Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 2510

DR
EVAPORATOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR (Continued)
(2) Assemble the HVAC housing (Refer to 24 -
HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/
HVAC HOUSING - ASSEMBLY).
(3) Connect the HVAC wire harness connector to
the evaporator temperature sensor.
(4) Install the HVAC housing (Refer to 24 - HEAT-
ING & AIR CONDITIONING/DISTRIBUTION/HVAC
HOUSING - INSTALLATION).
(5) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
MODE DOOR ACTUATOR
DESCRIPTION
The mode door actuator is a reversible 12-volt
Direct Current (DC) servo motor. The mode door
actuator is located on the HVAC housing, behind the
instrument panel and is mechanically connected to
the mode door.
The mode door actuator is interchangeable with
the actuators for the blend door(s), defrost door and
the recirculation door. Each actuator is contained
within an identical black molded plastic housing with
an integral wire connector receptacle. Integral
mounting tabs allow the actuator to be secured with
three screws to the HVAC housing. Each actuator
also has an identical output shaft with splines that
connects it to the linkage that drives the proper door.
The mode door actuator does not require mechanical
indexing to the mode door linkage, as it is electroni-
cally calibrated by the heater-A/C control module.
The mode door actuator cannot be adjusted or
repaired and, if damaged or faulty, it must be
replaced.
OPERATION
The mode door actuator is connected to the A/C-
heater control through the vehicle electrical system
by a dedicated two-wire lead and connector from the
HVAC wire harness. The mode door actuator can
move the mode door in two directions. When the A/C-
heater control pulls the voltage on one side of the
motor connection high and the other connection low,
the mode door will move in one direction. When the
A/C-heater control reverses the polarity of the volt-
age to the motor, the mode door moves in the oppo-
site direction. When the A/C-heater control makes
the voltage to both connections high or both connec-
tions low, the mode door stops and will not move.
These same motor connections also provide a feed-
back signal to the A/C-heater control. This feedback
signal allows the A/C-heater control to monitor the
operation and relative position of the mode door
actuator and the mode door. The A/C-heater control
learns the mode door stop positions during the cali-
bration procedure and will store a diagnostic trouble
code (DTC) for any problems it detects in the mode
door actuator circuits.
The mode door actuator can be diagnosed using a
DRBIII scan tool. Refer to Body Diagnostic Proce-
dures for more information. The mode door actuator
cannot be adjusted or repaired and, if damaged or
faulty, it must be replaced.
REMOVAL
WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR-
BAGS, DISABLE THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BEFORE
ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING
COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT
DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. DISCONNECT AND ISO-
LATE THE BATTERY NEGATIVE (GROUND) CABLE,
THEN WAIT TWO MINUTES FOR THE AIRBAG SYS-
TEM CAPACITOR TO DISCHARGE BEFORE PER-
FORMING FURTHER DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. THIS
IS THE ONLY SURE WAY TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG
SYSTEM. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRE-
CAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIR-
BAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL
INJURY.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) Remove the instrument panel from the vehicle
(Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/IN-
STRUMENT PANEL ASSEMBLY - REMOVAL).
(3) Disconnect the wire harness connector from the
mode door actuator (Fig. 22).
(4) Remove the screws that secure the mode door
actuator to the HVAC housing.
(5) Remove the mode door actuator from the HVAC
housing.
INSTALLATION
(1) Position the mode door actuator onto the HVAC
housing. If necessary, rotate the actuator slightly to
align the splines on the actuator output sleeve with
those on the mode door linkage.
(2) Install and tighten the screws that secure the
mode door actuator to the HVAC housing. Tighten
the screws to 2 N·m (17 in. lbs.).
(3) Connect the HVAC wire harness connector to
the mode door actuator.
(4) Install the instrument panel (Refer to 23 -
BODY/INSTRUMENT
PANEL ASSEMBLY - INSTALLATION).
(5) Reconnect the battery negative cable.
CONTROLS 24 - 23
PANEL/INSTRUMENT