How to Replace the Blend Door Actuator on a Ford Ranger

[@4DIYers]

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[@Shadski]

Fixed my problem, thank you for this oldie but goodie video!

[@4DIYers]

Awesome to hear!

[@jeffreylittlewood6237]

Good news. First, if you are only able to get hot air, try turning off the fan before adjusting the control from hott to cold. This is because as someone pointed out, the door is held in the hot position by the fan's pressure. If the actuator motor is weak it will be unable to force the door open. Knowing this, I will protect my actuator and door by turning off the fan before turning down the heat. By the way, a 1,5 inch piece of 1/4 inch chopstick taped into an open wrench makes a good tool to feel how well the door is working. Dental mirror and flashlight was handy too.

[@delfordchaffin108]

I don't have a large hand, wear a cadet size golf glove. I had a devil of a time getting this thing replaced. Mine was screwed in, wish it had been the snap in type. The back screw was difficult to get out and even more difficult to get back in. I tried several unconventional methods and finally got it in and it works.

[@Justineatsfruit]

How did you get the back screw off and back in????

[@Justineatsfruit]

Why the hell did they screw it like that

[@SVTBansheeman]

There's no reason to put that back screw back in

[@DrOfficedog]

Thanks. 1/4 drive 5/16 ratchet with smol hands got the back bolt. Easy peezy from there.

[@4DIYers]

You're welcome!

[@robertharden154]

Mine had the screws just lost my ratchet behind the dash......

[@4DIYers]

Should be able to retrieve it with a magnet or mechanic's claw.

[@cubekid8103]

R.I.P rachet

[@alive-awake]

@@4DIYers you're very kind to respond to all these questions ☺️

[@mulonru2965]

Thanks this helped me a bunch

[@4DIYers]

Right on, happy I could help!

[@bigshow5173]

Just finished my 2009. Used a Duralast BDAD1002 the shaft was larger and very tight fit wouldn't seat completely had to sand down all sides of the shaft. With the back screw I ground the threads off the first 1/4 inch to be like a nail then hot glued the screw into the socket and used a mirror to see Once the screw went into the hole I used a screwdriver to keep pressure by prying the socket wrench down and began wrenching until it caught then tightend it down. The glue gun adhesive will detach just be sure your socket is tight on the wrench.

[@anthonycassata5152]

Wow, I had a 99 ranger. I don’t have it anymore, never new about this. I would be nice if this was the same for 04 sport trac.

[@blaque843]

I have a mazda 626 2001.i need a new bender actuater.wherr can I find a new one.

[@AWADE1964]

Every video I see on replacing this particular blend door actuator speaks of the blend snapping into place. My model is attached with three screws. Can I get off without removing the entire dash.

[@4DIYers]

Yes you can remove it with taking out the entire dash. On my old video, some people in the comments talked about removing the screws. You can use a low profile mini ratchet or tape in a driver bit to a wrench.

[@bilgeratjim]

I used a 1/4" drive low profile ratchet with a short 8mm socket. You'll need small hands to get the screw on the back side

[@alive-awake]

It was out of stock when I tried to order at your link.

[@makatoz4433]

Possibly you can help me. I followed all the instructions and immediately noticed there is no power plug to be removed. I have a 2002 Mazda B4000. The actuator has a devise with 2 wires that snaps to the top of the actuator that turns a shaft when the temp knob is turned cold to hot etc. My truck is stuck on a/c.......no heat. All the replacements show a power plug and I can't find the model currently installed. Ford P/N YL5H19E872-BA. I could use a link to purchase this part. Great video by the way.

[@dwaynestjohn5324]

My ford ranger the ac works but the heat doesn't work and the heater core has already been replaced. Would this help if I got this replaced??

[@americanpatriot2033]

I have a 2004 Ranger and it appears that there are three bolts that actually hold this actuator to the housing. The front two bolts are very simple to get out straightforward. There's one in the rear that I am having a devil of a time getting a wrench on. If I managed to get it apart I'm probably going to only put it back together with the two in the front.

[@leftoverfajita5553]

I have a 2005 ranger did this video fix your problem?

[@bigshow5173]

I used a 1/4" socket wrench and 8mm. Use a large screw driver to pry down onto the wrench to keep it in place. Once it is loose use you finger tips to get it. To put it back trim off the first part of the threads this will allow it to drop into the hole. Hot glue the screw into the socket and small mirror to see Once it is in the hole again use large screwdriver to pry down as you ratchet it in.

[@bigshow5173]

@@leftoverfajita5553 it did mine

[@bigshow5173]

The shaft on the duralast is larger and needs sanded down or its to tight and won't seat completely and may break. Be careful don't force it.

[@jasonbilow2877]

Will this also cause you to only have ac blowing out the defrost vents at the windshield? No matter where I turn the knob it stays there.

[@4DIYers]

No, this only controls the temperature. But it sounds like you do have an issue with another actuator, similar to this.

[@jdawgH]

Been at this for 2 hours trying to get it to snap back into place. Ive tried everything i could think of but pulling the dash off entirely. First one came out easy, nee one just wont go in.

