2002 Bonneville SSEI Air Mix actuator

[Bazza]

Hi Everyone:

I am having heater problems & it appears to be the Air Mix actuator. Both sides are pumping out the same amount of heat so it appears it is the main mix actuator. Is there anyone who can show me via picture which actuator this?

Is there a way that I can check it?

I can rule out themostat and both hoses to the heater core are quite hot.

Thanks!

[Archon]

With the dual zone automatic climate control, there is no one actuator that controls both sides. There is one for each side. What exactly are the symptoms? Too hot? Too cold? Driver's and passenger's side won't adjust?

[Bazza]

Hi Archon:

I am getting lukewarm air out of any of the settings or positions, with the temprature control set at full. If I turn both temp. controls down I do get slightly colder air. In laymans terms it seems like I am getting half warm air from the heaater core, and half the air is coming directly from outside. (If that makes sense?) Lets just say that the air coming through any of the vents is much colder than the temp of the heater core hoses.

I have checked the heater core and both hoses are hot. I replaced the thermostat (Made no difference).

Thi problem appeared around the same time I noticed the intake manifold gaskets were begining to leak. I thought perhaps an air lock had occured. I Changed the intake gaskets, have full coolant, and have checked the heater core hoses which are very warm. Engine Temp is also where it should be.

I should also add that It does appear that each side actuator is working (there is a difference in sound when I use either control to adjust up or down)

[Archon]

This will show you the locations of the air mix actuators, so you can check their operation.
Driver's


Passenger

[Bazza]

Archon:

Thanks so much. This is exactly what I needed!

I am suspecting it is the outside air inlet actuator that may be broken.

Baz

[Archon]

All that actuator does is decide whether the air comes from the outside, or recirculate the inside air.

[Bazza]

Archon:

So after much investigation I can find no reason for my cold heater air. All of the actuators appear to be doing what they are supposed to.

The outside temprature has climbed a great deal here and last night I was able to heat the car up enough so it was uncomfortably warm.

The only thing I can think of that might explain things was either I had an air lock in the heater core when this occured, (It happened when the intake manifold gaskets failed) or it was just too cold outside. (I even went to the trouble of removing the thermostat & placing it in a pot of boiling water, and heating the water up until the thermostat opened. It opened at 194 degrees)

Hopefully spring will come early. Thanks for the help though!

[Archon]

Does the dash gauge read normal engine temperatures? Although it is not real accurate, it can give you an idea of what the temperature is. It should sit right around 200.

These engines trap air pretty well. Bill Buttermore developed a procedure for refilling the cooling system to minimize, if not eliminate the problem.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... f=53&t=159

[00Beast]

try burping your cooling system. loosen the small screw on the top of the thermostat cover, and run the engine till a continuous stream of coolant comes out. Is your thermostat drilled? Is the hole at the highest point of the area where the thermostat sits in the intake manifold?

[Bazza]

My Thermostat is drilled, I will try the burping proceedure tomorrow.

Thanks guys.

[Bazza]

Guys:

Well it was something as simple as the thermostat. As it was the cheapest & easiest solution I replaced it and started getting heat once again. This was a new thermostat and while it was opening close to 195 degrees (I tested 3 of them in a pot of water with a digital thermometer) It was closing very slowly compared to the others (which I guess is almost as bad as opening too early)

I also used the bleed screw on installation this time. I did mention that both hoses seemed warm enough before.

Thanks for the help!

Baz