Chrysler Repair: fan diverter/mode door: 04 Ram, dodge 1500 ram, ash tray

Question
Roland you did such a good job with my wife's PT Cruiser let me give you another situation on my 03 Dodge 1500 ram. when i move the bender switch from floor to mid to windshield nothing happens. fan runs fine all speeds but i cant get the air to come out other than the mid range all the time. I move the select switch and nothing moves the blender behind the glove box. How do I know if it is the switch or motor? I hope i don't have to remove the dash. maybe you could tell me how to remove the trim around the center console to get at the switch. i think it should pop out but it is in very very good. I didn't want to break it.  

Answer
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Hi Tom,
Thank you for the compliment!
I do have the '04 manual on a CD and here is what I found.
The door/electrical actuator that is involved in moving air to the different outlets is called the mode door. I find it to be located on the side of the air box that is facing into the cabin but nonetheless it appears that you would have to remove a major part of the dash to get to it (25 steps each way!).
On the other hand, the control panel can be accessed fairly easily so I would start there:
disconnect the battery
remove the cover that is under the steering column (2 screws at the very lower edge, a couple of clips at the upper edge.
open the ash tray, cup holder door
remove a single screw holding on the center bezel on the left edge side of it
then, put some masking tape on the ash door to protect it from being scratched
then gently pry out the bezel, and remove the wire connections to it as you do so.
That will give you access to remove the controls and check out the mode door switch.
I hope this will probe to be the problem and not the door actuator. I also have the wiring diagrams so should be able to verify the function of the switch electricall
Roland
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