[@4DIYers]

Was the old adjuster rod fully removed or did it break off? The rod may not be fully lines up either, so plug it in and adjust the temperature knob ever so slightly.

[@jeffreylittlewood6237]

I read of knock offs having an oversized shaft. I will admit to having plenty of trouble with the originally but practice made it easier.

[@jdawgH]

@@jeffreylittlewood6237 I appreciate the answer 2 years after the fact. I don't even own the truck anymore 🤙

[@Catch-qn3xh]

@@jdawgH LMAO Right?!

[@BADBADGER18]

That third screw in the back was hell, i ended up dropping my rachet and couldn’t grab it so ultimately had to just break the last screw by putting an open end wrench on it and beating it with a hammer, eventually it broke free, however i don’t entirely recommend this way because i did end up ripping the whole screw hole out and theres a small hole in the venting, not too big of a deal as i can just stick some duck tape on it.

[@Channel53official]

Huge help!

[@4DIYers]

Awesome to hear :)

[@Channel53official]

Man. Major stumper this was!

[@alive-awake]

If I were to try this and fail. I could always take it to a mechanic and have them finish the job right? Could I leave the cord dangling to drive it there? Of course I wouldn't try and use the a/c.

[@4DIYers]

Yes you can leave the connector unplugged and safely drive the truck to a mechanic.

[@alive-awake]

@@4DIYers thanks. Mine appears to be held in by screws also. Wish it was the pop out kind with screwdriver 😔 I really don't want to spend 1500 to get it fixed. The dealer commented on how great the a/c was and on max it was and then I turned it to heat and of course the rest of the settings put out heat so I was fooled. These dealers. I'd rather not deal with them.

[@4DIYers]

It's hard finding good mechanics anymore, I do find a lot just want to throw parts at a problem rather than actually troubleshooting stuff. Might be best finding a private mechanic instead of a dealer too. But if you can repair it yourself, even better. $1500 is beyond ridiculous for the replacement, sounds like they want to take your dashboard out instead.

[@alive-awake]

@@4DIYers $1500 - i'm just going by other commenters on that. I wanted to try resetting the HVAC system as some mentioned (in case it's not the blendoor actuator) by pulling out the hvac fuse for 60 seconds and a few other steps after that and then reinserting but I can't get that fuse out with my fuse puller. I'm a girl so mechanical stuff doesn't come natural for me. I stay away from dealers for repairs but I still haven't found an independent mechanic that I fully trust for honesty. Then to find a mechanic that provides shuttle service which I need is even harder.

[@4DIYers]

Worth resetting the hvac system. I haven’t heard of this procedure before so unfortunately I don’t have experience with it. You can use needle nose pliers to pull the fuse too. You should be able to do the same disconnecting the battery.

[@sotos2428]

Thank you!!!!!

[@4DIYers]

No problem, happy I could help!

[@Stranded360]

if my heater isn't getting as hot could this affect it? Or would that only be a heater core?

[@4DIYers]

It can be, you'll be stuck at one temperature setting. Your blend door may not be moving all the way either or it's jamming up.

[@ChupiesWorld]

If yours is bolted in, don't even bother. You can't reach the back screw with the smallest hands and wrench in the world without disassembling the whole dash. As an added bonus, whatever I bumped trying to remove it made it so I only get air blowing out the defrost. Not worth it trying to do yourself if it's bolted in (they're 5/16" though if you really want to try)

[@hvac12]

Having same issue

[@jasonbilow2877]

Were you ever able to figure out why it's blowing out the defrost? I have same issue after replacing the blower motor.

[@greg6925]

So these either snap or screw in? I guess you gotta just look and see huh?

[@4DIYers]

Yes you will need to take a look, they varied between years. Unfortunately I don't have a list for what year is which.

[@nathancloud9550]

Why is there nearly a minute of you cleaning out your glove box??

[@dmartin820]

Mine also has the screws (2011) and I'm at the point where I've already lost a ratchet and am tempted to either just bust the damn tab for the third screw off with a prybar or try to saw it with a reciprocating saw. "If you have small hands, you can get to the third screw." Cool, lemme just shrink my hands here, lol. Anyone else have a helpful tip for the third screw in the back?

[@chuckythompson5031]

Try adding a piece of pipe or something similar to the size of ratchet handle to give extra length of the ratchet. Saw it in comments of another video and helped me. Still aggravatin tho lol. Maybe take out defrost vent and come from top?

[@ChupiesWorld]

I tried to bust the tab on mine (2004) and now I only get air blowing out my defrost. Not sure what I even bumped to cause that, but I gave up, not worth it

[@allenwilson5235]

My 2011 Sport has the bolts instead of clips. How do I reach the bolt at the back?

[@angelikult]

wrench, right angle impact, u-joint socket, ratcheting wrench, whatever works

[@jdouglas6460]

MOZDA

[@tonetheking220]

I’m king

[@guerramundial9868]

There were alot of condons.

[@4DIYers]

LMAO! Wet naps, a friend in high school said the exact same thing.

[@gianfrancoa]

A Dorman actuaror? Noooooooò

[@Jordan-yx5gb]

What’s wrong with dorman?