5th Gen Camaro Blend Door PREVENTION success stories

[Koubee]

Sorry , I know this forum hates this topic as people “over” post about it. I did search the threads trying to be respectful but I did not find a specific thread about PREVENTION and thought it would be helpful , so here it goes:

1) how many people had the HVAC actuator scanned and recalibrated, and still had a failure? How may of you had it scanned and recalibrated with no problems? How many miles has this worked?

2) how many people did the two clicks from the blue dot and still had a failure? How many used this technique and had no problems? How many miles has this worked for?

3) What other methods have worked for you to avoid the dreaded blend door repair?

The cause from what I have researched is :

1) a weak plastic blend door, they make an aluminum one now which sounds logical

2) the actuator is either a) not calibrated properly from the factory b) the self calibrating computer doesn’t self calibrate properly over time

3) I also heard some people believe the actuator cycles when you turn the car off or on , and they believe this makes the blue dot method and other methods not effective

Anyways, I just got a Camaro and just trying to see what you all have done to prevent the costly repair and any knowledge you may shed on this issue to try to prevent it in the future for all of us.

[redcoats1976]

2 clicks from the blue dot has worked...so far,at almost100k miles.Ive also heard you can disconnect the plug at the bend door actuator if you live in a warm climate such as the southern states.

[Moto-Mojo]

Two clicks from the blue did not save me. My door was twisted so hard it broke in two. In my opinion, it's not a matter of preventive measures or if, but more, when. I think the only other motor that creates more torque than the blend door actuator motor is the one under the hood!

[chevyz1]

the 2 clicks from the blue didn't work for me either. Was doing that during the summer months since I purchased mine in 2021. I replaced it last year with the typical plastic one. I need to look into the hvac actuator recalibrated and think about getting the metal one. So far it's working fine, but only been a couple thousand miles.

[1JEWLDSSRS]

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones, thank the Lord, my Camaro is 15 years old now, 135k miles and so far it hasn't broken, and I keep my dial set at the max ac (blue dot) all the time. I have used the heat mode before in the winter months as well.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I did some playing around with mine while I had it apart doing the hot knife hack. I don't think actuator is the sole reason these blend doors break, I have no doubt it could contribute I just don't think it's the lone culprit here.


Once I got the new blend door in and duct all reinstalled I turned the key on and ran the fan speed up and down before I attached the actuator. I could not hold the blend door shaft in one place (at any partial setting) with my fingers past about 50% fan speed. With it at 100% I felt I was going to damage the shaft with pliers trying to hold it in place.


Mine wasn't completely broken but was cracking at the base of the actuator shaft. So it didn't have long before it failed. Turned out my real problem cooling at the time was a leaking high pressure service port.


As a result I now keep mine below max on the cooling for the actuator theory, and rarely turn the fan past 75% based on my own findings.

[redcoats1976]

Unplugged the actuator at 2 clicks from the blue dot today,summer is coming.

[Ktucky1LE]

Originally Posted by Rusty Shackleford

I did some playing around with mine while I had it apart doing the hot knife hack. I don't think actuator is the sole reason these blend doors break, I have no doubt it could contribute I just don't think it's the lone culprit here.


Once I got the new blend door in and duct all reinstalled I turned the key on and ran the fan speed up and down before I attached the actuator. I could not hold the blend door shaft in one place (at any partial setting) with my fingers past about 50% fan speed. With it at 100% I felt I was going to damage the shaft with pliers trying to hold it in place.


Mine wasn't completely broken but was cracking at the base of the actuator shaft. So it didn't have long before it failed. Turned out my real problem cooling at the time was a leaking high pressure service port.


As a result I now keep mine below max on the cooling for the actuator theory, and rarely turn the fan past 75% based on my own findings.

That is super interesting. Thanks for sharing! I will likely follow your lead.