QuestionQUESTION: Where is the control unit for the climate control system located on a 1995 Explorer and how is it best to get to it? My Explorer blows hot air out of the vents no matter what setting you have the control switch set on, except for MAX A/C. I saw a posting on this website from a gentleman that has a '99 Explorer with the same problem, and the Expert told him it was most likely the control unit malfunctioning. So far, I have replaced the vacuum valve that lets hot water into the heater core, the temperature switch, and the control switch, with no luck. When the control switch is set on MAX A/C, the vacuum valve closes, a damper door behind the glove box opens and the system blows cold air. The rest of the time, all I get is hot air. I will appreciate any assistance you can provide.
ANSWER: hey there, the control hunit of the climat control system is the unit in the dash itself, with the display and all the buttons, try getting aused one from the wreckers as the whole head unit is very expernsive from the dealer, good luck
Chris
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QUESTION: After submitting this post, I found out that since my Explorer has the manual climate control system, there isn't a control unit. I did some digging on the internet and found that the blend door actuator is broken, which leaves the blend door closed in either the heater or airconditioner position. Mine is closed in the heater position, which is why I get hot air all of the time. This is a common defect in late 90's Explorers and there is a lot of information on the internet about it. You have (2) options, one is to remove the dash and replace the ductwork that has the blend door. The other option is a quick fix that involves removing the damper door actuator and making a repair to the plastic piece that opens and closes the blend door, go to www.blenddoorfix.netfirms.com to see a well written and photographed document on the repair.
Thanks for getting back to me so fast. I hope the information I am forwarding helps others like me who try to keep their EXPLODERS running.
ANSWER: hey again, well i guese i gave you the wrong diagnostistics on this vehicle then, i was under the impression that your vehicle had a climate control system, which is very drifferent from the manual system, I already knew about this common problem and i can give you a way of inspection. on the lower side of the heater box which can be accesed from underneith the dash without removing anything, remove the blend door actuator, use a large flat head screwdriver and see if you can manualy open the blend door,, it may be tricky beacause there is a spring that holds it in place, if this door moves freely then simply instal a new actuator and you should be good to go. good luck
Chris
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QUESTION: I am blown away at how fast your response comes back, thank you. I did not know there was a manual and an automatic climate control system on Explorers when I sent you the first post, so it is my bad. I did the repair posted on the internet last night and it works like a charm. The actuator post is shaped like a "D" and it fits into a plastic sleeve that is also shaped like a "D". This sleeve breaks and lets the actuator post turn freely without moving the blend door. The repair lets you drill a hole in the actuator post and install a piece of a nail or drill bit which will catch on the edges of the broken sleeve and open or close the blend door. The trick is in drilling the hole and installing the piece of nail where it catch the broken edges of the sleeve. You have to look into the hole that the actuator post goes into and judge where the nail will have to be to line up with the broken edges of the sleeve. If you don't get it right, the actuator will not go into the sleeve. It took me (2) tries to get it right. The sketch they provide on the repair of what the broken sleeve looks like is wrong or I am misinterpreting it. When I look at the broken sleeve with an inspection mirror, it looks like you have taken the letter "D" and broken it in half, so that it ends up looking like a "C". The nail piece that you install in the actuator post forms the straight side of the "D" that is broken off. Sorry for all the commentary, but it might help someone who stumbles across this post looking for help.
Here's my follow up question? Can the blend door be replaced from the bottom without having to remove the dash and the associated ductwork? At some point, the temporary fix is bound to quit working and I will have to make a more permanent repair, but for the time being it works.
Answerhello again, to thanks for the tips, i have never seen this issue, but to replace the blend door, it is unfortunatly a huge job, the heater box has to be seperated into two peaces, and this can only be done with the whole heater box out of the vehicle. this means the entire dash will have to be removed, the ac discharged, the heater hoses to the heater core disconnected, i am sure by book time it calls it to be about a 10 hour job, so hopefully this temporary fix will last, good luck again,
Chris
