When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The dealership wanted $1000 to replace the AC actuator that controls the front vents. The actuator is behind the passenger vents and in order to get to it you have to take the whole dash apart. I'm to the point where I can see the actuator but have no idea how to get to it or what else I can take off to get to it.
Has anyone done this? The pics are from the passenger side dash, first one is showing where it's at the second one is the actual actuator. Theres two bolts holding it in.
Can you remove the 2 small bolts with a 1\4" ratchet and socket? After that I imagine you would
just unplug it and lift it off the end of the door shaft.
Can you remove the 2 small bolts with a 1\4" ratchet and socket? After that I imagine you would
just unplug it and lift it off the end of the door shaft.
The other bolt isn't even in view. I need to take more of the vette dash apart to get to it but I'm clueless as to what to take off next. I've used instructions to get the dash apart up until now but I haven't seen anything that shows how to get to it.
The part that I circled is pretty tight fit a ratchet won't fit.
Yes a ratchet box wrench will work to get the bottom one out I still can't get to the top one the. I need to take more of the dash or something a part to get to it. My poor baby has been in pieces for two weeks trying to figure it out. Starting to think I should have paid $1000 for the dealership.
is the problem you can't see it? you may have to pull a few more pieces loose....I know what you are thinking...will I be able to get it back together....you will...take pics, take notes whatever...you will get it
Have you tried one of the "dentist" type very small mirrors to poke back in there to see if bolt head is exposed?
No I haven't. If I push through some of the wiring I can barely see it but a normal wrench isn't long enough and too tight to get my hand in there and move anything even if I could get a hold of it.
I feel your pain. I had A/C begin going full heat at times when in Auto A/C mode. Dealer told me what he would have to do (was under warranty) but I said I'll live with it. I could move temp all the way down, back up, change Auto to Manual, recirculate, etc. & put back in Auto & it would work correctly for weeks. It was just driver side too but damn when it starting blowing HOT air out all my side's vents in July/Aug Car gone now, hope '19 doesn't have this problem. Can't complain tho. '14 Z51, '16 Z were bulletproof other than that "small" glitch.
Last edited by madrob2020; Jul 15, 2019 at 02:28 PM.
I have the same issue now and really i'm suffering too much
My corvette 2015 has the same issue, the air is blowing up and in the floor cold air And there is no sound also , But i cant change the mode or direction to the face.
if you have any idea or easy solution you are highly appreciated
Same here. Dealer said 3hrs to dismantle the dash and 3hrs to reassemble it, plus whatever wait for parts is involved. I plan to use the car this weekend so it sounds like a nice winter time fix if I can't find an easier, less-intrusive solution by then.
My friends 2015 has this exact problem!!
Just wondering if anybody has completed this and was successful....
Since I have heard different ideas on length of time. Book hours versus real time. If someone has done this, is it about 3 hours to tear apart and 3 hrs to put back together as mentioned above.? Just looking for real world info.
any tips, tricks , or pictures would be much appreciated. I will help him if it’s doable.
or should he just take it to dealer and have them destroy the dash?
He does not have warranty coverage
Last edited by 1999PewterCorvette; Jul 23, 2020 at 08:53 PM.
I swear if I ever meet the engineer who came up with this design I am going to slap them right in the face. After trying for more than a few hours and using very inappropriate words and gestures I came to the conclusion that either A) The whole dash would have to come out (did not even want to try) or B) I needed to get clearance somewhere.
My solution: I drilled out the Aluminum frame in the corner where there was already a hole. I kept going until I had enough room to get my socket, swivel and extension to work. Came out easy.
That was the my solution to get to the bolt you could not see. I started small and kept going until I got the clearance I needed. It lined up really good after drilling the hole.
Great job there. I retired after 30yrs as a BMW and then Lexus dealer tech. I can assure you I would have done the same thing. I could relate a bunch of stories but this is my favorite. The Lexus SC400 coupe was a real tight fit in the under dash area about where you are in your Corvette. At one point we needed to remove the main heater/AC box to replace the heater core. We knew we needed to remove the dash so we did. Cool, looking right at the box. The box is attached to the firewall w/ 4 bolts. We couldn't get to one of the 4 bolts so broke out the manual. The first step in the service manual instructions was, "Remove the engine". Yep, one of the bolts was installed from the engine side of the firewall and, once the engine was in, there was maybe 1/2inch clearance from engine to firewall and the bolt was not even visible down in there somewhere.
My 2015 is not blowing air out of the front vents, only defrost and bottom regardless of selection on the dash. Temp changes work OK.
Can you someone confirm which part is being changed on these photos? And can you confirm if you could do this with the dash in the car, or did you have to remove the entire dash if you drill the hole that is mentioned? Thank you.
Is it this part below?
Heating and Air Conditioning Panel Mode Door Actuator - GM (23201659)
Just bumping this back up to see if anyone has any experience with changing these actuators and can confirm the parts. I will do this myself if I do t have to remove the entire dash.
My 2015 is not blowing air out of the front vents, only defrost and bottom regardless of selection on the dash. Temp changes work OK.
Can you someone confirm which part is being changed on these photos? And can you confirm if you could do this with the dash in the car, or did you have to remove the entire dash if you drill the hole that is mentioned? Thank you.
Is it this part below?
Heating and Air Conditioning Panel Mode Door Actuator - GM (23201659)
Good question. I'm wondering if my best bet with the car being covered under extended warranty is to order and have this part on hand myself before scheduling the service at the dealer just to avoid the chance of having to repeat and pay out of pocket for the 3hrs/3hrs to disassemble/reassemble due to potential backorder of this part. Maybe the thing to do is discuss with dealer and see if there are any other parts possibly needing replacement to fix this and ordering those as well before scheduling the car into the dealer for this ? Any thoughts?
Good question. I'm wondering if my best bet with the car being covered under extended warranty is to order and have this part on hand myself before scheduling the service at the dealer just to avoid the chance of having to repeat and pay out of pocket for the 3hrs/3hrs to disassemble/reassemble due to potential backorder of this part. Maybe the thing to do is discuss with dealer and see if there are any other parts possibly needing replacement to fix this and ordering those as well before scheduling the car into the dealer for this ? Any thoughts?
My car still has this problem. I didn't try to fix it yet. Im really reluctant to start pulling the dash apart, and it hasn't bothered me enough to spend $1000 to fix.
Reluctant here too, enough to delay getting this fixed for 2+ years since it broke. Glad to report that Corvette tech Jeremy at Jon Hall Chevy in Daytona Beach, FL did the fix under extended warranty and it is now like new! Was without the car for 9 days but as I understand it that was mostly from needing to get the Corvette tech some uninterrupted time for the 3 hours needed to pull the dash and then after confirming it was just the actuator that was bad and needing replacement to do that replacement and then reinstall the dashboard. He did a great job as it now works like new and there is no sign the dash has been pulled and replaced. Jeremy at Jon Hall Chevy is my new hero!
C7 AC actuator
Car gone now, hope '19 doesn't have this problem
. Can't complain tho. '14 Z51, '16 Z were bulletproof other than that "small" glitch.
