Mode Door Actuators

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Mercury Monterey and 2004 Ford Freestar. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The two mode door actuators:

include the air inlet door and defrost/panel/floor mode door actuators.
position the plenum doors to direct system airflow to the vehicle interior as determined by the EATC module settings.
contains a reversible electric motor
(defrost/panel/floor mode door actuator only) contains a potentiometer. The potentiometer wiper is connected to the actuator output shaft and moves with the output shaft to indicate the position of the mode door.
(defrost/panel/floor mode door actuator only) apply a 5 volt signal to one end of the potentiometer and ground to the other. The voltage available at the wiper indicates the position of the potentiometer. The expressed value of the actuator wiper voltage is sent to the EATC module and is matched with an expected wiper voltage value. The EATC module then drives the actuator motor in whichever direction is necessary to make the actuator wiper voltage agree with the expected EATC module wiper voltage value.