Jim W]

Not all trucks fail there blend doors. My truck is an early built 2008 (purchased in Nov 2007) so, the truck as of now is 14 years old. The doors still work, and I still get heat and air as needed.
Just saying. I don't like general statements in general as they tend to be broad in nature of what are the actual facts.

 

[Ozymandias]

Mine are factory too, Dual System. Never touched in 18+ years from what I see.

 

[User113]

I just recently had to do mine. I told my wife that if I was going to go to all that trouble to pull the air box out I would also like to replace the cracked dash board and disgusting looking carpet, and recover the front seats. Oh, and add a 8 inch screen radio. And new speakers all around. And maybe even stick some dynamat type stuff here and there. And she said "ok." Woo hoo! (And while I was in there, I replaced the heater core and the A/C evaporator just for kicks.)

 

[Ozymandias]

I just recently had to do mine. I told my wife that if I was going to go to all that trouble to pull the air box out I would also like to replace the cracked dash board and disgusting looking carpet, and recover the front seats. Oh, and add a 8 inch screen radio. And new speakers all around. And maybe even stick some dynamat type stuff here and there. And she said "ok." Woo hoo! (And while I was in there, I replaced the heater core and the A/C evaporator just for kicks.)

Do it once do it right - right?

 

[Topzide]

You're right @Ozymandias, Buy Once, Cry Once! Would love to be able to do the same with my '01 1500!!!!!!!! Would also need to due some body work on the lower door panels and probably remove bed and replace with flat bed of some type.

 

[jjdiesel]

I just recently had to do mine. I told my wife that if I was going to go to all that trouble to pull the air box out I would also like to replace the cracked dash board and disgusting looking carpet, and recover the front seats. Oh, and add a 8 inch screen radio. And new speakers all around. And maybe even stick some dynamat type stuff here and there. And she said "ok." Woo hoo! (And while I was in there, I replaced the heater core and the A/C evaporator just for kicks.)

Smart move on the core and evaporator...do it while you're in there!

 

[Regcabguy]

It was quite a job on my '03. It's amazingly stupid that they designed it in a way that pretty much the whole dash has to come out. If you have A/C, you will need to disconnect that to get the box out. My dealer wanted to charge 2 hrs labor for the free refrigerant I was giving them, so I just chopped the lines. I rarely use A/C here and the truck was at the point of not travelling far from home anymore.

Decent components and it wouldn't have mattered how deep they buried it. Our 2005 Honda Pilots is a daily driver with 227K on it and nary an issue. Dodge knew they had a problem.

 

[Regcabguy]

I just recently had to do mine. I told my wife that if I was going to go to all that trouble to pull the air box out I would also like to replace the cracked dash board and disgusting looking carpet, and recover the front seats. Oh, and add a 8 inch screen radio. And new speakers all around. And maybe even stick some dynamat type stuff here and there. And she said "ok." Woo hoo! (And while I was in there, I replaced the heater core and the A/C evaporator just for kicks.)

Put a dashmat on it after completion. I put them on the 24v and my '07 and the dashes never cracked. It still gets hot under there but no uv.

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

Yep, I too am (FINALLY) going to do the full remove-and-replace on my '03 this winter. Appears Blend Door USA is the preferred vendor for the doors, but how about the evaporator and heater core? Are there any brands of those to stay away from?

Steve

 

[SSage]

Harbor Freight has the AC vacuum pump things too, you can do the whole thing yourself at home. My heater core is leaking now, I need to rebuild everything, just don't want to.

Mine was rebuilt by the dealer under warranty at least twice. It would freeze up bad when it was brand new and get stuck on defrost, then it would blow hot air all the time after a couple years. The dealer fixes didn't last, they put the updated Mopar fixes in. I don't think it lasted a year after each fix. Temp sensor was moved I think, didn't help. When its humid it will freeze up sometimes, like during a summer rain.

But its been good enough with the heater core isolated in the summer. Blows cold at least. I run it like an old semi. Napa sells little all metal brass valves just for coolant hoses. They last longer than a regular hardware store valve and stand up to the heat. Much cheaper than a brass ball valve at Lowes or whatever. I have my valves spliced in near the firewall.

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

Yep, I too am (FINALLY) going to do the full remove-and-replace on my '03 this winter. Appears Blend Door USA is the preferred vendor for the doors, but how about the evaporator and heater core? Are there any brands of those to stay away from?

Steve

Would appreciate any replies as to best brands (and those to stay away from) for blend doors/evaporator/heater core

 

[Ozymandias]

Some had good results with OTC parts, but many say go OEM with them as the work is way more expensive then the part itself.
Myself only OEM parts here.