No heat from passenger side vent

Tiny
BDAB68
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 HYUNDAI TUCSON
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
As the temperature has began to drop around here so did the heat in my wife’s car. First only high speed would work but that was an easy fix and replaced the blower motor resister. That is fixed however she is only getting hot air from the driver side vent. The center two vents are warm and the passenger side is cold. Even when I switch to defrost the driver side is hot passenger side is cold same when I switch to the floor. All the actuators seem to work visually. I have only located 3. This vehicle does not have duel climate control so I assume it only has 3 actuators associated with the heater/AC. 1) mode actuator 2) temperature actuator 3) fresh or cabin air actuator. Everything I see online about this issue points to the blend door actuator however they all seem to have dual climate control so I’m confused if this would be my problem since mine doesn’t. Some say it could be the heater core being clogged but I am getting hot air however only on driver side. The amount of air is consistent through all vents so nothing clogged in the vent. I am stumped and could really use some help in identifying my problem. I assume since I don’t have dual temperature control that air would simply pass trough one main vent than through all 4 front vents equally. Does the temperature actuator still control each vent separately even without dual temperature control. Sorry for the book but I am hoping you all can help. Thank you so much.
Monday, November 11th, 2019 AT 4:10 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello, I'm Danny.

Yes, it sounds like you're having an issue with the blend/mode door actuator.It is a small electrical motor that controls air flow through specific ducts in the HVAC box.It might be worn/defective and not able to finish the full range of travel to get all vents fully open.Here is a tutorial showing what is involve in its replacement:

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

I've attached 2 pictures below showing the HVAC box and the actuator location.Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.
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Monday, November 11th, 2019 AT 7:01 PM
Tiny
BDAB68
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
Thank you so much Danny. It seams everything is pointing to the blend door. I just don’t understand air systems in cars, lol. So sorry for my confusion. Is the mode door actuator the same as blend door? From the diagram It looks like the one I see at the bottom of driver side. It controls the defrost, face vents, floor vents etc? Am I correct?
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Monday, November 11th, 2019 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

Yes, You are correct. I sent you a picture of its location on my last response including a quick tutorial on how to replace. Let me know if you have any further questions on this. Hope this helps.
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Monday, November 11th, 2019 AT 7:42 PM
Tiny
BDAB68
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
Hey sorry for my confusion as I am trying to understand the full operation of the mode door. The air moves correctly as I adjust from floor to vents to defrost (which is the purpose of the mode door actuator). The problem is the heat is only traveling to the driver side vents and cold air continues to come out of the passenger side. (I would believe this would be the temperature actuator). I enclosed a picture of my control panel. Please correct me if I am wrong as perhaps the mode door does more than just changing airflow.
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Tuesday, November 12th, 2019 AT 7:43 AM
Tiny
BDAB68
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
So the new mode actuator came in today. I installed it and no difference. It still gets hot on driver side and cold on passenger side. It just seams so odd to me. Air comes out just fine so nothing is blocked. The power of the air slightly drops consistently along all 4 front vents when heat is turned on leaving me to believe the flow is correct. Please help me what do I try next? I flushed the system this past summer after having a hose bust. So I don’t believe anything would be clogging the heater core. Any ideas?
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 11:22 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again,

There are only 3 actuators in your HVAC system. I've attached pictures of the 3 actuators below. You've already seen the mode actuator. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 6:53 PM
Tiny
BDAB68
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
I'm thinking it could be a clog in the heater core. With over 100,000 miles it was extremely dirty when I flushed the system this past summer. I’m wondering if reverse flushing the heater core will help. I hate to have to drain the radiator again but I’m running out of ideas. Still better than ripping the whole dash apart and replacing the heating system lol. I know it seams like an actuator issue however I’m just not sold on it as I don’t see any issues with any of them. I’m not ruling them out as I am able to return the mode actuator and I will move to the temp actuator. Hopefully figure out a plan to reverse flush the heater core without draining all the coolant again but not sure I’ll be able to avoid it. Just so freaking cold outside lol.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

I'm not really thinking it's a heater core issue as you're only having poor performance in only 1 vent. If it was a heater core plugged up you wouldn't get heat at all. You could try flushing the heater core by just removing the heater core hoses and flushing separately from the engine.I would try the temperature actuator. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.
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Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 AT 8:38 PM
Tiny
BDAB68
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
My only thought though is only the far driver side is blowing really hot. The center driver side is warm. Center passenger side is colder wile the far passenger side is the coldest. I’m thinking that perhaps a blockage might prevent coolant from heating the whole core and not allowing hot air into the passenger side. I suppose I can test this theory by seeing if ac runs through all the vents right? I’ll put a temp gauge in the driver vent and than in passenger side. If both read the same than all doors would be open. Not sure how accurate I’ll be as its 25 degrees outside lol.
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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 6:36 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
Hello again.

Yes, that would be a good test. Seeing if the A/C function mimics the same heat vent results. Keep me updated. 25 degrees brr. I'm in SoCal and we are still having summer weather 80 right now and jumping up to 90 this weekend. Come on Fall get here. Thanks again for using 2CarPros.
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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
BDAB68
  • MEMBER
  • 30 POSTS
So I finally had a chance to work on the car again. I did a reverse flush of the heater core and now have heat from all vents. I’m thinking it was in fact a partially clogged heater core. It’s not perfect but it is heat. I might try it again and use some cleaner this time. Thank you Danny for all your help in resolving this issue.
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Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 AT 6:12 AM
Tiny
DANNY L
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,648 POSTS
You're welcome!
Please feel free to use us again in the future, We're here to help. Thanks again for using 2CarPros.
Danny-
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Thursday, November 21st, 2019 AT 3:38 PM

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