QuestionQUESTION: 97 chrysler sebring jxi convertible 2.5 v6 .... air not blowing out 4 main dash vents,shop repaired mode actuator door,worked for 3 days and stopped again, now shop wants to replace airbox under dash claiming this will solve overall problem. why wasn't this found during first repair? where do I find pictures/schematics of this item online? Is repair shop ripping me off for another item repair claiming it's not under warraunty of previous repair?
ANSWER: Hi James,
I am not sure what the shop means by the 'airbox'. And I may not understand what is the problem because you haven't described it exactly. If you mean the air is not coming out the vents again as requested, then try going to the fuse box behind the dash (take off the left end-cap for access) and remove the 5th fuse from the front in the top row of fuses (10 amp), and after a full minute put the fuse back in. That will prompt a re-calibration of the mode door actuator which may solve the problem.
Are you saying that the blower motor stopped working entirely, no matter what position the fan seitch was set at? Let me know more about the specifics/history of this.
The blower motor is powered by fuse 1 (top row, front in the box behind the left end-cap of the dash) which is 30 amp. So check that. In addition there is a blower motor resistor which is located near the blower at the right end of the underdash box. Follow the wire from the blower motor (round structure) to find the resistor block. It could be that the thermal fuse in the block is blown as an alternative expalantion of why the blower doesn't work. You can either get a new blower motor resistor block for around $35(?) or even replace the thermal fuse if you have a soldering pencil. Those are the possibilities to look at before replacing the blower motor.
If the problem is again the mode distribution door/actuator, and they want to replace the entire unit, that is a very big and expensive job. I would not get into that if at all possible to solve it some other way.
Roland
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QUESTION: Ok... blower motor works,air is blowing out corner vents at wimdows and floor but not 4 main vents on dash area. battery was unhooked to test for reset ,still problem remained after rehooking battery cable. Shop claims it needs a new hvac airbox ($550.00 + 4 to 6 hours labor at $60.00 per)after already replacing mode actuator door and dash controls and complete a/c compressor and all components ($1400.00 total). What's the deal here?
AnswerIt sounds like the mode door is still not functioning, but is it a mechanical binding up of the door, the gear connecting the actuator to the door, the actuator itself, or the wiring (5 wires) between the mode door actuator and the body control module? I still don't know what the 'airbox' is: the entire HVAC unit (which I susppect is more than $550 and more than 4-6 hour labor) or some part of it?
Do you want to try and fix this yourself? The only way to challenge the prognosis of the shop is probably to investigate the situation of the actuator (and its wiring) which is presumably what was replaced in the previous job. How much did that cost?
You can either start looking around that actuator/door yourself or buy into their next suggestion.
If you want I can copy pages from the shop manual and postal mail them to you. It costs me 10 censt per side plus the postage which you can re-imburse me for later with 44-cent stamps.
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my answer and where you see the question about 'volunteer of the month' please consider a 'yes' answer if my responses warrant that. Thanks
