Blend Door Replacement

[BMelhuish]

I have a 2006 Ram with an auto transmission that I need to replace the mode 2 door (defrost/floor) in the HVAC system. I'm going to replace all doors, heater core and evaporator core while I'm in there. I've looked at the pictures in the HVAC with Pictures thread. Can I just loosen the left side IP bolts, leave the parking brake and hood release alone, and just swing out the right side of the dash like you can do in the 2nd Gens? Has anyone done it that way? It seems that it would make the dash a little easier to handle on reinstall.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

The older I get, the more I realize it's better to remove a little more to make the job easier. Seems like every time it try to get away with doing less work, the I end up kicking my own arse.

It's all all day project but I felt that it was extremely easy.

 

[rscurtis]

When the local dealer did mine, they did not remove the dash, they lowered the steering column and rested the RS of the dash on the passenger seat- it appeared to be almost connected on the left side. Use the HT doors for a permanent repair.

 

[BMelhuish]

I hear ya! I just did heater and evaporator cores in the 1998. The job was fairly straight forward. I just loosened up the left side and swung the dash out to get to the box. It made reinstalling the dash fairly easy and a one man job. I was thinking that I may be able to do the same thing here. I also plan on using the HT doors.

 

[BDaugherty]

On the 06, just take the dash assembly loose and let it rest on the two vertical legs and lean back against the front seats. Then pull the entire hvac box out and build it on the floor or bench. It's way easier than it looks. Also, I highly recommend the heater treater doors. If you have dual temp control, you will need to call to get the right part.

 

[BMelhuish]

Thanks. That's the project for next weekend.

 

[BMelhuish]

Pretty straight forward job. It took some time though. I found what I expected. A broken Mode 2 door. I also replaced the Mode 1 and Recirc doors, the heater core and evaporator. I left the blend doors alone. It looked like the evaporator was not long for this world. Very good instructions. BTW there are 3 studs in the engine compartment. The 3rd one is under the PCM-on the 06 at least.