2013 Equinox blend door actuator

[sandhammaren05]

My A/C went out and a non-Chev repairman said it was a 'sensor'. In any case the A/C worked again but the blend door started knocking intermittently. I replaced the actuator with an O'Reilly one and tried various internet prescriptions for resetting the actuator, all to no effect. The A/C works fine whether set for air recirculation, or not and the only way to eliminate the knocking is to set the control for open airflow, and then the A/C seems to work as if there is recirculation. I.e., it knocks when set on recirculation and is quiet when set on open air flow.

 

[Tico007]

My 2013 had a problem switching between heat and AC. I researched the problem and it turns out a lot of people are having a problem with the control panel knob sending a bad signal to the actuator causing calibration problems. The actuator not knowing how far to turn the blend door so it bangs eventually breaking the blend door. Which is a lot worse. The fix is replace the control panel for a high cost if you can even find one that matched. I’m not doing that so.. I removed the actuator. Took the actuator apart and use the gear as a key. Couple of screws a tie wrap. The blend door is open for the season. Then when summer comes, cut the tie wrap and you get AC . It’s not hard.

 

[CocoaJeff]

Those blend door actuators are a pain in the a$$... they are designed to fail. Made of cheap little plastic gears that like to strip. My 2011 Impala used to eat them, I think I put at least 4 in that car.