2011 Ford Taurus Clicking in the Dashboard - Repair of the recirculation door motor (easy)

This is a quick video showing how to change the air recirculation actuator motor assembly on a 2011 Ford Taurus. This is a common failure in the 2011 Taurus where the embedded actuator sensor stops working causing clicking noises in the dashboard. The clicking is caused by the motor trying to turn past the stop points and allowing the gears to jump. The part number from Ford is AA5Z19E616C and costs $32. The number on the package is YH-1779 AA5Z-19E616-C MOTOR. In this case, the motor failure was for the fresh air recirculation door, which fortunately is easy to get to right behind the glove compartment. Because the repair was so easy, I posted a real-time video. There are two other motors, one for the hot/cold blend door and one for the vent settings, both of which are much harder to get to, but not impossible.
At the time, I used a dealer part to ensure fit, so I did not have a link, otherwise I would have posted it.
This is the part on Amazon: amzn.to/2P2e4tA.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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[@teehud313]

You should post a link for the part!

[@HorsepowerHouse]

Well gosh he even showed the item still in the package with the part number on the package. What more is there to tell....

[@KrizAkoni]

At the time, I used a dealer part to ensure fit, so I did not have a link, otherwise I would have posted it. This is the part on Amazon: amzn.to/2P2e4tA. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@rebeccadomzalski5414]

Thanks so much for this video. Ford was going to charge me $100. I saved money by just buying the part on-line. It still took me a while to do the fix because I was worried there was no way I'd be able to do it as easy as you made it look - but it was a piece of cake. Took me like 15 minutes. In no small part thanks to watching your super easy to follow video. THANKS!

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks for taking the time to comment Rebecca! I'm happy that you found the video useful. :)

[@Drockvr4]

Ford wanted to charge me $300!!! Needless to say, they didn't appreciate my tone! Lol

[@user-wc9wd8hj8p]

Gracias a este vídeo acabo de cambiar a mi Taurus 2010 Limited... 29-02-2024

[@ZRXBILL]

My wife came home today complaining of this in her 2011 Taurus and after a little bit I found your enormously helpful video and now all I have to do is wait for Amazon to deliver it. Thanks.

[@KrizAkoni]

I’m glad you found it helpful, thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment! 😎

[@ZRXBILL]

Replaced it this morning and it took longer to reinstall the glove box than swap it out and now no more noise.👍🏻

[@davidjsouth231]

Mine just started doing it today. I ordered the part. Looks like easy fix. Just watching to know how to access in the dash

[@jacobjohnson4763]

Thanks brother.. super easy instructions to follow. Took me longer to get the tools out than to replace the motor.

[@KrizAkoni]

I’m glad that worked for you! Seems to be a common problem. Thanks for commenting! 😎

[@tdefouw5852]

Thanks for the video. Showing how it unclips was a time saver as not all plugs clip in the same way.

[@KrizAkoni]

You're welcome, I'm glad you found this helpful. Thanks for commenting!

[@TheSNESHUB]

Thank you for your detailed tutorial. This helped me out a great deal.

[@KrizAkoni]

+TheSNESHUB - You're welcome! :)

[@kredlady5812]

Great fix. If the star doesn't fit. Star the car until the black star area turns into the correct position to match the white star on the actuator.

[@KrizAkoni]

Yes, that works. Also can rotate the unit until it slips in and then rotate back in place. :) Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@Improv]

Thank you so much! Just fixed mine and it was super simple! Very good and clear instructions. Thanks again!

[@KrizAkoni]

You're welcome! Glad you found it helpful! 🤓

[@dljunior2852]

Your video is a great help. Thank you for detail explaination.

[@KrizAkoni]

Glad it was helpful!

[@deandreparham8865]

Will be fixing mines! 👍🏽

[@davidm8858]

Thank you so much for the help sir your a saint my faith in humanity has been restored

[@KrizAkoni]

You’re welcome, I’m glad you found it helpful! 🤓

[@joemiller2057]

Right above the cabin air filter and replace your cabin air filter once a year thanks for the video

[@KrizAkoni]

Pretty scary if you let it go for a decade and 225K miles: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYnTgKqHl7aNorM

[@wy7394]

awesome! this helped so much. thank you!

[@KrizAkoni]

Glad it was useful, thanks for the comment!

[@luvluv8929]

Mine does the sound when I turn off the heater or the AC. Thank you so much for your video.

[@lillierandolph8482]

Thank you for this information

[@KrizAkoni]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful. 🤓

[@beasy8991]

Just fixed mine today 👌🏾

[@KrizAkoni]

Awesome! 😎😎

[@lonely31952]

thank you for helpful tutorial,heard another sound ( almost the same,knocks twice only) just above the gas pedal ....my car is Taurus 2011,any suggestions?

