Heater not working

Tiny
DANLENIUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2010 GMC ACADIA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 50,000 MILES
My wife's Acadia is having problems with the heating system. First, it was blowing cold air on the passenger side and the heat was working on drivers side. I actually bought a new blend door auxiliary, but realized that controlled which vents would be used, so I didn't put that new one in. Well, now she said that it's not blowing warm air at all and I believe she said that the control for the vents wasn't working. So, before I tear it apart and not even know what I'm looking for, I want to see if anyone has a idea of what could be causing this and what I should be checking?
Tuesday, October 13th, 2015 AT 11:51 PM

18 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try pulling fuse for hvac inside car first with key on. Leave it out for 60 seconds then reinstall it may reset the actuators. If that doesn't work see if actuators are getting power, it may be a bad actuator if no power then get it scanned for codes by a pro. It may be the control head
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2015 AT 7:20 AM
Tiny
DANLENIUS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks a lot! I will try those options and let you know how it went.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2015 AT 10:36 AM
Tiny
DANLENIUS
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Well, I'm actually sitting in her car right now. I tried resetting it and now I'm not sure what exactly was wrong when my wife told me, but now the heat works only on the drivers side and is blowing out of the floor and defrost vents. The passenger side only blows cold air. Also, it won't change to different vent selection. It only blows out of the defrost and floor vents on both sides, but the temp only works on drivers side.
I know that the actuator on the passenger side, controlled the vent selection, but does it have anything to do with the temp for the passenger side? I don't think it does, but I really don't know. If not, what controls the temp for the passenger side? Could there be something wrong or disconnected behind the actual temp control console? I was going to take it apart, but then I thought I'm gonna ask you first to see if there's even a chance of that happening.
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2015 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
From your explanation it sounds like it is not an actuator. There are two shown in pic one arrow is for right side heat and two arrow is for direction or mode. Try the reset one more time turn key on pull hvac fuse inside truck and leave it for 60 seconds. It can take for another minute for the actuators to reset so don't turn key off. If it continues what it is doing then take to a local pro and have it scanned for codes because it may be a control head or one of the doors have broken.
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Thursday, October 15th, 2015 AT 6:04 AM
Tiny
GERLMIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 2010 GMC ACADIA
  • 46,000 MILES
I have auto climate control. With separate heat setting for driver and passenger. I get heat o the driver side, but only cold air on the passenger side. Could this be aproblem with the heater door blender actuator?
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
The actuator, needs to be checked for sticking not operating.
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GERLMIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thanks, because I am taking it in to the dealer tomorrow for what I expect to be a $300.00 Bill. If it does not need to be replaced, maybe it wont cost so much. I will let you know what happens.
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It should still be under warranty if you bought the extended warranty
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GERLMIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I don't believe in paying money for an extended warranty. I take pride in maintaining my cars. And I drive very easy on the vehicle. As a matter of fact, the last car I had, I went 97,000 miles on my original front breaks. For what they wanted for an extended warranty, I just put the money in the bank, and it is there when I need it.
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GERLMIKE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Just came back from the dealer. Actuator was checked for sticking. It had to be replaced. Total cost: parts and labor was 266.00
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Well that's good yu got away cheaper than you thought actually I forgot to tell you to complain to gm and they may have split the cost with you. Due to not being that far out of warranty.
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DANCER 1984
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 GMC ACADIA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 250,000 MILES
I have a 2002 gmc safari van and the heater is blowing cold air, the blower motor is working but no heat. I changed the thermosat, the van comes up to temperature but still no heat. Heater core fine, is there a bleeder valve somewhere that is should be looking for?
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the air blend door if its in the heat position
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Saturday, February 23rd, 2019 AT 5:59 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHANE GRANT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2010 GMC ACADIA
  • 120,000 MILES
My wife's car has heat from the passenger side vents but not the drivers side or in the back. Any suggestions to try?
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:56 AM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Pull HVAC fuse inside car with key on it may reset actuator to work on your side other wise have it scanned for codes by a mechanic.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:56 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JERRYSTEWART
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2009 GMC ACADIA
  • 67,000 MILES
The heater in our Acadia works great in the front. The rear blows cold. We have checked and rechecked all from and rear controls. No improvement. How does the rear heater get its heat, same as the front or a different delivery system?

Thanks,
Jerry
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:56 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The rear temperature blend door actuator sounds like it has gone out here is a guide to walk you through the steps of changing it while give the location for your car below.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-blend-door-motor

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:56 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ZANYJB
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Ihad to replace the actuator cost me $78.00 all set
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:56 AM (Merged)

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