SSM 49264 - Climate Control Temperature Will Not Adjust With Clicking/Snapping Noise From The Dash

[Ryanosaurus]

This issue just cropped up on my 2019 XLT...at 41k miles. Considering my options, as I don't think I'm as mechanically inclined as dmeyer302.

1. Pay for the fix out-of-pocket? I think the shop labor rate at my dealer here in Colorado is around $150/hour, so that could run $1000+? ?

2. Before I drive it to the dealer, buy an extended warranty (that I passed on a few months ago). $2500+ but at least I'd be covered for future SNAFUs... ??

3. Hope it goes away on its own. Maybe the cold weather this last week caused it to stick? Wishful thinking, I know...

4. Break out the tools and try to fix it myself ? ? ??

Any thoughts from the hive mind? Has anyone had to pay for this repair out of pocket? Any chance this is related to a factory recall like 19S34 ?

Thanks in advance...

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[Frenchy]

So the issue definitely won't go away by itself. It will need to be addressed. Whether or not you get the extended warranty is all up to you. It is definitely covered under the bumper to bumper warranty but as much as you are already past that. My suggestion is at least get a quote from the dealer and go from there.

 

[Cmar]

Sadly this is a really common fault on our Rangers over here too. In fact my own vehicle suffers from it, intermittently, they chitter away behind the dash like a bunch of crickets, but so far still work. Parking the car out in the hot sun all day will virtually guarantee it, leading me to believe the grease in the contacts liquefies, and then insulates the contacts, and makes it difficult for the actuator to find "home" position when you turn on the ignition. Eventially they will wipe clean and work properly - until the next time. Parked under cover over night and a cool morning start means it will be OK again.

I can't believe that a big carmaker like Ford cannot get this right, it has NEVER happened to any of our Japanese or even Korean ( Hyundai, KIA, and Ssangyong) vehicles we have owned. So it's not an unsolvable problem.

No you don't have to pull the dash to change the actuators, and the Aus Ranger forums are full of guides on how to change them, or even pull them apart and clean them, although a couple are in particularly awkward positions. Spares are readily available on Fleabay.

 

[mailbox4449]

Sorry I didn’t get my update back into this thread. My Ranger is back at the dealer having the entire dash pulled to change the climate control module. Sad but true! At least I’m getting it done before the 3/36 is up...I’m at 34K.
The 5/125K warranty kicks in next but there is a $100 deductible. Full comprehensive though.

What extended warranty is that through? Ford?

 

[Ryanosaurus]

What extended warranty is that through? Ford?

The FordProtect "Used PremiumCARE" Several dealers sell them online (www.zeiglerfordesp.com is one), usually cheaper than the retail pricing at local dealers. I found out about them on here.

 

[txquailguy]

What extended warranty is that through? Ford?

My extended warranty is not a Ford warranty. It's an aftermarket product that my dealership sells (not sure what company). I think it's ok, but until you need to make a claim who knows, right? I've been over it with my service advisor and he told me it's the best thing they sell that covers the most.....whatever that means. Between my handiwork and the dealership I finally got all my panels fixed and back to factory. It's been a year since they changed out my climate control module and it works perfect....

Crazy thing....I recently called my local Hyundai dealer about service repair work I need to have done and was told the dealership was recently purchased by another group and I will need to go through a 3rd party to claim any warranty work done on my Kona.....I've never heard of such a thing where the dealership would not honor a warranty on a vehicle purchased before the ownership group bought the place.....Everyday I see service going away! Colorado is by far the worst state I've lived in for service after the sale on a new vehicle.....I've lived in Texas, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri and Colorado just for reference.....

 

[txquailguy]

I only heard the clicking noise a couple of times. That was just an after thought. The big evidence was the lack of heat/cool on one side or the other.

You experienced exactly what I did when mine was broken.....first the clicking then the roasting on one side....
I've got about 48K on mine since the module change and she is working great!

 

[mailbox4449]

*BREAKING NEWS*

Put your pitchforks away, the dash doesn't have to come out.

I too was staring down the barrel of a warranty repair and a dash that rattles for the rest of time. But that just really wasn't in the cards for me. So I went rogue...I have no idea if the dealer will cooperate and replace my actuator for me since they didn't do the work. But even the ~$35 I would have to pay on my own for the actuator is WAY better than having the dash pulled.

I present to you...the trick

This!!! This is why its nice to be involved with a forum like this!! Kudos!! You mean to tell me Ford hasn't figured this out? Vs pulling out entire dash?? Common man. I don't know this guy's background, but if he can take the time to pull some panels out and see an entire dash doesn't need pulling....(dealerships).