[@KrizAkoni]

There may be a couple other door control units under the dash for vent/deforost... May be a little harder to reach, but I suspect a similar part.

[@SM-zg3fx]

Thanks you so much.

[@TheTRUTHWSUFREE]

I have a 2008 but this looks similar from the outside. Thanks.

[@KrizAkoni]

You are very welcome, thanks for watching and commenting!

[@deandreparham8865]

Nice 👍🏽

[@Ngcron215]

But what is the actuator plugged in to that broke on my car not the actuator

[@normankennedy8549]

The aftermarket part 604-234 which amazon suppliers say is the ssme as the part number mentioned in this video is not compatible with dual zone Taurus AC systems. I know from personal ex[erience.

[@KrizAkoni]

This is good to know, thanks for posting!

[@slampiecedirtylove]

ty so much

[@KrizAkoni]

You're welcome! 🤓

[@dianneanderson731]

Great Video! My 2011 Ford Taurus makes this same exact clicking noise under\behind the glove compartment, but not while AC or heat is running, but when I turn AC or heat off. And it also makes that same sound when I turn engine off. Lat just a few seconds.Go figure?! :-( It's been almost two months now & it is starting to get on my nerves.

[@KrizAkoni]

Yep, that's the re-circulation door closing and opening when the system is turned on and off.

[@benjaminlozano6371]

hey, thanks.

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks for watching and glad you found it useful!

[@lanettmilton]

I have a 2010 how do I change the one right above that one already replaced it still getting hot air

[@KrizAkoni]

I've not had to do that one yet. It should be held in the same way. You'll need to reach around in there and see if you can get to it. Sorry I can't be of more help on that one.

[@danielrodriguez8759]

In the video you can see the "Right-Side Main Duct Actuator" that controls the passenger side temperature. it is in the upper left hand corner of the screen buried behind a wire-loom cover that has a bar code on it. It is the same part number but the wire-loom cover in the 2010 is NOT removable so you will have to get a 1/4" U-Joint a 7/16" socket and 1/4" Driver handle to remove the rear screw after much gyration the actuator can be removed and replaced but honestly it is very aggravating as you are doing everything basically by touch and blind it took me 2 hours. be sure to take off the battery post for 15 mins so the car will re-calibrate all of the actuators upon restart.

[@Hamharmon]

Bro thank you!!!! 🖖🖖🖖🖖

[@KrizAkoni]

No problem!! Glad it helped. :)

[@Hamharmon]

@@KrizAkoni dude legit not even 5min repair, went down to autozone swapped it out right in the parking lot and now I'm home cracking open a beer! 🍻 thanks again

[@eddielively9455]

Mine is blowing hot air on the driver's side and cold on the passenger side is this the same fix

[@KrizAkoni]

This is not the same fix. There is another module for temp control that should look the same but buried under the dash somewhere. I’ve not had to do that one yet so I’m not sure where it is. Sorry I could not be more helpful. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

[@chrisv2061]

I have that same problem with driver side browing how air and passenger cold but also this clicking one

[@idonthaveaname42]

Is the same.or different from the blend door actuator?

[@KrizAkoni]

I don’t know - I’ve not had to replace any of the others.

[@clintthompson7176]

mine was ticking replaced the actuator still blows out cold what did I do wrong ?

[@KrizAkoni]

You may have a second actuator bad also. The one in this video is for the re-circulation door. There are a couple of others up under the dash (I've not had to change those yet and not sure where they are) that control hot/cold temp and what vent the air comes out of. Sorry I don't have a better answer, but be assured, if the one you changed was clicking, the re-circulation door was not working right too.

[@vanessaalvarado1615]

Is there another way into our trunk when the button on the dash & remote key doesn’t work. It sounds like the motor is out.

[@KrizAkoni]

You should be able to put the back seats down and get back there.

[@stevewalther2293]

You got regular key?

[@andycobra49aor]

Hello Sir, I have a Taurus ford SEL 2013, the front vent wont blow air, the vents are stocks in the defroster vent. what maybe the problem please, thanks Respectfully; Andy

[@KrizAkoni]

It is possibly an actuator similar to this one, but located under the dash on the drivers side. I've not had to do that one yet, I hear it is much harder to get at.

[@andycobra49aor]

I really appreciated, thanks a lot, if it works base on what you showed in the video,m I will be more than happy to share it with you. Today's car maintenance cost a lot even to conduct a QA/QC before start fixing the car. Again, thanks Respectully; Andy

[@alexxcu5toms268]

Yea it is a pain in the butt to reach to those actuators ive had to replace mine 2 of them under there

[@ssgred9169]

was your car only blowing cold on driver side?? before the fix

[@KrizAkoni]

Mine was the fresh air recirculation flapper, which affects both sides the same. I had temp control on both sides.

