Rear HVAC actuator repair - snapped off shaft. What to do now?

[onesmartcookie]

Replaced stereo today and disconnected the battery. Damn, I should not have done that because the rear HVAC actuator started clicking again. Husband and I took rear panel apart and got to the actuator. When we took actuator off, post snapped off. Oh crap. We tried to glue it back together with epoxy but I know that will never hold. Anyone know what that shart part is called so I can locate a replacement part? View attachment 22449

 

[The_Roadie]

Assuming it's item #36 in this drawing, it's not just a shaft - it's the whole flap door you need to buy. Very strangely - the parts listing at GM Parts - Chevrolet Parts, Cadillac Parts, GMC Parts and Buick Parts powered by Nalley Buick GMC Brunswick | Nalley Buick GMC Brunswick cuts off at item #33 and doesn't list the door. It's a dealer-only part so you might as well go down there and have them look it up. And it's a BEAR to get at. You might try a very careful repair with JB Weld.

View attachment 22450

 

[onesmartcookie]

Dealer wants to sell items 35,37,36,9,8,7 all together as a kit for $100. I won't even need any of those other parts. Not very 'green' of GM, is it? Hubby on his way to Lowe's to get JB Weld now. May try to screw a tiny narrow screw through it as well...

 

[onesmartcookie]

As I am digging into this rear HVAC, I started to wonder the worth of that door. What if we just remove it? We live in AZ and only use the a/c anyway. If the door #36 were not there, would it be a problem? Thanks in advance for your response.

 

[The_Roadie]

$100 is a screaming deal for that assembly. Amazing they're trying to dump obsolete, slow-moving parts for a discount instead of their normal list price. That's intelligent.

If you never intend to use heat back there or sell it into a location that may want it, you can always glue the door into the AC position. Yes. No downside. Then you can sell the actuator and make a couple of bucks back. Oooops, not anymore.

Using a tiny drill for a pilot hole, then a small screw, is exactly what I'd do if I had an EXT and your problem.

 

[Harpo]

I would be very interested in that actuator if you decide to glue the door.

 

[onesmartcookie]

Sorry Harpo, we put the truck back together witht he actuator inside, disconnected the flap door. Since we don't need heat that often (we live in AZ) I made the executive decision to let it stay broken for now. At least it is not clicking. Thanks to the help of Roadie through some extra special attention, the blower motor and rear vents are blowing cool now. (xoxo Roadie!) This has taught me a very valuable lesson to never, ever disconnect the battery again. I may try to get the 'flappy door' from a salvage yard. What would I do without this website? Thanks to all.

 

[mrjean]

hey roadie..would jb weld work for the mode actuator shaft? same concept...it broke off. however to get the actuator back on i feel like i have to bang it in place once the shaft is cured with jb weld. any pointers? any part number for it?

any any idea on which jb weld? theres a whole ton of them.

 

[DocBrown]

I'm a little surprised that it doesn't work. I broke one of mine off the same way and there was enough of the splines there to fit in the actuator and it works fine. Of course I have since bypassed both the rear a/c and heat...

 

[The_Roadie]

Sorry, no direct experience on JB Weld variants or gluing this material. I've really never had a bad experience with the normal metal JB Weld, though.