Way to go. Thank you for posting and sharing with others on here. Hey Moderators....How about sending guys like this a Ranger5G sticker for their effort?

 

[mailbox4449]

My extended warranty is not a Ford warranty. It's an aftermarket product that my dealership sells (not sure what company). I think it's ok, but until you need to make a claim who knows, right? I've been over it with my service advisor and he told me it's the best thing they sell that covers the most.....whatever that means. Between my handiwork and the dealership I finally got all my panels fixed and back to factory. It's been a year since they changed out my climate control module and it works perfect....

Crazy thing....I recently called my local Hyundai dealer about service repair work I need to have done and was told the dealership was recently purchased by another group and I will need to go through a 3rd party to claim any warranty work done on my Kona.....I've never heard of such a thing where the dealership would not honor a warranty on a vehicle purchased before the ownership group bought the place.....Everyday I see service going away! Colorado is by far the worst state I've lived in for service after the sale on a new vehicle.....I've lived in Texas, Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri and Colorado just for reference.....

Yeah I hear you. Unless its actually from the Car Manufacture (ie Ford, GM, Kia, etc.) I don't buy it. I have been burned a couple times by these third party warranties that we found out you can find on your own that cover just as well.

 

[Dr3wDrop]

2021 Tremor Owner. My dash makes a very audible click snap type noise on auto climate. Almost sounds like a small pebble hitting the windshield going down the freeway. Happens every day. Heat still works? Hopefully I do not run into an issue this summer with AC.

 

[dmeyer302]

This!!! This is why its nice to be involved with a forum like this!! Kudos!! You mean to tell me Ford hasn't figured this out? Vs pulling out entire dash?? Common man. I don't know this guy's background, but if he can take the time to pull some panels out and see an entire dash doesn't need pulling....(dealerships).

Way to go. Thank you for posting and sharing with others on here. Hey Moderators....How about sending guys like this a Ranger5G sticker for their effort?

Lol thanks but as to why Ford "hasn't figured it out", they wouldn't approve of making structural modifications to the dash brackets.

 

[Toytec]

This issue just cropped up on my 2019 XLT...at 41k miles. Considering my options, as I don't think I'm as mechanically inclined as dmeyer302.

1. Pay for the fix out-of-pocket? I think the shop labor rate at my dealer here in Colorado is around $150/hour, so that could run $1000+? ?

2. Before I drive it to the dealer, buy an extended warranty (that I passed on a few months ago). $2500+ but at least I'd be covered for future SNAFUs... ??

3. Hope it goes away on its own. Maybe the cold weather this last week caused it to stick? Wishful thinking, I know...

4. Break out the tools and try to fix it myself ? ? ??

Any thoughts from the hive mind? Has anyone had to pay for this repair out of pocket? Any chance this is related to a factory recall like 19S34 ?

Thanks in advance...

I can recommend a great tech to do the job, but he works at Larry Miller Toyota. CO Springs.
It appears the complete upper plenum and blend actuator need replacing.
I would trust this guy. Very ocd.

 

[Frenchy]

This!!! This is why its nice to be involved with a forum like this!! Kudos!! You mean to tell me Ford hasn't figured this out? Vs pulling out entire dash?? Common man. I don't know this guy's background, but if he can take the time to pull some panels out and see an entire dash doesn't need pulling....(dealerships).

Way to go. Thank you for posting and sharing with others on here. Hey Moderators....How about sending guys like this a Ranger5G sticker for their effort?

Yeah.... So the guy in that video clearly has not seen the HVAC box warp. It happened to me and the HVAC box had to be replaced.

 

[Langwilliams]

This!!! This is why its nice to be involved with a forum like this!! Kudos!! You mean to tell me Ford hasn't figured this out? Vs pulling out entire dash?? Common man. I don't know this guy's background, but if he can take the time to pull some panels out and see an entire dash doesn't need pulling....(dealerships).

Way to go. Thank you for posting and sharing with others on here. Hey Moderators....How about sending guys like this a Ranger5G sticker for their effort?

I've seen this video an if I were having the problem out of warranty an looking at $2K or more for a complete replacement I'd do the blend door actuator module change too. This could turn out to be a temp fix. If it's warped an causing binding it will eventually wear the new motor out too.

I can change the door for 40 bucks once every few years a lot easier than I could shell out $2K.

 

[Stic-o]

This just happened in my truck this today. Warm day here, started up the truck and it started making this clicking noise behind the dash. I new it was part of the HVAC, because that's the only moving parts back there.

Truck just hit 3 years the other day. So out of warranty. Kinda sucks. I would not expect something like this for another 100k.

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