03 Windstar: no heat

On Oct 25, 8:29 pm, "Denis Roy" <nutimik... DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> I have an 03 windstar. When starting the car, there was a repetitive
> clunking sound under the dash, likely a damper opening and closing. It
> continued for a couple of minutes and then quit. After that, no heat. The
> fan works and the selector damper still works, sending air to the dash
> vents, defroster etc. No heat, however. I can still get heat from the rear
> seat heater.

Go to google and type in: "ford blend door fixes". View a couple of
these web pages and you will know what you are in for.

Not sure how mechanically inclined you are, but you could save some
money by doing this yourself.
 >> Stay informed about: 03 Windstar: no heat 

Thanks for the reply. I took it to the local mechanic who found it to be
the blend door motor. 1 1/2 hours labour plus $90 for a new part from ford.
When I see how much had to be taken apart from the dash I am glad I got
someone else to do it. Money well spent.

--
Denis Roy
nutimikguy.DeleteThis@gmail.com
"Kruse" <kruse.DeleteThis@kansas.net> wrote in message
news:e1e6b415-3e97-4409-8145-f9cd06e207aa@e2g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> On Oct 25, 8:29 pm, "Denis Roy" <nutimik....DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I have an 03 windstar. When starting the car, there was a repetitive
>> clunking sound under the dash, likely a damper opening and closing. It
>> continued for a couple of minutes and then quit. After that, no heat.
>> The
>> fan works and the selector damper still works, sending air to the dash
>> vents, defroster etc. No heat, however. I can still get heat from the
>> rear
>> seat heater.
>
> Go to google and type in: "ford blend door fixes". View a couple of
> these web pages and you will know what you are in for.
>
> Not sure how mechanically inclined you are, but you could save some
> money by doing this yourself.
 >> Stay informed about: 03 Windstar: no heat 

In article <txZNk.25965$Tx1.7550@newsfe19.iad>,
"Denis Roy" <nutimikguy.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks for the reply. I took it to the local mechanic who found it to be
> the blend door motor. 1 1/2 hours labour plus $90 for a new part from ford.
> When I see how much had to be taken apart from the dash I am glad I got
> someone else to do it. Money well spent.

You got hosed.

The temperature blend door actuator is easily accessed by removing the
radio which, with the proper tools, takes about 20 seconds.

Warranty labor time; .3
Customer pay labor time; .5
 >> Stay informed about: 03 Windstar: no heat 

On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:22:21 -0500, aarcuda69062
<nonelson DeleteThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote Re Re: 03 Windstar: no heat:

>In article <txZNk.25965$Tx1.7550@newsfe19.iad>,
> "Denis Roy" <nutimikguy DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the reply. I took it to the local mechanic who found it to be
>> the blend door motor. 1 1/2 hours labour plus $90 for a new part from ford.
>> When I see how much had to be taken apart from the dash I am glad I got
>> someone else to do it. Money well spent.
>
>You got hosed.
>
>The temperature blend door actuator is easily accessed by removing the
>radio which, with the proper tools, takes about 20 seconds.

What are the proper tools?
Where do you get them?
How do you use them?
How much do they cost?

Sometimes paying for what you don't know is worth the price.
 >> Stay informed about: 03 Windstar: no heat 

Caesar Romano wrote:
> On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:22:21 -0500, aarcuda69062
> <nonelson DeleteThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote Re Re: 03 Windstar: no heat:
>
>> In article <txZNk.25965$Tx1.7550@newsfe19.iad>,
>> "Denis Roy" <nutimikguy DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks for the reply. I took it to the local mechanic who found it to be
>>> the blend door motor. 1 1/2 hours labour plus $90 for a new part from ford.
>>> When I see how much had to be taken apart from the dash I am glad I got
>>> someone else to do it. Money well spent.
>> You got hosed.
>>
>> The temperature blend door actuator is easily accessed by removing the
>> radio which, with the proper tools, takes about 20 seconds.
>
> What are the proper tools?
> Where do you get them?
> How do you use them?
> How much do they cost?
>
> Sometimes paying for what you don't know is worth the price.
>

two u-shaped pieces of coathanger wire will allow to remove the radio

Like almost any OEM car radio
 >> Stay informed about: 03 Windstar: no heat 

In article <vdnhg49nm0j5hio6jd4latdtgasi39r3jl RemoveThis @4ax.com>,
Caesar Romano <Spam RemoveThis @uce.gov> wrote:

> On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:22:21 -0500, aarcuda69062
> <nonelson RemoveThis @sbcglobal.net> wrote Re Re: 03 Windstar: no heat:
>
> >In article <txZNk.25965$Tx1.7550@newsfe19.iad>,
> > "Denis Roy" <nutimikguy RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Thanks for the reply. I took it to the local mechanic who found it to be
> >> the blend door motor. 1 1/2 hours labour plus $90 for a new part from
> >> ford.
> >> When I see how much had to be taken apart from the dash I am glad I got
> >> someone else to do it. Money well spent.
> >
> >You got hosed.
> >
> >The temperature blend door actuator is easily accessed by removing the
> >radio which, with the proper tools, takes about 20 seconds.
>
> What are the proper tools?

Ford radio removal tools.
http://www.nextag.com/ford-radio-removal-tool/search-html

> Where do you get them?

Any Walmart, FLAPS, tool truck, stereo wholesaler, etc.

> How do you use them?

You poke them into the holes along each side of the radio, then pull the
radio out.

> How much do they cost?

About five bucks.

>
> Sometimes paying for what you don't know is worth the price.
 >> Stay informed about: 03 Windstar: no heat 

On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:45:56 -0500, aarcuda69062
<nonelson.TakeThisOut@sbcglobal.net> wrote Re Re: 03 Windstar: no heat:

>> What are the proper tools?
>
>Ford radio removal tools.
>http://www.nextag.com/ford-radio-removal-tool/search-html


Thanks for the informative post!!!
 >> Stay informed about: 03 Windstar: no heat 

Thanks to all for providing me with the information regarding the blend door actuator problem with my 99 Ford Windstar. As I just completed this repair I can give more info:

Symptom: no front heat, heat control slider makes a ticking or thumping sound when moved to heat or cool. (quiet when about 1 inch from cool)

Problem: probably stripped gears in the actuator box.

Fix (about 1.5 hours): 1) remove radio, this is the hardest part, I did it without the “Ford” radio tool by using 2 small Allen wrenches, inserting them about 1 inch into the holes in the radio and pulling towards to car doors, at the same time gently prying the side of the radio from the dash. Then I repeated on the other side of the radio. I just let the radio hang down. 2) remove 2 hex screws from dash just above radio hole and 2 from above cup holder then pull center dash console out 3) Actuator is white plastic box on wall behind the heat control, remove 3 screws from it and unplug. (helps to have someone with small hands as metal frame makes it hard to access). 4) On the new actuator, notice the position of the “D” shaped post. (I found it easier to open the new actuator and align the “D” to match the “D” socket on the dash wall). 5) Replace screws trying not to drop them, notice 3 actuator screws are different then 4 dash screws, etc 6) Before completely installing radio, test heat and radio, etc. so you don’t have to fight the radio out again if you missed something. I got the actuator from Ford for $80, online it was $40 plus shipping but I didn’t want to wait for it with my radio hanging down for 2 days so I went to Ford.
 >> Stay informed about: 03 Windstar: no heat