This 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer came in with a clicking sound under the driver’s side of the dash and erratic control of heat and a/c, hot and cold, air from the driver’s side of the dash. To find the actual site of the clicking noise, I had to remove some of the underside of the dash. Two screws up top.
Two screws under the bottom for the black hush panel.
Drop the hush panel down and unclip/ unbolt all of the stuff attached to it.
Remove the two screws at the lower edge of the knee panel. Lower and remove the knee panel.
Remove the four 10 mm nuts that hold the inner aluminum panel.
Remove the aluminum panel.
The driver floor vent duct needs to be removed. The left end of the duct has a retaining clip in it, that holds the duct in place. You have to either remove the clip or firmly pull down on the left side of the duct and wiggle it until it comes loose.
Remove the hold down screws for the actuator through the openings in and around the bracket, 5.5 mm.
Remove the two 10 mm nuts and the wiring harness clamp from the studs as shown below.
Remove the 10 mm bolt from the leading edge of the bracket.
Now go back and loosen the studs as shown. You will need a torx socket for this operation.
With the two studs loosened from the inner aluminum bracket, grab the sheet metal bracket and pull it towards the steering column. This will allow enough room for the actuator to come out.
The new actuator did not come in the same position as the old when it was removed. You can purchase a new actuator by clicking here.
The old actuator had a part number 16164972 and the new actuator has a label with part number 52402599.
I connected it to the wiring and turned the key on until it matched. I turned the key off as soon as it was in the correct position so that the actuator would not over travel and possibly get stuck.
I do not remember at this time if I left the wiring attached or disconnected it before reinstalling it in the dash. The sheet metal bracket has to be pulled again to get the actuator back into position. Then take your time and push the bracket back into place and align the two studs into the aluminum bracket, so that they will not cross thread.
The two pictured side by side are the old and the new replacement actuators and of course they interchange. However there are four unique actuators for your vehicle and they do not interchange with each other. I hope this answers your question.
Are the two accuators pictured interchangeable? My Trailblazer has 2 of the one on the left (in the picture) but I’ve been told that there are different parts for the driver side and passenger side.
Dude you saved me hundreds of dollars!!!! I’m donating.
Assuming that your are trying to remove the driver’s temperature door actuator, the metal bracket in front of it has to be loosened up and pulled far enough away from the actuator, to allow it to be removed. If it is under some tension at the door shaft, you may have to use a screwdriver to slide the actuator off of the shaft. If by some chance you are trying to change the mode actuator there is a gear/cog that has to be removed and held in place through the radio and HVAC control head area.
I removed the 2 — 5.5mm screws that hold the actuator in place. The actuator is loose but will not come off. I try to wiggle it and even turn it to get it removed but it seems to be budged. Was there a trick actually removing the actuator?