Wanted to confirm blend door acuator issue

[bayareadude84]

On my 01 suburban


Just got my burb back from my mechanic and now heat was working fine and now NO heat ?? I tried all settings and NOTHING ??


So far on this issue:
Coolant and upper radiator hose just replaced/flushed
Overflow tank is full NO leaks anywhere
ASE tech said heater hoses are good so it's NOT the heater core and he said it was a bad actuator dorman PT 604-101 ???


Just wanted to ask for some 2nd 3rd 10th opinions before I start dropping $$ on this lol


And is this the one under the pass side or driver side ?? Never done of these on a burb with console. I did on my 05 Silverado no console .


Dave

 

[Scottydoggs]

id take it back and tell them you have no heat now. you can confirm the heater core is air bound by running the engine to full operating temp, then touch both heater hoses, if one is hot the other cold, or both cold the core needs to be flushed of air.

if both are hoses hot, then the blend door could be suspect.

 

[swathdiver]

A Tech-2 or other bi-directional scan tool can read BCM codes and see the commanded and actual counts of these doors. I've been kicking this can down the road for two years by using my Tech-2 to force the door back into position and leaving the AC on Auto (which I do already).

I have read on this forum and others that the Dorman actuators are not as durable as the GM OE or AC Delco ones which may or may not matter given the age of your truck.

Regardless, I too would raise cane with the place that just worked on it. But having said that, I've had customer's cars break on me in places where I was nowhere near and got blamed for it. You'll have to decide if that battle is worth fighting.

 

[bayareadude84]

id take it back and tell them you have no heat now. you can confirm the heater core is air bound by running the engine to full operating temp, then touch both heater hoses, if one is hot the other cold, or both cold the core needs to be flushed of air.

if both are hoses hot, then the blend door could be suspect.

Was my private personal mechanic of 15 years who did the work, I never mess with shops I like to save my money lol



Anyways I drove around for a hour and both hoses are warm so guessing it's the blend door actuator ??


Dave

 

[Scottydoggs]

warm is not hot. full operating temp is 210 you should not be able to grab and hold on to the hoses when "hot".

sounds like it got air trapped inside the core still. not the shops fault really, shit happens when your taking the rad and hoses off and the coolant all drains.

 

[bayareadude84]

warm is not hot. full operating temp is 210 you should not be able to grab and hold on to the hoses when "hot".

sounds like it got air trapped inside the core still. not the shops fault really, shit happens when your taking the rad and hoses off and the coolant all drains.

Well I drove the truck on a 200 mile trip yesterday and now heat is working again ??



Still feel its the actuator, But gonna air out the heater core also.

Dave