tonka329

Got an '01 20th AE and my A/C and heater is not working properly. I turn the fan on Hi and the blower is blowing but, nothing is coming out of the vents or defrost. Maybe a little bit of wind down by my ankle area. Is this a simple fix?

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

There is a small motor that moves a door inside the air ducts that will determine which openings the air come out of. The control panel in the dash will send power to the motor.

The control panel could be bad.
The motor could be bad.
The connecting link between the motor and the door in the air ducts could be off/broken.

Need to know if you have the auto climate control or the manual controls.

tonka329

To change the air flow directions is all push buttons. The only dial is for the fan speeds

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

OK, you have the manual controls. Here is a link to the section of the service manual on how to diagnose the mode door motor, the one that changes the outlet for the air. Start on page 185.

http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/2001/HA.pdf

tonka329

Thanks Dennis. I'll take a look at it today

tonka329

Well, after recent "button pushing," I hear the motor change direction and the pitch of the wind changes but, nothing comes out of the vents... To me it does not sound like the panel. Sounds like a certain door is not opening up??

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

We are still looking in the same area even though you can hear the mode door motor working. Take the mode door motor off and look at it when it is supposed to be changing the door inside the vents. Maybe it just makes noise and doesn't really move. While you have the motor off, see if you can move the door manually.

One of those 2 things isn't right.

tonka329

Ok. Sounds good

tonka329

Here is a video of the mode door motor working. Yes, I can move the door manually and it transfers to the floor... Still unsure where else to check?

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

This is getting weird. The motor works and you can move the door by hand, but when it is together, it doesn't work.

Have you tried to hold back the arm on the motor to see if maybe it doesn't have a lot of power? In the same concept, what you move the door by hand, is it real hard? Or could it have been that the arm of the motor slipped off of the door operating arm?

tonka329

I am wondering how the linkage above this motor works? Also, when I first tested this motor, i could stop it with my finger. Is there a small hole that part of this linkage is supposed to set into? I notice a metal arm with a tab on it. Not sure if it sets in a locking space

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

I went and unscrewed my mode door motor. My car is a 2000 but I don't think there is any difference in this particular part. My motor appears to be the same as yours. It started raining pretty hard and I quit before I got everything done that I wanted to do. I ran inside and didn't get a chance to see if I could stop my motor with my finger. But I could move the door itself very easily.

But I took a photo of my motor just hanging loose on the arm that goes between the motor and the air door. At the top of the connecting rod arm is a threaded nylon block for adjusting purposes. If I understand your question, you have me thinking that maybe this nylon connecting/adjusting piece broke.

edit: It stopped raining and I went out and tried the motor to see how powerful it was. It was pretty powerful. I'm sure that I was using over 10 pounds of pressure and it still kept turning.

tonka329

It is just to the left of the plastic tab the arm screws in to. There is a tab or pin on the metal linkage. Looks like that tab hooks onto another arm. I retested mine also and it has a good amount of force to move the arm. I marked it on your photo but, I can't find out how to post it

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

To post a photo on Maxima.org, you need to have the photo stored on some web site. Then you type the URL of the photo into your post. When you type in the URL, you have to put it in between tags so that it will display. Those tags are [img] and [/img]. Go to my post with the photo in it and click on QUOTE to see exactly how.

Seeing as to how you posted a video, you evidently have an account for storing photos.

tonka329

Thanks Dennis. The long slotted arm to the door was not in track. Thats what was keeping it from changing. Got that all put back in order and everything works great. I still think that motor is a bit weak at times. I have to change the directions sometimes for it to fully engage the direction i want it to go in...

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

Glad to hear that you figured it out.

You may have a bad motor because back in post # 11 you said that you could stop the motor arm with your finger. Unless you were using a lot of force, it shouldn't have stopped.

A new motor (part # 27741-7J100) from Nissan is about $45. If you have a junk yard near you, get the motor from there.

tonka329

I may grab one from the salvage yard just to make sure. Where could I get a new one from. Is it dealer only?

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

I don't know for certain, but I think a speciality motor like that is a dealer only part.

But on another note, since I think your motor is bad, it also means I could be wrong. Getting one from a salvage yard would be a less expensive mistake if the motor is not bad.

The motor was used in all years of the 5th gen Maxima and also in the Infiniti I30 & I35 years 2000 - 2003

tonka329

Sounds good. I'll go rob the one from an '02 at the Salvage yard