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Ford Windstar Climate Control Problems

67 messages,  Last post on Sep 12, 2011 at 11:15 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Windstar, Ford Windstar Cargo, Van

Messages Page 4 of 7

#29 of 67 Re: No heat in the front!! [Rizo] by edgar4

Dec 31, 2008 (6:23 pm)

Replying to: Rizo (Dec 03, 2008 3:11 pm)
I have just returned from the Ford Dealership after having this same problem fixed (sort of). Here are the details:
I had proper engine temp, coolant levels, and heat from the rear blower, but only cold from the front. By moving front climate control from 'warm' to 'cold' I could feel absolutely no difference in air temp. This indicated that the problem was with the 'blend door' which separates hot air from cold air.
Since time was short, I wound up having to take it in to the dealership which didn't turn out too bad. The mechanic said that he sees this problem frequently and there are (2) possible problems. First the 'actuator' could be bad. This is the part that control the blend door. If this is the problem, the part is about $60 and is located directly behind the radio. A complete description of how to reach this can be found by searching on Wikianswersdotcom for "How do you find and replace an actuator for a 1999-2003 Ford Windstar LX climate control switch"
 
The second possibility is that the actual blend door is broken so that the actuator is no longer moving it at all. (Apparently the default position for the door is 'cool', so if it breaks, cool is all you will get even if you haven't moved the control lever.) If the door is broken you are looking at a $500 part (because the have to replace the entire unit, not just the door) plus it takes a professional mechanic about 8 hours so the labor is going to be astronomical.
 
In my case, the door is broken. However, the mechanic did not replace the door which is why I began by saying that I sort of had this problem fixed. Instead of replacing the door, he was able to lift the door by hand into the 'warm' position and then run a couple of long screws into the casing to hold it in place. THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX because I cannot change it to cool air now, but until summer I can get by.

#30 of 67 Re: Front vents blowing cool air [Rizo] by red49233

Jan 04, 2009 (5:17 pm)

Replying to: Rizo (Dec 03, 2008 3:03 pm)
i have the same problem but the air on the rear vents dont come threw just a noise of air blowing from the back. but main concern is hot air in front i get warm air when it heats up but not enough to defrost. did u ever get yours fix cause its not getting any warmer outside if u know what i mean.

#31 of 67 Re: Front vents blowing cool air [red49233] by Rizo

Jan 07, 2009 (7:37 am)

Replying to: red49233 (Jan 04, 2009 5:17 pm)
Yea I feel u. I figured out a temp (but viable ) fix. My actuator motor was locked in cool so What I did was found out it was located behind my radio panel(after I took the panel out, I removed the actuator door motor(small white box just below and behind the radio mounted with 3 or 4 screws). It has a control arm sticking out the back of it when u remove it(that's the guide) I through it in the glove box. So now I just stick my hand through the radio slot(I left the radio out) and rotate the door using the control arm I removed from the actuator. Now I call around and its not an over the counter part but Autozone and Murrays offered to order it (2 day turn around) at $59.95+tax. If u don't mind a being venturous it tok me about 25 min to take the old 1 out remove the controll arm, (u cud also use a short but large flathead) and place it in the guide hole. The down side is once u turn the van or the blower off it goes back to cool. So u gota rotate the door each time u start the van. It works for me 4 now. Also u can orfer the part online 4 about 39 bucks. Good luck

#32 of 67 Re: No heat in the front!! [edgar4] by hotwheels2

Jan 07, 2009 (11:19 am)

Replying to: edgar4 (Dec 31, 2008 6:23 pm)
I cannot seem to get trim off radio/climate control center dash... lower tabs pull out but something is firmiley holding top of trim snug... Is the radio holding this trim on looks like it wants to all come out together but cant budge it... need to get to blend door components and at worst the blend door it-self?

#33 of 67 Re: No heat in the front!! [edgar4] by tcstefans

Feb 09, 2009 (11:56 am)

Replying to: edgar4 (Dec 31, 2008 6:23 pm)
My wife was driving her 2001 Windstar and she was hearing a knoking noise behind the radio. She said it made no difference if she went faster or slower. Well she tried adjusting the blower no difference. She changed from different heating positions still no difference.
 
Did you experience any of this before your heat was giving you any issues?
 
Thank you,
Tracy

#34 of 67 Re: No heat in the front!! [hotwheels2] by edgar4

Feb 11, 2009 (8:06 pm)

Replying to: hotwheels2 (Jan 07, 2009 11:19 am)
Sorry for the delay.
You should not need to worry about the trim. The radio pops right out with a couple of special tools. A complete description of how to reach this can be found by searching on Wikianswersdotcom for "How do you find and replace an actuator for a 1999-2003 Ford Windstar LX climate control switch". I have been told that the radio removal tools are available at Walmart, but I have not looked for them there.

#35 of 67 Re: No heat in the front!! [tcstefans] by edgar4

Feb 11, 2009 (8:08 pm)

Replying to: tcstefans (Feb 09, 2009 11:56 am)
Sorry, but I am afraid that I am no help here. There was no noise or any other warning associated with the problem that I had.

#36 of 67 Windstar blend door motor FIX by ccoach8

Feb 25, 2009 (5:14 am)

This is an easy fix - find out all about it at wiki.answers.com - specifically this question: Windstar Temperature FIX
 
The detailed information in the postings should give almost anyone the confidence to do this repair themselves - I did and was my wife ever happy with me - nice feeling
 
I have also seen a fix for a truly broken blend door - it's a kit that replaces the OEM part and avoids taking the entire dashboard out! I haven't had to use it, but the idea behind the process sure seems solid - Blend Door Fix Kit
 
Scott

#37 of 67 Re: No heat in the front!! [tcstefans] by mestiza73

Mar 02, 2009 (3:12 pm)

Replying to: tcstefans (Feb 09, 2009 11:56 am)
my ford did make the noise the day before the heat went out. actually it did it about a week before for about 10 mins then stopped. When it started again the heat was not working. We filled the coolant which was empty and the heat worked for one nite. The next day, no heat.

Messages Page 4 of 7

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