Doug McAllister/Under the Hood: Air blender motor fails
Q. I have a 2005 Grand Marquis with 61,000 miles (out of warranty, of course). I recently had to have the blender motor replaced because the old one stopped working. The cost: $864! Six hours labor at $114 per hour to remove the instrument panel, plus the part. This is a part inside the car, infrequently used to change air flow from warm to cool and not exposed to the elements.
I complained to Ford and got a computerized letter saying “sorry.” I complained to the car dealer from whom I have purchased three Grand Marquis since 1993 and been a regular customer and he gave me a $200 service credit, which was very nice but a long way from $864 for a seldom-used part that really should last forever.
In my complaint I pointed out that I had been involved with Ford for 26 years as a supplier, and they were a frequently unreasonable and demanding customer, which was OK as long as they make a product that is reliable. But this part had to be borderline defective when assembled into my car at the factory, and I know what happens if something isn’t to their convenience. I could not find a recall or TSB.
A. Blend door motors do fail from time to time. They can fail electrically or the gear on the end can shear; I have seen it both ways. You didn’t say, but I’m guessing your car has climate control so anytime the temperature is being adjusted, either by you or the computer, the blend motor is moving a blend door. There is also a mode door motor under there as well. As with any mechanical part these motors can fail for a multitude of reasons.
The problem with a blend door motor is what you have to go through to change it; the part itself is not too expensive. I am not sure you should be so hard on Ford. The various components on your car will fail from time to time. We have seen blend door motors fail but I can’t say it’s a common failure. I can’t take the sting of the $864 away but maybe my opinion will help bring some understanding to the circumstance.
Winter tire tips
As we head into the snowy season, I want to remind you to be sure your tires are in good shape. As the tread wears down, the gripping ability of the tires is greatly reduced. If your tires are marginal, less than 4/32nds of tread, now would be a good time to put a fresh set of hoops under your car.
If you drive a car equipped with performance tires, you may want to consider a winter tire and wheel package. A set of winter tires can make a performance car, which is otherwise virtually undrivable in the snow, handle quite well.
If you have an all-wheel drive vehicle, all four tires should be changed at the same time. The reason? If you mix new tires with worn tires on an all-wheel drive vehicle you can cause wear on the transfer case or cause a transmission code to trigger.
If your tires are in good shape, make sure you check the air pressure. As the temperature drops so will the air pressure in your tires. Low air pressure will rob you of fuel economy and tire life. When you’re checking the air pressure, be sure to check the air in the spare tire as it tends to be forgotten. There is only one thing worse than getting a flat tire and that’s going to put on the spare only to find out it’s flat.
As long as you’re at it, you might check to see that all the parts to the jack are there and that it all is working properly. If you have a sport utility vehicle with the tire underneath, make sure the winch still works and you can lower down the tire. The winches have a tendency to get seized up from lack of use.
A little preparation can save a whole bunch of aggravation!
Ÿ Douglas Automotive is at 312 S. Hager Ave., Barrington, (847) 381-0454, and 123 Virginia Road, Crystal Lake, (815) 356-0440. For information, visit douglasautomotive.com. Send questions to underthehood@dailyherald.com.