93 850, clicking noise from behind glove box

pgbuick · Post by **pgbuick** » 23 Mar 2008, 19:16

There is a small motor with a white plastic lever behind the glovebox that opens and closes the recirculation damper in the forward part of the passenger foot well. Something seems to be malfuntioning. With ignition on, and climate control in any position, and the fan on any position except high, the lever moves the damper under the dash open or closed, but keeps trying. Switching the fan to high stops the clicking. Also, if I switch the recirculation button to recirculate and help the lever a bit with my finger, the motor shuts off and the clicking stops. It's almost as if there is a limit switch that isn't adjusted correctly.

Anyone know what I need to do to fix this?
thanks
Pat

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 23 Mar 2008, 20:51

The limit switches are integrated within the gearbox/motor assembly that turns the damper. They can be disassembled, but there aren't any orderable parts inside the unit itself.

If "helping" the motor with your finger works, then are you sure that the plastic receiver that the drive shaft plugs into isn't cracked? That's a common failure on these units...

-Chuck

Post by **luketrash** » 23 Mar 2008, 23:34

My car started doing this last fall. The only way I got it to be quiet is to leave the car on recirculate mode. Normal mode causes a click, click, click sound repeatedly.

I haven't gotten into mine to see if I can fix it. Please let everyone know if you figure out what's causing it to do this. I want to fix mine if I can.

Post by **Maxbaby** » 24 Mar 2008, 09:19

Pgbuick, here's some pics of that shaft that may have split in case you're not familiar...
http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.ph ... opic=67666

Also, there is a procedure for reseting the travel limits on those motors, which you can find if you download the service manual pinned at the top. I believe it's also in the Haynes manual too, but not 100% on that. It certainly won't hurt to reset them, and that would answer your own suspicion.

pgbuick · Post by **pgbuick** » 24 Mar 2008, 21:37

I don't think the shaft shown on the damper valve in the pic is the same motor and damper that are giving us a problem. The motor that actuates and clicks is directly forward of the glovebox, and the plastic arm on the motor shaft is attached to a long steel rod that passes between the blower motor and the rest of the air box assy. This rod actuates the recirc damper door which can be seen if you lay in the passenger foot well and look up near the firewall. I will look for limit switch timing procedure again, but did not see it last night wehn I searched the climate control system section. Do you know what section and page it is on?
Thanks
Pat

Post by **luketrash** » 24 Mar 2008, 23:04

I have the manual climate controls in my 94 850, and this is all I found about it.. Just a simple illustration.. No write-up about how to test, access, or remove/replace it.

Post by **Maxbaby** » 24 Mar 2008, 23:11

You're right, I misread, I sent a picture of the damper for the floor/defrost. You'll have to read the manual for the instructions. It's been a year since I did the procedure so I don't remember the page number, but that's where I got the procedure.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 25 Mar 2008, 07:33

Getting to the recirc motor is very simple, just pull the glove box and it is located on the side of the air duct just above the blower motor. Remove the electrical connector and two torx screws and it is out. For some reason that one seems to break a tooth off of the gear which causes it to not travel its full range.

...Lee

Post by **luketrash** » 25 Mar 2008, 09:34

After fixing the power window regulator in my Beetle tonight, I think I'm going to 'cool down' by pulling the recirc motor off of my 850. I'm sure it'll be much easier, ha!

Is there any way to service the motor where the tooth has broken?

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 25 Mar 2008, 11:16

Is there any way to service the motor where the tooth has broken?

I recall that someone tried to superglue the tooth back on but I don't think it worked.

...Lee