AC Flow resolved...well kinda!

[TMax]

Well after sticking my hand up into the cavity where the recirc door is located (I assume its the recirc door above the fan unit behind the glove box) I found the recirc door completely detached and blocking any flow through the system. I cut the little grate slats out and yanked the door out only to find it has broken off at the motor connection. With the door out, my ac blows great! It seems that all my other doors are working properly for the moment... just holding my breath for the next door to go. I want my recirc to work but does anyone know how much it will cost to replace the door? It looks involved but it may now be too bad.

Chrysler should be footing this bill in my opinion just because I am probably the bazillionth owner this has happened to. #@$%!

 

[DZink24]

i have removed the glove box before, but decided against removing all the screws and plastic to get to the guts of the HVAC. how involved was it to remove, and more importantly, replace? i remember there being screws, covers, and i assume wiring harnesses and stuff impeding progress. i'm right there with you, my blower sounds like a jet engine at takeoff, but the amount of volume coming out of the vents is minimal at best. is the a/c cold?

 

[TMax]

After the glovebox is removed, reach up under there and directly above the blower motor at the top of the ductwork, you will see what looks like a grate with plastic spars. You can stick your hand in there and feel the door. It is probably loose like mine and you can move it around with your fingers. I took a pair of needle nose and first wedged the door up and turned the ac on. Hey! I had flow! I then took the needlenose and snapped the bottoms off the plastic spars so that I could reach in and grab the broken door and pull it out. Once out, the spars flipped back down into place. The big question is how to get the new door back in without too much disassembly. Yes, the air is cold and it blows now! I just don't have a functioning recirculation door.

 

[sag2]

There is a really good post with photos that shows the removal of the dash. A good tech that has done a few can change the recirc assembly in about 45 minutes. You have to roll the dash back, but do not have to remove the HVAC box to do it. If you have never done one figure on about 4 hours if your pretty handy. No need to drain the coolant or discharge the A/C.

I guess I need to do a procedure with photos for the shortcut method.

 

[TMax]

sag2,

That would be awesome! Do you get the Chrysler door or would you use an aftermarket door? We don't want to do this again if we can help it.

 

[rbattelle]

I can't find the thread sag2 is referencing (although I remember it), but for starters check out this thread and follow its links:

Blend Door Fix

Ryan

 

[DZink24]

well, i just pulled the glovebox, dropped the blower motor, turned on the truck and A/C, and ran the selector dial thru all the settings. the door, i assume the blend door (up towards the top of the dash) seems to run smooth. now i dont know, i had the fan on high, and on the floor setting, and i gotta admit, it was moving some pretty good air. that may be due to the fact that the blower motor is on the botom of the dash, and when you move it to panel or defrost, friction loss and distance between the motor and vents become an issue in the HVAC system.

are some of the issues guys are having due to the fact that the door that flaps back and forth on top stays stuck in one position or another? because i see no issue with mine. i may have to go and get the A/C topped off.

 

[DZink24]

pictures...

ok, first off, the blower motors on these trucks are unbelievably powerful. i dropped mine and left the wires connected, and on high setting, the force generated was actually enough to blow the screwdrivers and tools i had on the floor around. i had another no airflow episode yesterday afternoon, an hour into my trip. when i got home, i left the truck and a/c running and moved my vent position switch around, and the recirc flap was fine. when i reached into the guts of the a/c, i could feel that radiator looking thing was ice cold, and actually had quite a bit of ice on it. i'm not sure if that is the issue, as i could not get that to budge at all. by the pics of it, especialy the one with the plastic "fin" that is molded into the vent, i would assume this is not a fixed piece, and should move. i gotta say, if this is what the air passes thru to get cooled, i can see how it freezing would choke off any airflow, unless it slides back and forth like the recirc door does.

 

[JApol]

Ice is building up on the metal radiator. Its what cools the air as it moves through. Ice buildup is an indicator that you need a freon serviced and that will cure the no air problems. But you may find other problems once that one gets fuxed.

Good luck

 

[MTapia]

yeah where would u find the door or go to the dealer. same thing happened to my parents 06 door broke off dowel pin and fell into blower motor and broke it got a bad vibration. replaced the blower motor now that works fine just gotta get the new door.