Ford Explorer Questions - 2015 Ford Explorer Limited stuck in defrost mode (2024)

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Can you point to one? All the ones I could find were for blend actuators, or were for older generation Explorers.

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Just changed mine it's a 14 and it is located against the center console, accessed through the cover under the steering wheel. It is a royal pain just FYI I replaced it and mine is still stuck on defrost unfortunately. That silver colored screw is the bottom of the three.

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Thanks GuruL1R6C. I believe the part you changed is a temperature blend for the drivers side (assuming dual-zone). I was unable to find anything helpful online. I have located the mode door actuator, and am confident it cannot be accessed without removing the dash. With the dash removed, it is difficult to access. It is on the upper-left of the duct stack, above the one you replaced. I could not see it from the steering wheel opening. I have not replaced yet, so cannot confirm the fix at the moment. This is not a job for the faint of heart! I will try follow-up and add a pic with the new part in place.

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Success. I will attach a few pics. There are three screws in the mode door actuator. Rumor is that it can be changed through the IPC (instrument cluster) opening if you remove the brake pedal assembly. I did not try that and two of the screws are a challenge due to a very large wire harness, even when you can see the from above. There is a screw upper left, and two upper and lower right. The last pic shows the actuator through the right side of the cluster opening.

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First pic looking from top of dash. Actuator is the lower 2 screws you can see in the pic.

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The second pic is zoomed out. You can see the dash raised for access.

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Third pic is looking through the instrument cluster opening. Actuator is upper right.

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Fourth pic is zoomed in looking through the instrument cluster.

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Now, I can successfully change between defrost, front vents, floor vents.

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FYI, the actuator for the Mode door is a AA5Z-19E616-A or YH-1769. This is different than the blend actuators that are AA5Z-19E616-C or YH-1779. I replaced both of those as well while the dash was apart (as preventative maintenance). I did not replace the recirc actuator as it is easily replaced later if needed.

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I just did the job twice there are about 54 bolts and 30 or 40 electrical connections. Get a Ford part if your going to do it!! I got the best one I could at autozone and it failed in a week !!

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2016 Explorer Ltd - don't pull the dash... both the upper (mode door) and lower (blend door) can be replaced by removing the knee bolster trim & plate, steering column shroud and cluster. About 13 bolts, 3 wiring connectors (including the one on the mode door) and about an hour you'll be done. You will need a good selection of extensions, swivel magnetic shallow sockets and a low profile 90° 1/4" hex adapter to get in there and reach things. Assuming this would be same for numerous model years as well-

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You got any pictures to go with this?

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I was able to replace the upper actuator by removing the lower kick panel, steering column surround, brake light switch, cluster surround and cluster itself. The upper forward most screw is the most difficult because you can't see it well and there is a wire cluster that makes it hard to get the socket squared up on the screw. I used a flexible cable type 1/4" extension with a swivel and about 16" of other random extensions to have a good angle to get it out by accessing it through the cluster hole. pay attention to the position of the actuator that you removed to make replacement easier by indexing the actuator in the same position. I applied 9v to the right and left pins to rotate the actuator into proper position. Not sure if that is needed but it made it easier to line up and slipped right into place. It took about an hour and a half and was a pain in the butt but not awfully difficult. It helps if you have small-medium hands and are a contortionist to do this job without taking apart the whole dash.

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This guy on Youtube, Burn_1327 has this process nailed down. It looks like you can do it by removing the instrument panel cluster and some of the lower shroud pieces. Check it out and thank you Burn_1327https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIDLq4jLZXE

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It says this is a private video. I'm interested because I replaced my the blend door actuators thinking it would fix the problem. Still wont change from front to defrost or feet.

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Also what does the part look like? I have been trying to find one and can only find the blend actuators.

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A2D4X4/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_ZVZWEb6B9CBVK. That is the part. It's just an actuator. They use different ones. This one controls where the air flows from, defrost, face, feet. You can do it without removing the dash or the pedal assembly of you have patience and enough 1/4" extensions, swivels, etc.

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Awesome! Thanks!

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Anyone have the video on how it explains how to replace the mode door actuator without removing the whole dash? The video now says private...

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I need to do the same repair. Any advice on how to remove the trim from around the instrument cluster or other tips for replacing the mode door actuator without dash removal?

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Gurum8866 type this on YouTube Burn_1327 he has a video on how to change the door actuator without – removal. You can also try to get a long screwdriver and hitting the actuator I'm underneath to get it to work. This is where the part is located you can try to tap it.

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Is there a fuse I should check first for the vent actuator?

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I have the same problem on my wife's 15 explorer xlt. Stuck at the face. I recently broke the transciever (on the ignition) so the anti theft was going nuts. I replaced it and got the car running after the anti theft allowed it. Before, everything worked just fine on it. Now after the blower won't switch. No way the actuator went out like that. Possibly anything else?

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I did this repair today. I watched Burn1327 video about five times first. It’s a lifesaver. He’s right it’s a major pain but it worked. The 9v battery trick to position the drive gear is legend.

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Is there a manual way to move the door until I get the courage to use Burn1327’s method? I would much rather have this thing stuck on face than defrost until then!

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I exchanged the defrost and both blend door actuators and have two issues:1-the defrost door works fine however their is no airflow from the 2nd row overhead vents when the fan speed is medium up to high. I do have airflow at the lower settings.2-the blend doors worked fine before replacing the defrost actuator..even after changing both blend doors did not solve the problem. Both blend doors do change position but only when the temp setting is ‘LO’ or “HI’….nothing in between. What could cause this? Is there anyway to reset the actuators/climate system? I have a 2015 xlt.