Rear ducts only blow warm air after trim removal/installation

[BigMF]

All, I removed all of the trim from front seats back except the doors and headliner this past weekend to install some sound deadening material and run some wiring. This included taking the large panels off on both sides as well as some of the duct work on the passenger side that is responsible for distributing heated/cooled air to the cargo area.

Once I got everything back together, I've discovered that the rear climate system now seems to only blow warm/hot air. When I crank the temp up to 85 the fan kicks on and blows hot air. When I bring the temp down to ambient, the fan slows or stops. When I drop the temp to below ambient when you would think the AC would kick in, it only blows hot air.

I don't know how anything I could have done would impact the system to suddenly start blowing hot air when it should be cooling the vehicle. I could understand it not working altogether or the fan blowing hot when set to low AND blowing cold when set to high but performing in an opposite manner, but only on one side of the equation, so to speak, is very confusing.

Any thoughts?

 

[EOD Guy]

All, I removed all of the trim from front seats back except the doors and headliner this past weekend to install some sound deadening material and run some wiring. This included taking the large panels off on both sides as well as some of the duct work on the passenger side that is responsible for distributing heated/cooled air to the cargo area.

Once I got everything back together, I've discovered that the rear climate system now seems to only blow warm/hot air. When I crank the temp up to 85 the fan kicks on and blows hot air. When I bring the temp down to ambient, the fan slows or stops. When I drop the temp to below ambient when you would think the AC would kick in, it only blows hot air.

I don't know how anything I could have done would impact the system to suddenly start blowing hot air when it should be cooling the vehicle. I could understand it not working altogether or the fan blowing hot when set to low AND blowing cold when set to high but performing in an opposite manner, but only on one side of the equation, so to speak, is very confusing.

Any thoughts?

Having studied this a bit, It's got be the air mix damper servo ......... either the electrical connector has come off or the gears/linkage is jammed/disconnected (page 5 on the attached PDF).

 

[BigMF]

Having studied this a bit, It's got be the air mix damper servo ......... either the electrical connector has come off or the gears/linkage is jammed/disconnected (page 5 on the attached PDF).

Hmmm, if that red thing is a plug that had to be disconnected to get some of the trim or ducting off, it's very likely I forgot to plug it back in. I'll take a look as soon as I get an hour to take the trim off again to find that. Thank you sir!

 

[EOD Guy]

Hmmm, if that red thing is a plug that had to be disconnected to get some of the trim or ducting off, it's very likely I forgot to plug it back in. I'll take a look as soon as I get an hour to take the trim off again to find that. Thank you sir!

View attachment 16939

You might, IDK, access that plug for a look see, through the cup holder opening.

 

[BigMF]

You might, IDK, access that plug for a look see, through the cup holder opening.

Unfortunately, you can't see back to the part in question from the cupholder area. I think I'll need to pull the back of the trim off at least. Might not need to remove the whole thing though which would be a big time saver.

 

[EOD Guy]

I purchased a flexible fiberscope a while back....... It sure saves a LOT of time when looking behind something. It was how I determined the pass rear trim panel would house the air compressor. It has the ability to capture pictures for later reference. I don't use it all the time but when you need it, nothing works better.

 

[BigMF]

So, that plug mentioned above was not the issue. However, there WAS a plug disconnected and once it was connected, things started working properly again. I'm not sure what it was connected to because I didn't take the trim off completely and just peeked in the back and saw right off the bat. Reached in, reconnected, and voila, cool air coming out when expected.

Thanks @EOD Guy , my brain would never have gone to "Maybe there is a plug disconnected that is causing this unexpected behavior.". I'm sure I would have eventually gotten to take the trim off again and then seen it but it would not have been the first thing I looked for.

 

[EOD Guy]

So, that plug mentioned above was not the issue. However, there WAS a plug disconnected and once it was connected, things started working properly again. I'm not sure what it was connected to because I didn't take the trim off completely and just peeked in the back and saw right off the bat. Reached in, reconnected, and voila, cool air coming out when expected.

Thanks @EOD Guy , my brain would never have gone to "Maybe there is a plug disconnected that is causing this unexpected behavior.". I'm sure I would have eventually gotten to take the trim off again and then seen it but it would not have been the first thing I looked for.

I have gotten in the habit of putting a green painters tape flag on any connectors I unplug and sticky dots on the bolt holes when I remove bolts. I'd used to think.... "I'll remember where that goes" but never do.

 

[BigMF]

Good thinking! I was pleasantly surprised that when I got all trim back on there was only one trim clip that was left over.

 

[bluebullet]

Good thinking! I was pleasantly surprised that when I got all trim back on there was only one trim clip that was left over.

Toss it in the forgettable parts bin.