[@ssgred9169]

yea I fixed it was the one to the left controlled the cold and hot air this video helped alot thanks

[@Nsx405]

ssg red Mine is blowing cold air on passenger side and hot air on driver side. Did you had the same problem?

[@ssgred9169]

Nsx mine was just stuck on warm air on passenger side it would go from cold to hot on driver side

[@martindesmarais7158]

I have this issue AND a weak blowing fan, change it will give more force to the fan too ??

[@KrizAkoni]

Maybe, the recirculation setting sounds louder when it's working and blows a little more air.

[@martindesmarais7158]

Loll I d like to get an answer than a thumb up..

[@martindesmarais7158]

I ll change it and see and update. I ve heard about blower resistor too but all fan speeds seem to work so not sure about it...

[@KrizAkoni]

If all fan speeds are working, it is not the resistor/control unit.

[@rowdyrager-9403]

2015 taurus. I am getting air out vents only no defrost. I get hot and cold air. No clicking like in the video though... Debating on trying to swap actuators myself versus paying a shop. I got to the one under driver side which was a bitch but that one worked. should check one behind glove box. The shop I consulted first said the one I need is in the dash itself behind the gauge cluster and shit.

[@KrizAkoni]

I've not had to do that one - sounds like it's in there deep. :(

[@kredlady5812]

I meant to stay START the car until the area meets then turn off the car. Quick off and on.

[@inthestandz]

Would this work on a 2015?

[@KrizAkoni]

Yes, it should. It’s also easy to peek behind the glove box to see this part before you order one.

[@cherylgilson9837]

What is this part called?? There are so many actuators???

[@KrizAkoni]

Motorcraft YH-1779 Blend Door Actuator Motor - link is in the description

[@cherylgilson9837]

@@KrizAkoni thank you..I just ordered from amazon..for 20 !

[@marlikburton7121]

Mine is a 2010, and it’s blowing cold are. I just get the thumbing noise, is it the same fix?

[@KrizAkoni]

Sounds like a different issue, possibly one of the other harder to get at actuators. If it's making the noise you might be able to find where it is.

[@LFTRnow]

A number of Taurus cars have independent climate control. Is there one actuator on each side for this case? I swear it sounds like the click is coming from the driver's side in my case but is identical otherwise (the A/C, heat, blower, etc work fine, but the click randomly appears while driving).

[@KrizAkoni]

Yes, there are three. One for recirculating under the glove compartment and one on each side for temperature control. I’ve not had to do the others yet. They are a little harder to get at.

[@LFTRnow]

@@KrizAkoni thank you very much for your reply. So far I have not found any good videos showing how to replace the one near the steering column for the driver side. It does look complicated. Also given that I've seen both the rear driver door lock fail along with the driver side climate unit, it's occurring to me that perhaps there's a problem when these plastic gears get old and/or exposed to a lot of heat ie: Arizona. It makes me wonder how long the others will last or if one should just replace everything all at once if you're planning to keep the car.

[@alexxcu5toms268]

And they all were clickinh

[@HorsepowerHouse]

Be glad you don't have a Mustang. Talk about difficult to access these actuators! UGH, been there done that. Taurus is simple as anything to access these items.

[@KrizAkoni]

I was surprised at how easy this one was...yes, often they are buried so deep you need to turn the whole car inside out!

[@KAFKUBA]

Captain Crunch? Lol

[@KrizAkoni]

ROFL - unfortunately at the time, yes. 😬

[@itsintheword2818]

I just did this and a day later the ticking started again😡

[@KrizAkoni]

😡

[@itsintheword2818]

Any idea what may be the problem? I'm thinking about going and redo the steps again

[@KrizAkoni]

There’s not much to it unless the replacement was defective. You could also check the damper (rotate with screwdriver) to see if it’s stuck. Another thing that is easy to do by accident (I’ve done it…🙄) is mix the new and old up and reinstall install the bad part.

[@itsintheword2818]

@@KrizAkoni ... Thx.. I will try I sure hope I did not miss those parts of it because I just threw that box away 🤢🤮

[@itsintheword2818]

Well I ended up taking that new card back to AutoZone and putting the old part back on and it's still doing the clicking sound. I saw another video but there was a actuator that was in place at another spot behind the glove compartment as well so I will look into that.

[@alexxcu5toms268]

My taurus has 3 of these dumb actuators

[@KrizAkoni]

And most of them are not easy to get at!

[@quentinmartin6269]

I have a light ticking coming from the driverside also. Any idea what it is? Also I changed out the same actuator on this video, minutes later noise returns. Any thoughts as to what I may have done or needs to be done.