Hello all,

First time posting to this amazingly knowledgable site. Hopefully someone on here can help me. I have a 2012 lariat and the hvac system is not working properly. The passenger side works fine but the drivers side has no temp control at all. It either blows hot when it's warm or cold when it's cold. Dealership says it is the temp blend door actuator, which is fine, they know what the problem is. My problem with this is that they tell me that they have to remove the ENTIRE dash to fix the problem and it is going to cost me $800 + to repair it. While I don't have "that" much of an issue with that, I do have a huge problem with dash rattles in a truck that I love! Any advice out there or does anyone have a shortcut that doesn't require removing the entire dash,leaving myself vulnerable to rattles and ticks once it's reinstalled? Any help would be much appreciated!

Thank you and thank you for the wonderful site!

 

Leap of faith pretty much, and yes the entire dash has to come out to replace that part.

 

So are they pretty accurate with the cost of this job? Just curious. Thanks for the advice too! Are you a tech that has done this job before? Is it safe to assume that a qualified tech can do this and re-assemble and not have and noises after the job is done?

Thank you again!

 

You could do it yourself if you have common sense and a decent tool get-up. Get a repair manual. And yes, your dash most likely has to come out to get to the door. So I'm guessing it's not under warranty anymore?

 

Labor is right around 8 hrs and any tech with advanced training should have no problems. I have indeed pulled many dashboards to replace everything from evap and heater cores to the entire plenum chamber and/or dash wiring harness, etc...

Reminds me of a funny story, had a 2000 Lincoln Town car in my stall with a bad body harness that was under warranty, long story short he dropped by the shop one day while we were waiting on the part to come in and I have his car gutted to the sheet metal, all 4 doors, carpet, headliner, seats, dash, etc.... in one spot of the shop and his car a few feet away.

He said he needed something out of the glove box and before I had a chance to say anything he opened the door, the color instantly ran from his face, he was white as ghost. . It was difficult to not laugh and I said "your glove box is over here with the rest of the dash"

He stumbled over and got what he needed and left without a word, the whole shop busted out laughing soon as he left.

Anyway about 3 weeks later he came back for his regular maintenance and came over to me to explain his disbelief that his car didn't have the 1st rattle or squeak and he was sure it would have, shook my hand and thanked me and went on his way, he was a regular customer right up to the day I left the dealer.

I wouldn't attempt to do this job without prior experience as it can be challenging for the best tech not to mention the specialty equipment required to recover the Freon from the system and put it back in when done.

 

they are going to charge you what the book says this job will take, it will take them far less time to do! They always charge book time! Just the way it is unless you go to an independent shop.

 

Again... no warranty anymore?

 

51,000

 

All mechanic shops follow the Chilton labor guide, not just dealers.

 

Hmm well there is a great 20 year plus AC shop here in Houston that doesn't. When I had my 08, He quoted me about half of what the dealer wanted to replace a coil.

Just saying, they are out there, you just have to look!