QuestionI took apart the consol and got to the actuator to figure out if it works or not. I took it out and did a manual electrical test of it. I could move the motor by hooking up power to the two leads. I put the power to the pins where the plug goes into the unit but the circuit board must be fried because the power to the pins do not make the motor run. I am wondering if there is a way to replace the unit without having to go through the dealer due to the great cost that I'm sure they will be looking for. If you have any suggestions of where to go to find the part other than the dealer I would appreciate the help. Thank you.
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Followup To
Question -
I did the procedure that was on the code website because some of the buttons you said to use were not the correct ones and nothing happened. The correct buttons to use are floor, defrost/floor, and front defrost. Just to let you know for future help to people. The codes that came up were code 23 - Blend door feedback control, and 32 - ATC blend door failure. I am hoping that you can suggest a fix for the problem. Right now all I get is cold air and it is about to hit winter temperatures and heat would be really good. Any suggestions for how to fix the problem would be really great. Thank you for the help you have given already and thank you for any additional help you can offer.
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1999 Concorde with 3.5L engine, digital heater controls. Can't control the heat. Turn it all the way up but heat never comes out. Heater core hoses feel warm to touch while engine is hot, but air comes out cold. Asked mechanic friend who said control doormay be stuck shut or open and need to be cleaned. I am looking for help on how to get to the door to clean and lubicate it. Any help would be appreciated.
Answer -
Hi Nathaniel,
There is an ability of the ATC controller to detect internal system malfunctions, code them, and store them in a memory. Here is the procedure to find out the codes if any that would help to direct you to what is wrong:
Have the engine idling and set the temperature on the panel to 75 degrees, then push in and hold the Floor, Mix, and Defrost buttons all at the same time until the display section blinks, then release the buttons.
The control display will continue to blink, and then show two-digit trouble code numbers if any are present, they range from # 23 to # 36.
Only one code can be displayed at a time, but pressing and releasing the Panel button will display the next code if present. If no more codes are present the display will return to normal.
Write back with the code #'s if any and I can decode them.
Or you can go to www.allpar.com/fix/codes-climate.html
for a decoder. Then we can discuss what to do.
Roland
Answer -
Hi Nathaniel,
Thanks for the labels on the buttons, they are probably the same ones, just changed the names.
The blend air door actuator is on the bottom of the unit on the very left hand end of it, above the hump if your car has a floor hump. You may have to remove an air duct to see it clearly and give you access to it. It is roughly square in shape but with a couple of 'ears', one on the right front corner, one on the left side toward the rear. There is a screw in each ear which when removed allows the actuator to drop down and out of the unit. The actuator mates to the blend air door shaft so the first thing to do is to turn the shaft and see if the blend air door moves freely. If not then you have to deal with that. My manual doesn't describe how to get inside to mess with the door, so hopefully it is just a matter of lubricating it. Then replace the actuator and try the unit again, making sure that you mate the actuator properly to the blend door shaft.
If that doesn't fix it, then you have to verify the wiring between the blend air actuator and the control unit (but I don't have the wiring diagrams so you will have to use color coding of the wires to trace that). If the wires check out, then it is either the actuator or the control unit that is bad. So let me know what happens and I can give you a method for deciding which is bad.
Roland
AnswerHi Nathaniel
The best way to replace such a part is to go to a wrecking yard, preferably one where you remove the part yourself, and look for a Chrysler product of a similar vintage with the ATC control system. Otherwise, you can go to a conventional yard that specializes in Chrysler cars and if they don't have it they can go to a "hotline" where other yards around the country will be alerted to your need and call back if they have one. Those are the best ways I know of th avoid the coast of a new part. Finally, you could check on eBay for one being put up for auction.
Roland
