[blackRTnTN]

At nearly 39K I'm experiencing my first "major" problem. Whenever the climate control system switches to fresh air from recirculate(either automatically or manually by pressing the switch), I hear a loud knocking(rap rap rap) noise coming from the passenger side dash. It can also be heard outside the car from the passenger side cowl area. The noise lasts about 15-20 seconds. It only does it going from recirc to fresh air. Switching back to recirc works fine with no noise. The door is still opening and closing as I can tell the airflow changes, however, when selecting fresh air; I get the noise then once it stops the fresh air door opens. I'm scheduled to take the car in next week and I have a Mopar Service Contract, but any ideas on what it is? I'm hoping it's just the actuator as anything else will likely involve tearing the whole dash apart to fix.

 

[Ddaddy]

It's the recirculation blend door. It is either sticking or breaking. It's possible the actuator motor is going bad, but that's not usually the case.

The knocking sound is coming from the resistance in travel causing the actuator drive to kick in and out until the door finally gets to the set position.

You can first try to manually send the system through the full range of motion a few times and see if that frees things up (sometimes the sticking is in a narrow range and can be freed up with repeated full travel).

Reset the auto system by turning everything fully off and then cycling slowly through all of the manual settings. Sometimes this needs to be repeated a few times.

 

[DodgeCares]

Hi blackRTnTN,

I researched your symptoms and didn’t come across any TSBs related to them. Please be sure to keep us posted on how things go at the dealership.

 

[blackRTnTN]

Good news! Made an appointment and took the car in yesterday morning. Dropped it off at 8:30 and had a call around 2:30 that it was fixed. Problem was the recirculation door actuator. Total repair cost was less than the $100 deduc on the extended service contract so I was only out $86. Apparently where this one was located they were able to access it by removing the glove box and didn't have to tear the whole dash out. Anyhow, problem is fixed as the noise is gone and all is working properly now.

 

[DodgeCares]

Good news! Made an appointment and took the car in yesterday morning. Dropped it off at 8:30 and had a call around 2:30 that it was fixed. Problem was the recirculation door actuator. Total repair cost was less than the $100 deduc on the extended service contract so I was only out $86. Apparently where this one was located they were able to access it by removing the glove box and didn't have to tear the whole dash out. Anyhow, problem is fixed as the noise is gone and all is working properly now.

Great, happy to hear that! :bigthumb: Thanks for the update!