Passenger heater COLD in 96 T&C LXi

The driver's side works correctly BOTH heater and AC but the passenger side
has never worked--temp control on that side does nothing. (bought it used)
Dealer says it will cost $1250 because HE SAYS the problem is with the
"blend door". Have only the Haynes Manual and it says NOTHING about this.
Have a factory CD on order. I was hoping it was just a vacuum hose off.
Does ANYONE know anything about these?

TIA
John

 

If you have zone control in the van it is possible that the blend air
door/acuator could be the problem, but the most likely cause is the a/c
controller head on the dash, you would have to determine that by any fault
codes found in the HVAC or BCM controller and testing out each part


Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

So you are saying to take it back to a DIFFERENT dealer and ask him to
check the codes? Because if I go back to the same dealer, he's gonna tell
me the same thing. I travel a lot, so I COULD go to a different one and
see.

TIA
John

 

No what I am saying is that it could be a problem with the blend air
door/motor, however the price that they are giving you seems way out of
control, unless there is more on the bill then just the heater problem But
you can get a second opinion, alot of dealers will just plug in a new
control unit if they arent sure of the fix to isolate the problem. Then
again alot willl not do that.Did the dealer find a BCM code or an HVAC code
in the system?

 

Frankly, I didn't ask. The service guy called me and said it was the blend
doors (or the blend something like that) and it would require the dash to
be completely removed to fix it. And it would cost about $1250. I told
him thanx but no thanx. I guess I really need to get a second opinion.
That would probably answer the question I have. Before I went to the
dealer, I had taken one of those zone control units off a car in Pick n
Pull thinking THAT might be the problem but they wanted $40 and I didn't
get it..I guess I shoulda. :-( Oh well...

John

 

If you had to buy that controller over the counter it would be about $300,
if you do decide to go used part, make sure it is the same zone control,
take yours out and check to see that the onnectors are the same color as the
used one, it makes a big difference,

 

make sure it is the same zone control,

The one at Pick n Pull was from a '96 Dodge but the controls looked the
same--passenger and driver controls...but I didn't check the color of the
connector. Is there a difference if the controls are the same? Do I sound
stupid? :-(

TIA
John

 

once again, make sure it is the same control, including the connectors