I own a 1999 Buick Park Avenue with 90K Original miles. I just moved down to Miami from Annapolis, Md. I recently had a mechanic that I found online come over and give me a free estimate on my AC Unit. I told him that I changed the battery last March. Hot air was coming in on drivers side and slightly cool air on passenger. Prior to changing battery COLD air was coming through Drivers side and HOT air on passenger. This cat tells me the Drivers side actuator (Left) needs to BE replaced as well as the right side actuator. Really? So, I go on you tube and I find video’s about replacing blend door actuators. Then I find a comment. The guy says take off the NEGATIVE cable from Battery and let sit for 10 minutes. Then put the cable back on and this will RESET your car. Well low and behold! My car NOW BLOWS ice COLD air AGAIN but the passenger side gives out (inside vent) lukewarm air. This mechanic wrote up a estimate for $314.00 for 2 blend door actuators and 85 dollars for 1 hour labor to Remove & Replace the actuators. I called him out and said I will look for my own parts. Then I found parts on www.Rockauto.com for a reasonable price. Then I called a old friend and he told me to START from the ground UP and RECHARGE my AC Unit. So I called this guy back and he swore it was the driver side actuator that needed to be replaced. I never called him back because he is just another guy looking to rip off a customer because of their lack of experience. Well, I am NOT that stupid as I used to be a salesman and I KNOW a pitch when I hear one. I just don’t have the tools. PLus I always DO my homework and watch OVER them if I want to use their service. Anyways, My ? 2 U, Sparky. The Air Compressor and Blower motor are fine. Numbers are working at proper gauge pressure on RED and Blue lines. NO LEAKS. Left side actuator is fine.There are 4 ” vents ” across the dashboard. 2 on the left (Driver’s side) and 2 vents on (Passenger side). If you go from left to right in terms of vents, Vent 1 and 2 are blowing COLD air. Vent 3 Inner side on Passenger is the ONLY vent where the lukewarm air, blows out. Vent 4 (Climate Control) seems to be blowing cool but NOT super COLD like the Drivers side. Not sure if the right side is working properly?? Is this A fuse? Should I just RECHARGE the entire AC Unit with refrigerant first or should I replace the RIGHT side (passenger) vent 3 blend door actuator? Heat works throughout the car. Should I also KEEP the RECYCLE button ON when driving my car? Your opinion counts! Thank U

ID Status Date Year Make Model Transmission Type A/C Controls Public/Private
#14245 Closed 1999 Buick Park Avenue ( Base) public

Is this the correct part if I need to REPLACE the Right side actuator?

AC DELCO 1572971 {#89018365} GM Original Equipment
Right; TEMP

Sparky

If it were in my shop I would start by checking to see if the vent temperature gets hotter when commanded and then returns to luke warm after switching back to cold.  Then I would check the  refrigerant level by recovering and measuring it. Since I doubt that you have an a/c recycling machine I would recommend dropping the passenger side hush panel and removing the glove box. Observe the actuator shaft and you command the door to move. There should be roughly a 90 degrees arc of rotation. If so move on to having the refrigerant system serviced. If not remove the actuator and see how far it will turn with your fingers and if there is any difference in the air temperature when you rotate the shaft. Disconnect the electrical connector to the actuator before removing it.

Write a reply

The ticket has been closed. If you feel that your issue has not been solved yet or something new came up in relation to this ticket, you can re-open it by clicking this link.