HVAC Only heat driver side

[audunfr]

Hi all, and thanks for the community. I just got my first Tahoe, a 2009 model here in Norway.
My first issue is something i just cannot figure out and did not find anything online except changing the actuator and all is good.

I disconnected the actuator in the foot well close to the center console as its my understanding this is for the temperature driver side (or have i misunderstood something)?.

If i change the port position manually without the actuator the temp driver side is still hot. So my steps to test this with actuator installed, and reset.

1. Let the HVAC recalibrate by taking the fuses(2 fuses)
2. Change passenger and driver side temperature to 29c (84F) and let it heat up, then to 16c (60F)
3. Holding my hand in front of the center blowout ports for passenger and driver.
4. Passenger is getting cold, not super cold, but cold, driver side port no change in temperature.
5. Motor for the actuator is moving in steps when changing the temperature driver side.

When the passenger side is cold and driver hot i take out the actuator and move the port manually to different positions (max left, max right) but still only hot.

What am i doing wrong, or are i in the correct place to begin with (according to the internet and different youtube videos i am).

Ideas would be greatly appreciated..

 

[Doubeleive]

Hi all, and thanks for the community. I just got my first Tahoe, a 2009 model here in Norway.
My first issue is something i just cannot figure out and did not find anything online except changing the actuator and all is good.

I disconnected the actuator in the foot well close to the center console as its my understanding this is for the temperature driver side (or have i misunderstood something)?.

If i change the port position manually without the actuator the temp driver side is still hot. So my steps to test this with actuator installed, and reset.

1. Let the HVAC recalibrate by taking the fuses(2 fuses)
2. Change passenger and driver side temperature to 29c (84F) and let it heat up, then to 16c (60F)
3. Holding my hand in front of the center blowout ports for passenger and driver.
4. Passenger is getting cold, not super cold, but cold, driver side port no change in temperature.
5. Motor for the actuator is moving in steps when changing the temperature driver side.

When the passenger side is cold and driver hot i take out the actuator and move the port manually to different positions (max left, max right) but still only hot.

What am i doing wrong, or are i in the correct place to begin with (according to the internet and different youtube videos i am).

Ideas would be greatly appreciated..

wrong one.
the actuator on the bottom of the airbox on the passenger side under/behind glove box (above passenger side foot kickpanel) is for drivers side hot/cold.
the actuator on the top of the airbox behind the passenger side airbag is for the passenger side hot/cold
the center actuator up under and behind the center console is for up/down/defrost.
the one you want to address (drivers temp) is by far the easiest one.

 

[audunfr]

Thanks for the detailed feedback on what different locations are. I belive from your comment I re-read and I believe I know what one you are refering to, or not exactly but kinda. Wonder what the one I have is for. I took some pictures. English is not my native language so I might have misunderstood though.

 

[Doubeleive]

Thanks for the detailed feedback on what different locations are. I belive from your comment I re-read and I believe I know what one you are refering to, or not exactly but kinda. Wonder what the one I have is for. I took some pictures. English is not my native language so I might have misunderstood though.
View attachment 483238View attachment 483239View attachment 483240

yes that one is for drivers side hot/cold.

 

[Doubeleive]

when you adjust the temperature you should see this metal ring rotate, one way is hot, the other way is cold.
it should move to all 3 position marks on the plastic housing

 

[audunfr]

Correct, and it does. So that is why I'm stunned that when I manually change the position it's still hot, like it does nothing. But I can feel the resistance of the shaft/stub rotating and things moving inside — the damper is definitely shifting — yet the air remains warm regardless of which position it's in.

 

[Doubeleive]

Correct, and it does. So that is why I'm stunned that when I manually change the position it's still hot, like it does nothing. But I can feel the resistance of the shaft/stub rotating and things moving inside — the damper is definitely shifting — yet the air remains warm regardless of which position it's in.

what does a thermometer show for passenger side temp? set to forward, set to cold (ac on), engine running, after a few minutes it should show around 45 degrees f (7.2 C) (thermometer inserted to passenger vent hole)

 

[mikez71]

Might drill a hole in side of case and insert a snake camera to take a look if no solution..

Is it possible there's interference, and the flap is not completely shut?
Here's some pictures of the left temperature valve...

 

[Doubeleive]

first thing to do is verify the ac is working properly, if there is no cool air it's not going to cool no matter what you do.

 

[audunfr]

Yes, thinking of opening it up to see but a camera was not a bad idea. Ac is working. Passenger side is cold but driver side remains hot when both sides are 16 Celsius (as low as it goes).

 

[Doubeleive]

Yes, thinking of opening it up to see but a camera was not a bad idea. Ac is working. Passenger side is cold but driver side remains hot when both sides are 16 Celsius (as low as it goes).

when you have the fan on full speed and manually operate the bottom door, can you feel the wind resistance? if you turn it one way while the fan is on full speed when you let go it should instantly switch to the other side, not sure which way off hand I think it defaults to heat.

