A/C Actuator Motor Calibration Shortcut Topic is solved

JBRollo · Post by **JBRollo** » 18 Aug 2016, 10:11

Had a clicking A/C Blend motor, mainly around the 72 degree setting. One problem with installing a replacement has always been the calibration. But that requires taking it to the dealer ($$$!). I found that you could match the shaft position of the old Actuator with the new one by simply using a 9 volt battery. Caution: the pin selection is critical as only two pins control the motor. The other pins go to the Climate Control Computer...stay away from them!

The travel on my blend motor (P/N 9142629), the passenger side, was only about 180 degrees and moved very slowly with 9 volts. Its a simple matter to match the position of the old with the new. Use the hookup pictured below (the two pins just above the blank space are the correct ones). Reverse the current to reverse the motor.

My car is a 2000 S70 SE but the connector/pin pattern on many other model years and models seem to be the same.

Worked great for me. No codes. No further calibration needed. But remember: I got to mine before a total failure. At the least, this is a good procedure to align the actuator shaft for installation.

Post by **abscate** » 20 Aug 2016, 04:34

Outstanding Red Team..case of beer for that one.

Marked for VRD

JBRollo · Post by **JBRollo** » 20 Aug 2016, 05:11

Additional: I examined the old actuator rather than throwing it away. (Snap off the 4 plastic clips and remove the 3 screws). The failure mode is slipping gears. But the gears looked good!
There was a lot of plastic dust in the gear valleys and a lot of grease on the position feelers. I think it is entirely that some of these are repairable. At least the main gear could be easily replaced IF the positions of the Gears and output shaft was carefully marked for assembly...I talking counting gear teeth!
If anyone does this successfully, please post it.

Post by **jreed** » 20 Aug 2016, 05:43

I haven't replaced a gear, but I did spend some time removing the excess grease off the rheostat... wrote it up here:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=50525

JBRollo · Post by **JBRollo** » 20 Aug 2016, 07:18

Nice write up! Wish I had seen it before I started. I used super glue to attach one of the more difficult screws to the torque driver! Silly putty a good idea also. The Blend Actuator on the passenger side of the 2000 S70 is a real pain to get to! Mirror helps.

Post by **sleddriver** » 20 Aug 2016, 17:28

I also dug quite deep into mine when the ECC blamed the driver temp motor. Turns out the ECC itself was defective! Here's my post: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=74061

cameronb · Post by **cameronb** » 01 Oct 2016, 14:43

JBRollo wrote:Nice write up! Wish I had seen it before I started. I used super glue to attach one of the more difficult screws to the torque driver! Silly putty a good idea also. The Blend Actuator on the passenger side of the 2000 S70 is a real pain to get to! Mirror helps.

Man, how did you reach it? I've been trying for an hour or so with different tools every weekend for a month. I got one of the screws, but the other two I just can't figure it out. what tools did you use? i've got a couple of different length T15 bits but I just can't hit them. Is there anything on the dash I can remove to get to them more easily? flexible shaft bit handle? it's driving me absolutely nuts.

JBRollo · Post by **JBRollo** » 01 Oct 2016, 18:20

I used a flexible shaft nut driver. It took some doing. I also used a 1/4 size ratchet with the flexible shaft. Only one was removable with a straight shaft.
Getting the screws back in is a task also.
Put some plastic or aluminum foil across the hump to block screws that drop from going under the carpet...very hard to retrieve!
Laying across the drivers seat is very helpful also; I couldn't have done it from the passenger side.

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 01 Oct 2016, 23:47

A Skewdriver got to all of the fasteners for me. Great tool!

You can also disassemble these without breaking anything.
Carefully slip flat wooden toothpicks under the tangs/clips
after removing the screws to release them and split the case.

CoupeC70 · Post by **CoupeC70** » 14 Mar 2019, 07:21

Hello,

I have the clicking noise too.

I didnt unterstand the instruction...

The only thing to do is, to put a V9 battery on the contacts to calibrate the actuator ?

best regards