Loud clicking noise from LHS recirculation flap

7466 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by dubaidrift, Feb 26, 2011

adm333

Discussion Starter · Jan 19, 2010

It doesn't happen all the time but I often get a loud clicking noise from the left hand side recirculation flap.

It is like it is trying to open or to close and it is in the wrong position.

I drive mostly with the HEVAC on Recirc, not on AUTO. This noise usually occurs when I first start up. It clicks about 4 or 5 times before stopping.

If I want it to stop immediately I press the recirc button and it stops. If I go from recirc to AUTO it will do it and same the other way.

I read somewhere that the "open" and "close" position can / needs to be calibrated or reset. Is this the likely cause ?

Cheers
Dave

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kmagnuss

· #2 · Jan 19, 2010

On mine it was morse code for "Hey dumbass...I'm about to never work again, so read up on how to change your blend motors."

I still haven't changed them, but they're sitting in the garage just waiting to come alive.

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Jos Geuze

· #3 · Jan 19, 2010

Hi

The sound is most probably caused by a broken gear in the blend motor. The ecu is operating the motor and is looking for an increase in the amperes of the motor marking that the flap has reached its end position. With the gears broken it will not see this increase.

The blend motors operating the recirculation flaps have just one set of wires (2 pieces) to turn the motor and no position indicating feedback like the blend motors for distribution and temperature mixing. It is normally just moving from position fully outside air to fully recirculation air with the rise in amperes as a signal the flap has reached it postion.
At each start up the ecu moves the flaps to learn its position.

The bad news is that they are very difficult to reach. I do not know if it is possible to remove the fan housing without removing the whole dashboard first.

Regards

Jos

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wpbcaptain

· #4 · Aug 31, 2010

I am having this same problem. Is there an easy way to disable the recirc motor? I have no interest in ripping apart the dash to repace the motor, i just want the popping to stop. Are there any wires to cut that would stop this?

Thanks

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Jos Geuze

· #5 · Sep 1, 2010

Hi

If you remove the panel under the steering wheel you can see the wires going to the recirculation blend motor, and there is a connector in the wire that you can unplug. At the passenger side it is slightly more complicated as you have to remove the glove box compartment with a similar connector behind it. You could try from the bottom first maybe you can access from there if you are lucky.

Regards

Jos

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Scotty

· #6 · Sep 1, 2010

I have those blend motors. Just sayin `8)

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wpbcaptain

· #7 · Sep 1, 2010

Jos Geuze said:
Hi

If you remove the panel under the steering wheel you can see the wires going to the recirculation blend motor, and there is a connector in the wire that you can unplug. At the passenger side it is slightly more complicated as you have to remove the glove box compartment with a similar connector behind it. You could try from the bottom first maybe you can access from there if you are lucky.

Regards

Jos

Cheers Jos, I'll give it a try.

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wpbcaptain

· #8 · Sep 11, 2010

Jos. Can you guide me toward the correct wire to unplug? There are lots of them and I can't figure out which ones connect to recirc motor. It is on drivers side. Thanks!

Regards,

Patrick

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Jos Geuze

· #9 · Sep 12, 2010

Hi

The wire towards the blendmotor can be found by looking where the fan is located. The blend motor is screwed to the side of the blower housing, behind and below the fan motor. From this plastic housing of the blend motor comes a grey (if i am not mistaken) wire which connects with a grey connector to the wiring loom of the blendmotor connector on top of the heavac ecu.
The wire connector is 20 to 30 cm away from the blendmotor (from memory). If you can still not find it I will try to take a photo.

Regards

Jos

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Jos Geuze

· #10 · Sep 14, 2010

Hi

As promised a photo from the connectors. The connector that is from the blend motor is clipped to the top housing of the fan.
My car is RHD so it is a photo of the right side footwell and blend motor is fitted at the outside. If your car is LHD you find a similar connector at the left side of the car. The colour is white.

Regards

Jos

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dubaidrift

· #11 · Feb 26, 2011

Hi All,

I have just opened this connection on my left hand drive RR and the banging noise when starting the AC has stopped.

Quick fix! :lol: Thanks for the tips in this thread.

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