Actuator Motor Sound

[Dshaw19]

Recently purchased a 2021 Stx Ranger. Only issue has been the actuator motor, but 2 ford dealerships have failed to fix this under warranty. Now I am out of my 3 year bumper to bumper and stuck with this sound. Pretty sure it is the actuator motor making the noise, but I am not having any major problems with the actual AC yet. Any recommendations?

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[EJH]

See my thread here:
https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/hvac-clicking-normal-or-not.26886/

It is the blend door actuator. You have one or two depending on whether you have dual climate zones or just a single zone. The blend door is catching within the heater box. It may not get worse, or it may get worse and fail. If it fails, your HVAC will not be able to adjust the temperature. Trucks built prior to July 2020 will almost always fail and require a replacement heater box. Trucks after that are less common but it can still fail. My truck was one of the latter examples.


iMO if you are out of warranty, these are your options:

• Live with the noise, if the HVAC blend door(s) fail, have it repaired ($2-3k).
• Have it repaired now ($2-3k).
• Repair yourself as a few other have done.

 

[Dshaw19]

Would replacing the actuator motor fix the issue? I’ve heard of people replacing the motor and this resolves the clicking? Pretty frustrated ford was unwilling to fix this even though there are clear signs of this while under warranty.

 

[EJH]

Would replacing the actuator motor fix the issue? I’ve heard of people replacing the motor and this resolves the clicking? Pretty frustrated ford was unwilling to fix this even though there are clear signs of this while under warranty.

IIRC they are $40-50 each so might be worth a try?

 

[LT Dangle]

talk to the general or service manager. If its been in several times for the same problem and it wasnt fixed properly, thats on them, it should still be covered.

 

[Tom_C]

I took mine in a few months back for this (2020 October build) and they've ordered the motor. It's now out of warranty, but they said since it was in warranty when I brought it in they will cover it.

 

[Langwilliams]

If the airbox warped the replacement actuator may eventually start making noise an fail. The actuator may last a long time. If it's 3 grand for a replacement an I can get a year or two out of a 40 dollar actuator I would be tempted to live with it an replace it when needed. I tend to replace my vehicles every 50K or so though.

 

[airline tech]

It's hard to tell from the sound bite which actuator is making the noise (click)

When does it do it? To help isolate which one is making the noise.

The single zone system uses 3ea actuators.
1. Mode Door - Moves the air destruction (floor, vent panel, defrost)
2. Temp Door - Single Temperature Door
3. Air Inlet (Recirculation Door)

 

[Dshaw19]

It's hard to tell from the sound bite which actuator is making the noise (click)

When does it do it? To help isolate which one is making the noise.

The single zone system uses 3ea actuators.
1. Mode Door - Moves the air destruction (floor, vent panel, defrost)
2. Temp Door - Single Temperature Door
3. Air Inlet (Recirculation Door)

This happens mainly right when I start the truck in the morning when the A/C turns on. Also happens when cycling temperatures on the passenger side. Goes on for a few minutes, eventually stops. Later in the day everything seems to be working normal. Only on the passenger side and the noise seems to be coming from directly below the passenger vent.

 

[EJH]

This happens mainly right when I start the truck in the morning when the A/C turns on. Also happens when cycling temperatures on the passenger side. Goes on for a few minutes, eventually stops. Later in the day everything seems to be working normal. Only on the passenger side and the noise seems to be coming from directly below the passenger vent.

The actuators move a lot more in the first few minutes after engine starting as the heater coils inside the HVAC box are warming up. Once the truck reaches operating temp, the actuators don't move much unless the cabin temperature is changed.

IMHO, if I didn't have the extended warranty, I would have tried to replace the actuator(s) and/or lived with the clicking. It may not get worse.

 

[JohnnyLightning]

If your noise is on the passenger side that is great news. It is the drivers side is the one that is a real pain to change. The right side is supposed to be right behind the glove compartment. I have not looked. My drivers side was making noise. I paid Varsity $70 bucks for the actuator. (it is the same on both sides.) I would give the new part a shot and see how it goes.

 

[Tom_C]

Update on my actuator motor. 2020 Oct build lariat. They ended up replacing the airbox. They had ordered the motor, but the tech said it was the box, and they had one in stock, luckily. Took 2 days, and repaired under warranty since I originally took it in while under warranty. It's now out of warranty, but I'm glad to have this replaced. If I have to replace the motor in the future it won't be thousands of dollars like the airbox would have been.

 

[Dshaw19]

Ford saying they will pay 2600 of the over 4000 dollar job. Service advisor said there is nothing further they can do so I will have to fight ford more with this one unfortunately.

 

[Langwilliams]

Ford saying they will pay 2600 of the over 4000 dollar job. Service advisor said there is nothing further they can do so I will have to fight ford more with this one unfortunately.

While far from ideal I don't think it's terrible. That's about the cost of an extended warranty I guess.

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