This 2004 Chevrolet Silverado came in with a faulty passenger side blend door actuator. In the last post I got you to this point. If you have not yet read that post please click here. Now that the dash cover is off and you can see the actuator, but you still cannot get to it. More things need to come apart.
Remove the wiring hold down clips from the metal brackets as shown below.
Remove the 7 mm headed screws from the brackets on the passenger side.
Using a ratchet remove the two 10 mm headed screws from the front edges of the bracket on the passenger side.
Remove the 7mm screw from the driver’s side of the cross over bracket. Remove the bracket.
Now the “U” shaped bracket on the passenger side can be removed.
Remove the 7 mm screws on the driver’s side bracket. I also remove the two 10 mm bolts on the driver’s side bracket to make sure the dash will move around freely.
Disable the air bag or SRS system according to the manufacturers directions. Then remove the two upper 10 mm bolts from the air bag as shown in the next two pictures.
Then remove the two lower air bag screws.
Note that the air bag screws are shorter than the bracket screws. Do Not put the long bolts back in the airbag when reassembling.
<
Pull the orange "positive assurance clip" from the yellow connector. Disconnect the connector and remove the airbag. Use the manufacturers recommendations for handling and storing the airbag.
Getting close but more still has to come out. The silver box shown below is the vehicle communication interface module. It may not be present on all vehicles as it is related to the Onstar System.
There are three 10 mm nuts that hold the module to the brackets. They are locking nuts so they have to be wrenched all of the way off.
Remove the two 10 mm nuts at the passenger end of the dash carrier. Do Not mix these nuts up with the ones removed from the VCIM brackets.
Now remove the 7 mm screw from the backside of the right passenger vent.
Remove the 7 mm screw from the position shown below.
Wiggle the corner of the dash out as shown below.
I used a screwdriver handle to keep the duct work lifted.
I also used a pry bar to lift the duct work slightly to give myself more room. The weight of the pry bar is enough to keep the duct work up but you may want someone to hold it for you. If someone hold it for you be sure they do not use the area in the center of the opening for a fulcrum. It will break the mounting panel where the nut is for the phillips headed screw that was removed much earlier.
The VCIM can now be wiggled up and the wires disconnected.
Remove the wiring harness retaining clip from the bracket as shown below.
Remove the wiring harness clip from the cross bar as shown in the two pictures below. Lift the harness slightly to gain more room to work.
Using a short 5.5 mm socket and ratchet, remove the two mounting screws. Disconnect the wiring from the actuator before removing the screws. makes it a little easier.
You will actually need to work through two openings and use both hands to make it easier.
A magnet on a stick works real well fro retrieving dropped screws and sockets.
You can finally remove the actuator from the dash.
Free at last.
The new and old actuators. The numbers match 52402588.
If you need to buy one of these actuators please click here.
If you do not have a Tech 2 or similar scan tool to diagnose these actuators, you can do voltmeter testing at these connectors. That is a whole other post though.
Hey Sparky,
Thanks for providing repair information like this and answering folks questions.
I have a 2005 Suburban. I intermittently get a loud ticking noise from approximately the left side of the passenger dash near the center console. No codes have been set. The HVAC appears to work properly but the problem must be one of actuators as the sound is never present when the HVAC is turned completely off. The dealer is stumped because it never makes the noise when I have it in the shop.
I’ve decided to fix it myself and I need a bit of guidance. Is there more than one actuator in the area of the left passenger dash area? If more than one, how can I tell which actuator is causing the problem? If I take an actuator apart, will it show a stripped or broken gear to aid in identifying the problem?
I suppose I could just replace all actuators but hate to throw parts at a problem. Do you have a recommendation for diagnosing this issue?
Appreciate any assistance you can provide.
DC
Thank you for that information. I will work on it this weekend and let you know.
Hi Anonymous 2003 Silverado owner,
I did a repair post on Aug 31, 2013 that may help. Checking the system for codes has to be done with a scan tool capable of interfacing with the HVAC system. A strictly OBD2 scanner will not help.
Hi Yuri,
The actuator on the driver’s side above the gas pedal area is the mode actuator. The lower actuator on the passenger side of the dash is the driver’s temperature door actuator. The upper actuator to the left of the glove box is the passenger side temperature door actuator. The actuator nearer the firewall on the right side of the glove box is the fresh air or air inlet actuator. I would try doing a system recalibration before doing anything else. There is a link on the left side bar.
I have a 2005 Suburban that’s had multiple issues with the A/C. I replaced the drivers side actuator and that fixed the first problem for awhile. Then the passenger side started to blowing hot after 30 seconds or so. I replace the lower actuator on the passenger side but that didn’t work. I now have it unplugged in the cold position so it’s working. Did I purchase the wrong actuator or should I replace the top one instead.