Ford Repair: Heater problem, ford aerostar van, ford aerostar

Question
QUESTION: Car is 2002 Ford Aerostar van. The heater blows cold air all the time, and makes a clicking, bumping sound when you turn on the heater. Top radiator hose gets hot as does the bottom radiator hose. I'm thinking it may be the heater control valve. How do I diagnose the problem? Thanks.

ANSWER: you have an actuator or blend door problem more than likely have it tested to find out which one. hot water goes thru the heater core and the blend door opens or closes mixing the hot air with cooler air to get the desired tempature from setting selected-actuator motor gears will bust some teeth sometimes and will cause noise you are talking about-good luck

your van is probably a windstar because they didn't have a 02 aerostar in the states

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, you are correct - it is a Windstar. Are you saying there is an actuator AND a blend door on this vehicle, and it could be either one? Thanks.

Answer
there is both and more than likely you have a broke actuator which is controlled electrically basically it is a small electric motor that turns the blend door this way, when you move your temp selector switch it activates the actuator which mounts on the hvac case and moves the blend door which is inside the case. good luck