Drivers side blend door actuator

mkonchalski · Post by **mkonchalski** » 10 Jul 2026, 21:30

My 2011 XC90 is only blowing cold air on the passenger side. After researching it looks like the blend door actuator on the drivers side is the culprit. I've tried to recalibrate the actuator a couple of ways with no success. I'm now looking to just replace it but can't get to it. There is a small knee bolster I've removed and I can see the actuator with a mirror but can't remove it. I've found some less than helpful right ups saying to remove the screws holding the knee bolster/under steering wheel trim panel but there are no screws. On the passenger's side I've seen how to remove the glovebox and trim on the upper center console to get to that actuator but on the driver's side the under panel wraps over to the center console.

Does anyone know how to remove that piece?

Post by **ggleavitt** » 10 Jul 2026, 22:24

Are you getting to calibration? If no, might not be the door itself. No code being reported?

Don't want to dissuade you from finding your cause but no blend door movement can also come from a corrupt LIN bus. No chance you have a passenger side seat heater failure?

Might not be your problem and mine was hot only from the driver's side (passenger side working properly per knob), but here's a thread for reference: https://www.swedespeed.com/threads/hot- ... rsa.593601

mkonchalski · Post by **mkonchalski** » 11 Jul 2026, 10:53

I've done both the fuse and battery disconnect calibration and I can hear the expected clicking but I'm not sure which side is clicking. Most of the posts I've seen, as well as AI, point to that actuator/motor. The temps here are hitting the 90's so I can really test the heater.

mkonchalski · Post by **mkonchalski** » 11 Jul 2026, 10:55

Also, no codes.

mkonchalski · Post by **mkonchalski** » 11 Jul 2026, 12:55

I just tried the heater. Plenty of heat on both sides oddly enough. Just to level set this. The car has dual zone climate controls. AC has a couple of issues. There first one I'm trying to address is that the AC (all testing on dash vents) blows 10+ degrees cooler than the passenger side. I've tried two types of calibration with no changes in temp seen. Most of what I've seen online points say since the issue is on one side it is probably the drivers side blend door actuator. I found a couple of places online telling me where that part is mounted. Removing the carpeted footwell panel on the right side and the small long knee bolster you can look up under the steering wheel and see part of the actuator. To remove it though the panel under the steering wheel (and wraps to the center console) needs to come out. I can't find any good instructions on how to remove it. Does not feel like it just pulls off.

mkonchalski · Post by **mkonchalski** » 11 Jul 2026, 15:08

Correction - the driver side vents blow 10+degrees warmer than the passenger side vents.

Post by **cn90** » 13 Jul 2026, 12:47

I posted the DIY heater core in the forum.
Very often, the linkage arm is damaged during heater core replacement.
All the tips/tricks are in that DIY.