Heater Blend Door Hack - Page 3 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Silveradoss573 · 01-12-2020, 10:08 AM

This man shows the issue possibly.

CamaroBarb · 01-12-2020, 10:26 AM

Naaa its supposed to close tightly. The HVAC computer sweeps them every time open-closed so even if you don't move the kanob the computer moves them anyways. I wish one of the tech that belong to this site that have privi to this info would chime in. I think the reason no one does it they don't understand the system either. Probably get zero training on the HVAC computer systems or how they operate.

My blend door isn't broken yet but it is starting to make a noise when I move the temp kanob. Sounds like plastic scraping against plastic. I hear the same noise when I get in the car and get out. So its safe to say its the blend door.

the little bit of info I got from the dealer(they didn't know much when I asked) is pulling the neg battery cable causes the HVAC computer to relearn the door open-closed positions. I asked why it sweeps them every entry- exit they didn't know and looked at me like I was nutz. I don't think they believed me.

mikeman · 01-12-2020, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroBarb

Naaa its supposed to close tightly. The HVAC computer sweeps them every time open-closed so even if you don't move the kanob the computer moves them anyways. I wish one of the tech that belong to this site that have privi to this info would chime in. I think the reason no one does it they don't understand the system either. Probably get zero training on the HVAC computer systems or how they operate.

My blend door isn't broken yet but it is starting to make a noise when I move the temp kanob. Sounds like plastic scraping against plastic. I hear the same noise when I get in the car and get out. So its safe to say its the blend door.

If the computer is constantly cycling the door every time you get in/out of the car, that would explain the part failure. Too much stress on a weak/bad design. So, the only sure way to stop it is pulling the fuse on the HVAC system?

Silveradoss573 · 01-12-2020, 10:52 AM

I understand that it's suppose to be a tight fit but gm definitely hasn't used the best plastic in recent years. Also I'd be interested in seeing/knowing if indeed the noise I hear when I open and close my door is the blend door cycling but more importantly, is it going to full "throw" and applying to much pressure? Maybe the guy in the video would know?

CamaroBarb · 01-12-2020, 11:15 AM

Its easy to reach down to the actuator. Put your hand on it and open or close the door cycle the key, see if you feel it operate. I can feel mine moving. If I ever have to swap mine out I'm reinforcing it with a thin metal wrap screws and JB weld. I have a sneaky suspicion the actuator may start to report the wrong position back to the computer and that's what causes it to over rotate but I'm just guessing. I notice all the videos I seen on this never mention replacing the actuator or any kind of diagnoses why it failed. Maybe its just a weak plastic part?

CamaroBarb · 01-12-2020, 11:22 AM

I had a hot water shut off valve installed in the inlet line to the heater core because the AC wasn't getting cold enough but it didn't help BUT I guess if your blend door broke you could use the heater core valve to control your heat depending if the door broke in the open position.

It doesn't look terribly hard to cut the hole and replace the door, I think its the position you need to lay in thats the tough part.

lemontwist · 01-12-2020, 11:43 AM

if you have it apert you could reinforce it with this
https://www.amazon.com/Bondic-Activa...52024500&psc=1
if mine breaks ill just make the cut and fix it no big deal

Nghtshd88 · 01-12-2020, 01:16 PM

Anyone on recalibration so it doesnt break again?

mikeman · 01-12-2020, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nghtshd88

Anyone on recalibration so it doesnt break again?

I don't know if that would solve anything. The actuator probably doesn't have a soft close limit provision. Also, the resin plastic blend door looks like the type of crap plastic that breaks or shatters when stressed beyond its limit.

camguynj · 01-12-2020, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nghtshd88

Anyone on recalibration so it doesnt break again?

Saw somewhere to turn the temp knob halfway before restoring power after replacing the blend door

camguynj · 01-12-2020, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

Ya know I did hear a slight 5sec motor whine sound after closing the door before inserting the key. The noise happens soon after the dome light goes off. Happens with temp setting either low or high. Sound also seems to happen when driver door is opened with key out but is harder to hear.

The sound seems to be coming from behind the tach/speedo not from down where the blend door is, maybe it’s the sound waves coming from the blend door thru the duct going to the driver side air vent?

