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Recirculation stopped working - button light still on

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:30 am
by Curlybandit
Hey everyone.

I believe that the function of the recirculating button has stopped. Previously when I would have my AC on and would press the recirculation button there was a clear and distinct sound difference as if a fan would come on to start recirculating the air. Perhaps a vent would close to recirculate. Now when I press the button, the light still comes on but there seems to be no activation of the recirculation function. It makes no difference whether it's on or off. Just to clarify, the setting is not on either of the defrost settings

Does anyone know what this may be?

Thanks.

Re: Recirculation stopped working - button light still on

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:35 pm
by ColonelPanic
More than likely the actuator's gears have stripped or now having missing teeth. Sometimes they will make popping noises and other times they just don't do anything. Ours has failed twice in 109,000 miles.

The part is readily available on Amazon, or you can try your luck with disassembling yours and flipping the gear such that the side in use now has good teeth.

See here for a starting point, and search around for other threads on the subject.
viewtopic.php?t=3435

Re: Recirculation stopped working - button light still on

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 1:50 pm
by lannvouivre
ColonelPanic wrote:The part is readily available on Amazon, or you can try tour luck with disassembling yours and flipping the gear such that the side in use now has good teeth.
A good way to get away with this is to be gentle with the actuator from then on. Always turn the fan off or to the low setting before switching between recirc and fresh air.

Re: Recirculation stopped working - button light still on

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:03 pm
by Curlybandit
Great info.

Thanks for the replies.