 

[audunfr]

Interesting. I do believe it stays in the place I put it but will test it tomorrow (night here) and get back to you. I really appreciate everyone’s help

 

[audunfr]

Sorry for the delay. So I’ve run the car hot. Turned temp all the way down to min that is 16 Celsius. My temp meter at the vent (do trust it but it’s not ment to measure air temp, but reads environment temp correctly). Passenger 25celsius. Driver 50 Celsius. It I take the thermometer out of the car again it shows correct air temp so guess it’s correct. I’m a little baffled because passenger feels colder, but maybe the airflow speed fools my hand.

 

[Doubeleive]

Sorry for the delay. So I’ve run the car hot. Turned temp all the way down to min that is 16 Celsius. My temp meter at the vent (do trust it but it’s not ment to measure air temp, but reads environment temp correctly). Passenger 25celsius. Driver 50 Celsius. It I take the thermometer out of the car again it shows correct air temp so guess it’s correct. I’m a little baffled because passenger feels colder, but maybe the airflow speed fools my hand.

if you are only reading 25 in the vent (ac on cool) then the ac system is not operating properly
you do have to allow it a few minutes on cool to get a proper reading, running it hot and the switching to cool is going to take a good while to cool off
you should be getting close to or around 7.2c, I would say 12.2 (minimum) in the center vent fully cooled down (ac on, fan high/air forward), in the shade. the condenser is on the passenger side so the drivers side will be a tiny bit warmer but not much. use the center vents for best reading
the outside ambient air of course plays a factor but if it is say 80deg f outside you should be getting as low as 45f-54f (min) out of the center vent (when allowed to cool down for a few minutes), if it is higher then that then there is a problem, ac leaked out or some other problem.

 

[audunfr]

if you are only reading 25 in the vent (ac on cool) then the ac system is not operating properly
you do have to allow it a few minutes on cool to get a proper reading, running it hot and the switching to cool is going to take a good while to cool off
you should be getting close to or around 7.2c, I would say 12.2 (minimum) in the center vent fully cooled down (ac on, fan high/air forward), in the shade. the condenser is on the passenger side so the drivers side will be a tiny bit warmer but not much. use the center vents for best reading
the outside ambient air of course plays a factor but if it is say 80deg f outside you should be getting as low as 45f-54f (min) out of the center vent (when allowed to cool down for a few minutes), if it is higher then that then there is a problem, ac leaked out or some other problem.

So sorry, I didn't notice your response.

So here's what I'm seeing: I can run the whole system at 16 °C (the lowest setting available) and drive for 20 minutes. The passenger side blows out air at around 25 °C, while the driver's side is at 50 °C. This is measured at the center vents. Adjusting the blend door controlled by the accumulator makes no difference. The temperature is the same on the driver's side at the center vent and at the floor vent by the feet. But I think I can hear the blend door moving, and feel it too.

I've booked an appointment at a shop for Wednesday — they'll do an AC service, so I'd expect the 25 °C on the passenger side to come down with that. But what worries me is that the driver's side isn't also at 25 °C — it seems like it can't switch over to cold at all, only pure heat coming through. Unfortunately there are very few places here in Norway that are really good with Chevrolets.

 

[Doubeleive]

So sorry, I didn't notice your response.

So here's what I'm seeing: I can run the whole system at 16 °C (the lowest setting available) and drive for 20 minutes. The passenger side blows out air at around 25 °C, while the driver's side is at 50 °C. This is measured at the center vents. Adjusting the blend door controlled by the accumulator makes no difference. The temperature is the same on the driver's side at the center vent and at the floor vent by the feet. But I think I can hear the blend door moving, and feel it too.

I've booked an appointment at a shop for Wednesday — they'll do an AC service, so I'd expect the 25 °C on the passenger side to come down with that. But what worries me is that the driver's side isn't also at 25 °C — it seems like it can't switch over to cold at all, only pure heat coming through. Unfortunately there are very few places here in Norway that are really good with Chevrolets.

You should be getting around 7C if you stick a thermometer in the vent slot, so something is wrong, which means it may have a leak in the system, it should never need to be refilled basically unless it is needed when working on something

 

[audunfr]

Got it back from the shop today. The mechanic diagnosed the temp door actuator and it's all good. Filled new gas and it is cool on the passenger side. They (the shop) think it's something inside that is broken but did not have time to diagnose further.

I see the RockAuth has https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1041580&cc=1442911&pt=10640&jsn=8 - HVAC temperature valve door and I guess the actuator is connected to something that do move but inside the air duct its not (broken plastic or something). I tried searching YouTube but most videos are about the actuator so I need to do some digging to see if it's an easy job to take this out and inspect.