Hey everyone, I have a 2010 Toyota Sienna with separate climate controls for the driver and passenger sides. When I turn on the AC, it blows nice and cold on the passenger side but just tepid (or sometimes warm) on the driver’s side. If I crank the temp to high, it heats equally on both sides. Has anyone dealt with this before? What’s the likely fix?
Sounds like the driver’s side blend door actuator is sticking. It might not be moving through its full range.
Vern said:
Sounds like the driver’s side blend door actuator is sticking. It might not be moving through its full range.
Ah, that makes sense. Is replacing it a tough job?
Vern said:
Sounds like the driver’s side blend door actuator is sticking. It might not be moving through its full range.
It’s not terrible, but it’s a tight space to work in. If you’ve done one before, you’ll know what I mean!
Before replacing it, you could try lubricating the actuator. Sometimes that frees it up.
Darwin said:
Before replacing it, you could try lubricating the actuator. Sometimes that frees it up.
I tried that on a similar issue in the past. Worked for about a week, lol. Probably better to just replace it.
Darwin said:
Before replacing it, you could try lubricating the actuator. Sometimes that frees it up.
Yeah, if it’s already sticking, replacement is probably the way to go. Saves you doing the job twice.
When you reverse the settings, does the passenger side still work fine?
Weston said:
When you reverse the settings, does the passenger side still work fine?
Yep, the passenger side always works as expected. It’s just the driver’s side that’s off.
Weston said:
When you reverse the settings, does the passenger side still work fine?
Then it’s almost definitely the blend door actuator on the driver’s side. Common issue with these.
Did you try resetting the system by pressing Auto and Sync and running it from max heat to max cool?
SolomonMark said:
Did you try resetting the system by pressing Auto and Sync and running it from max heat to max cool?
Yeah, I tried that. It didn’t fix it, but it did seem to make the air on the driver’s side slightly cooler afterward.
SolomonMark said:
Did you try resetting the system by pressing Auto and Sync and running it from max heat to max cool?
That’s interesting. Maybe the actuator moved a bit but still isn’t working fully. Replacement seems like your best bet.
FYI, if you’re replacing the actuator, make sure to get the exact part number for your model. There are variations.
Dorian said:
FYI, if you’re replacing the actuator, make sure to get the exact part number for your model. There are variations.
Good call! I’ll double-check before I order anything. Thanks for the tip.