UPDATE - same noise, same location occurs when turning the key to the ON position, so YES the blend door does turn whenever the driver door is opened or closed. And if you turn the temp knob with the key in the ON position you can hear the blend door continue to turn.

mikeman · 01-13-2020, 06:40 AM

With a GM Tech tool, I wonder if you can program the blend door to stay stationary when open/closing the door?

Dogmeat · 01-13-2020, 06:46 AM

What I'm still pondering is....WTF is a "KANOB"?? I've always known it to be spelled "KNOB"......

Nghtshd88 · 01-13-2020, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

Saw somewhere to turn the temp knob halfway before restoring power after replacing the blend door

Probably go this route.

01-12-2020, 10:08 AM	#29
Silveradoss573 Banned Drives: Camaro 1LE Join Date: May 2018 Location: USA Posts: 1,347	This man shows the issue possibly. https://youtu.be/o2_8GUz1RMA

01-12-2020, 10:26 AM	#30
CamaroBarb Banned Drives: cheby Camaro Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: usa Posts: 575	Naaa its supposed to close tightly. The HVAC computer sweeps them every time open-closed so even if you don't move the kanob the computer moves them anyways. I wish one of the tech that belong to this site that have privi to this info would chime in. I think the reason no one does it they don't understand the system either. Probably get zero training on the HVAC computer systems or how they operate. My blend door isn't broken yet but it is starting to make a noise when I move the temp kanob. Sounds like plastic scraping against plastic. I hear the same noise when I get in the car and get out. So its safe to say its the blend door. the little bit of info I got from the dealer(they didn't know much when I asked) is pulling the neg battery cable causes the HVAC computer to relearn the door open-closed positions. I asked why it sweeps them every entry- exit they didn't know and looked at me like I was nutz. I don't think they believed me. Last edited by CamaroBarb; 01-12-2020 at 10:39 AM.

01-13-2020, 06:46 AM	#41
Dogmeat Drives: 2011 RS Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Coldwater Mi Posts: 175	What I'm still pondering is....WTF is a "KANOB"?? I've always known it to be spelled "KNOB"...... __________________ Proud Owner Of '11 Camaro

01-12-2020, 10:52 AM	#32
Silveradoss573 Banned Drives: Camaro 1LE Join Date: May 2018 Location: USA Posts: 1,347	I understand that it's suppose to be a tight fit but gm definitely hasn't used the best plastic in recent years. Also I'd be interested in seeing/knowing if indeed the noise I hear when I open and close my door is the blend door cycling but more importantly, is it going to full "throw" and applying to much pressure? Maybe the guy in the video would know?

01-12-2020, 11:15 AM	#33
CamaroBarb Banned Drives: cheby Camaro Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: usa Posts: 575	Its easy to reach down to the actuator. Put your hand on it and open or close the door cycle the key, see if you feel it operate. I can feel mine moving. If I ever have to swap mine out I'm reinforcing it with a thin metal wrap screws and JB weld. I have a sneaky suspicion the actuator may start to report the wrong position back to the computer and that's what causes it to over rotate but I'm just guessing. I notice all the videos I seen on this never mention replacing the actuator or any kind of diagnoses why it failed. Maybe its just a weak plastic part?

01-12-2020, 11:22 AM	#34
CamaroBarb Banned Drives: cheby Camaro Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: usa Posts: 575	I had a hot water shut off valve installed in the inlet line to the heater core because the AC wasn't getting cold enough but it didn't help BUT I guess if your blend door broke you could use the heater core valve to control your heat depending if the door broke in the open position. It doesn't look terribly hard to cut the hole and replace the door, I think its the position you need to lay in thats the tough part.

01-12-2020, 11:43 AM	#35
lemontwist Drives: 12 2SS/RS L99,11 2SS/RS LS3totaled Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: mooresville nc Posts: 1,048	if you have it apert you could reinforce it with this https://www.amazon.com/Bondic-Activa...52024500&psc=1 if mine breaks ill just make the cut and fix it no big deal

01-12-2020, 01:16 PM	#36
Nghtshd88 Drives: 13' Camaro LT Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: NJ Posts: 25	Anyone on recalibration so it doesnt break again?

01-13-2020, 06:40 AM	#40
mikeman Banned Drives: 2015 Camaro Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: My Garage Posts: 1,125	With a GM Tech tool, I wonder if you can program the blend door to stay stationary when open/closing the door?