V50 air vent / blend door problem

[v_o_l_v_o_uh_oh]

I need to check myself into gambler's anonymous (will explain in a minute). FYI, this is my first post and let me apologize for it being so long.

2005 V50 was working fine, and today can no longer get air out of the front vents, and most of the time not the lower vents either. But defrost air works fine. If I choose front vent or lower vent, the blower is working hard but it's as though the air has no where to go (unless I open defrost vent). Sometimes if I do different combinations / sequences of pushing the buttons I can get the bottom vents to open (like maybe the blend doors get stuck).

So I turned the fan down to its lowest setting (one notch above Off) to make things quieter, and when I press the dash buttons for front vent or lower vent, I can hear the actuator trying to do something (in some combinations I can't hear an actuator when pressing lower vent button). Thus I'm thinking the computer is ok and a portion of the controls are ok.

More to the story. Just purchased this vehicle less than a week ago, and AC had been working fine. Today, before problem observed, had V50 back at Volvo dealer where we bought it so they could to listen to an engine noise that I was worried about (whizzing sound strongest from lower front grill on passenger side). I didn't see what they did when they checked it, but when done they said the noise was fine, nothing to worry about (thank goodness). Then later today realize air won't come out the front vent at all. Called dealer to pick their brain and they seemed to sincerely think there is nothing they did that could have caused this. (coincidence I guess)

So now I'm stuck, and looking for advice. If I couldn't hear the actuators trying to do something I would be more inclined to think maybe they accidentally messed up the software or something. But I do hear them (again, sometimes don't hear when pressing lower vent button but always hear actuator with defrost button and front vent button)

Any suggestions? If no suggestions I guess I start taking things apart trying to find the blend doors to learn more about what's happening. When I listen to the actuators they sound very deep up in the dash, where it seems it may be very difficult to get to (I'm not feeling good about this whatsoever, just digging a deeper hole). Is accessing the control module any easier that what it looks?

Now the gambler story. So the reason I was at the dealer last week to begin with was to take care of an old unfulfilled recall on a 2001 non-turbo S60 that we bought used less than 2 years ago with high mileage (gamble #1). While there I paid for a general diagnostic (since I have the fluctuating rpm problem and suspension is really rough). Although we love the S60 (by far the best car I would have ever owned had I bought it new), I've gotten a taste of Volvo (can build an engine that will run forever, some transmissions ok some not, simple electronics seem to be a real challenge for them let alone the complicated electronics in these things, maybe next year the ash tray will be computer controlled too). So I swore I would never get another used Volvo (and I already know I can't afford a new one). Yet, while waiting on the S60 to be serviced and snooping around their used cars (we need to add another vehicle), I end up buying a used V50 off the lot (gamble #2) that has a lot less miles than the S60. What the heck was I thinking. And this issue with the vents is already making me kick myself for not sticking to my 'no more Volvo' policy. (problem is, I REALLY like them when they're running right, just something about them is the right mix).

If you're still awake, the dealer said the fluctuating RPM issue on the S60 might be fixed by cleaning the ETM which they offered to do (but I can do myself). But now I've been there done that, and read up on the throttle position sensor fiasco (Volvo doesn't seem very transparent about that). Now I'm looking at an aftermarket contactless throttle position sensor, since my S60 is no longer safe to operate unless I dump a bunch of $ into it or try this aftermarket fix. The end.

[v_o_l_v_o_uh_oh]

update: The dealer was kind enough to take a look at it, acknowledged the problem, and somehow fixed it with a system calibration. I don't exactly know what a calibration means in this situation, but I'm glad all of the vent combinations are working now.