I just picked up my SS today. The A/C was blowing cold, but too hard, and lacking an owner's manual, I started playing with controls to figure it out.

A noise started up from behind the center console that sounds like a Huey taking off. I kept playing with controls and found that changing the fan speed manually qill quiet it (for awhile). The air temperature is now higher, so I assumed it might be an actuator moving and sticking and moving and sticking and etc. However, it continues after I shut the car off, which to me, eliminates the HVAC entirely.

Does anyone have advice?

 

Blend door actuators, common issue on that generation car. Clicking/tapping sound from the dash when you adjust the temperature.

 

If that's what it is, why does it continue after I turn the car off?

 

Because when you shut the car off, the blend door is trying to fall to a neutral position but the gear is stripped.

There are 3 in total, I have replaced all 3 in my wife's Impala already.

Where is the ticking coming from?

There are 3, one on the driver's side behind the radio, passenger side behind the radio and 1 near the passenger fuse box. To be able to tell which it is, try to listen in those spots (for the passenger side ones, open the glove box and listen).

If you want, report back to which one it is and I can explain how to replace it.

Alternatively, if raising the temp of the driver's side quiets it down, it's that one. If raising the temp of the passenger side one, it's that one. If changing from Outside air, to recycled air, it's the fuse box one.

 

There are now two: drivers side behind the radio and passenger side (I assume) near the fuse box. I l would love to learn how to replace them.

 

Here is the part for all 3: https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-604-10...RYVDMKYQHKRDK5

For the driver side you will need to remove the kick plate under the steering wheel to gain access to the crevice that the actuator is located in.

In my opinion, this is the hardest of the 3 to reach, luckily I am a smaller guy and was able to just pull the seat all the way back and lay down.

Once you have the kick-plate out of the way, you'll locate the actuator behind the driver's side radio. Using a 5 or 5.5mm socket, you'll remove the 3 screws holding the actuator onto the car, disconnect the wire, and pull straight off.

I highly recommend using a tool like this: https://www.craftsman.com/products/c...t-adapter-3-pk

Then you put your new one in place, plug it in, and put your 3 screws back in.

For the passenger side, you will need to empty your glove box, drop the box all the way open, then at the top of the box you can press in and pull down so the whole glove box falls to the floor. This will give you access to both the fuse panel one, and the one behind the radio. Once the fuse box is down, you'll see it and again, remove the 3 screws and unplug the connector and pull straight off.

Sometimes GM only used 2 screws to hold the actuator on, so don't be alarmed if you only see 2.

There are also some videos on the subject on youtube to get acquainted with how to do it.

Driver's side:
Passenger side:
I would honestly just replace all 3, while you are in there.

 

Like Chibi said the best way to get in the door actuator is to lay the seat flat and get in there upside down, but do some stretches because you'll be in there awhile and it's a royal pain.

 

I'm new here and this actuator problem just started on my 07 LT today. It had never done it until this afternoon when I was adjusting the temperature to warmer. My noise sounded like it was coming from right behind the radio/ HVAC controls. It scared the Hell out of me going down the road at 75 mph! It sounded like a machine gun starting up. I pressed the fresh air button/ recirculate, speed up and down and it kept on. Finally I turned it all off while still driving and after about 4-5 seconds it finally shut-up.

I don't think my problem is the one on the passenger side, but the one behind the HVAC controls. I've never installed one, and being 350 pounds and 6 feet tall, it doesn't sound like something I can physically contort to do.

Any idea what a shop should charge to install? Not a Chevy dealership because they'll be sky high I know.

I guess having a car go 155,000 miles and that happen for the first time isn't so bad.

Thanks,

David

 

Wow! Glad I saw this one! Mine does that with the A/C and it started while we were on a road trip, and it scared the hell out of us! It does sound like it is coming from behind the radio. Will have to check it out, thanks

 

Hey! What are you doing 75 for? You should be going 85, haha!