uglyoldfatbastard
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- 2010 SV6, 2010 International, 1996 VS Exec
On the Auto Instruct website about VE Actuators there are a few issues with how they say the system operates,
It's not all wrong it is just inaccurate and I have found why I think the drivers side actuator fails more than the rest.
There are 4 HVAC actuators in the system, each one is identical
This is correct for a single zone system only there are more actuators in a dual zone system.
1. Air Recirculation Door Actuator – Located above the blower fan and controls the recirculation function.
This is sort of correct the actuator is actually to the far left of the fan and the actuator is harder to change than the drivers side one in my opinion.
2. Floor Vents – Upper left side of centre console (Passenger Side)
This actually controls the airflow from the windscreen to actuator number 4 so it's default when the relearn fails is windscreen which is all the way up and fully down it diverts all airflow to actuator number 4
3. Heat/Cool – Lower left side of centre console. Uses interconnecting levers to control the butterfly valve inside the heater box
This is correct and it's default fail position on a relearn is hot which is all the way up and fully down it changes to cold air.
4. Face Vents – Upper right side of centre console (Drivers Side)
This actually controls airflow from face to floor and when in it's centre position splits air to both face and floor and requires actuator number 2 to be in it's fully down position to be functional.
So if the system fails a reset/relearn number 2 defaults to windscreen and number 3 defaults to heat so number 4 has no affect on the matter and wont be functional until the system is fixed,
Now why does the drivers side seem to be the one that breaks the most? Well with no actuator attached and the fan blowing just at half speed trying to move the flap with your hand from face to floor and back again will show you just how much pressure that little plastic gear is under inside the actuator.
If you want to save your actuator from failing, turn the fan speed down before moving from face to floor or the other way in fact turning the fan speed down before moving the vents will save them in the long term.
It's not all wrong it is just inaccurate and I have found why I think the drivers side actuator fails more than the rest.
There are 4 HVAC actuators in the system, each one is identical
This is correct for a single zone system only there are more actuators in a dual zone system.
1. Air Recirculation Door Actuator – Located above the blower fan and controls the recirculation function.
This is sort of correct the actuator is actually to the far left of the fan and the actuator is harder to change than the drivers side one in my opinion.
2. Floor Vents – Upper left side of centre console (Passenger Side)
This actually controls the airflow from the windscreen to actuator number 4 so it's default when the relearn fails is windscreen which is all the way up and fully down it diverts all airflow to actuator number 4
3. Heat/Cool – Lower left side of centre console. Uses interconnecting levers to control the butterfly valve inside the heater box
This is correct and it's default fail position on a relearn is hot which is all the way up and fully down it changes to cold air.
4. Face Vents – Upper right side of centre console (Drivers Side)
This actually controls airflow from face to floor and when in it's centre position splits air to both face and floor and requires actuator number 2 to be in it's fully down position to be functional.
So if the system fails a reset/relearn number 2 defaults to windscreen and number 3 defaults to heat so number 4 has no affect on the matter and wont be functional until the system is fixed,
Now why does the drivers side seem to be the one that breaks the most? Well with no actuator attached and the fan blowing just at half speed trying to move the flap with your hand from face to floor and back again will show you just how much pressure that little plastic gear is under inside the actuator.
If you want to save your actuator from failing, turn the fan speed down before moving from face to floor or the other way in fact turning the fan speed down before moving the vents will save them in the long term.
