238k FiST

[FiSTY]

That sucks. I wasn't a fan of the process, I don't want to do it again, but I will when it breaks again. I listened to clicking for what felt like an eternity before just busting knuckles a bit and attempting contortionism to fix it.

I heard on here that they might've fixed it for 2019 🤞 So far I've managed 2yrs ~17k miles with no issue. Running with the temp set at 69 auto (yes, I'm immature af)... that's in Ohio, so often times heat and air same day.

 

[Capri to ST]

I have a YouTube how-to video bookmarked for the last 2.5 years waiting for the inevitable. Doesn't look too bad if your triple jointed, LOL!

I reviewed the thread on blend door actuators after mine made a click, and remember that there are two or three of them. The one behind the glove compartment is apparently quite easy to get to and fix. I think the one you may be talking about that's really difficult to fix is the one behind the steering column.

 

[skold]

I heard on here that they might've fixed it for 2019 🤞 So far I've managed 2yrs ~17k miles with no issue. Running with the temp set at 69 auto (yes, I'm immature af)... that's in Ohio, so often times heat and air same day.

Here's hoping on the 2019!!!

 

[M-Sport fan]

It doesn't default on the physical settings on the controls, it defaults inside via the blend door actuator.

I can see when I turn on the hvac after starting the car that it shows that it's set to floor, but I feel the air first through the dashboard vents. After about 5 seconds, the blend door does its thing and switches to what I had it set to.

This is why peeps will most often hear the clicking when they start the car and left the HVAC setting set to anything other than "vent".

What about if one leaves the whole system TOTALLY OFF when shutting down, and not on ANY setting at all (as well as never turning it on at all while driving)?

Does this help 'save' those plastic gears, or is there much movement of the mechanism anyway??

 

[The Cuzi]

I have a YouTube how-to video bookmarked for the last 2.5 years waiting for the inevitable. Doesn't look too bad if your triple jointed, LOL!

Yep. I took the torx and mated it to a socket. Then I did the stereotypical three u-joints with extensions all over the place. Made it very slow having to reset the torx again and again but it is doable.

I reviewed the thread on blend door actuators after mine made a click, and remember that there are two or three of them. The one behind the glove compartment is apparently quite easy to get to and fix. I think the one you may be talking about that's really difficult to fix is the one behind the steering column.

Yep, that's the one that sucks.

 

[The Cuzi]

What about if one leaves the whole system TOTALLY OFF when shutting down, and not on ANY setting at all (as well as never turning it on at all while driving)?
Does this help 'save' those plastic gears, or is there much movement of the mechanism anyway??

Maybe? I think it's just a weak part. It might fail on the 100th cycle or the 15,000th cycle. I don't think there is enough consistency within the manufacturing of the plastic product that you would be able to repeatably test and quantify one solution or another. I know that once the little bastard failed on my FiST it would continue to click through it's cycle even if I had the climate control in the "off" position.

 

[M-Sport fan]

I already had the 'impossible to do' one (I think?) replaced under factory warranty, but am just trying to stave off having to do it myself 'next time', since I get really sick and nauseous working/contorting while upside down in confined spaces (I was sick for hours after doing just the effing cabin filter).

 

[skold]

Maybe? I think it's just a weak part. It might fail on the 100th cycle or the 15,000th cycle. I don't think there is enough consistency within the manufacturing of the plastic product that you would be able to repeatably test and quantify one solution or another. I know that once the little bastard failed on my FiST it would continue to click through it's cycle even if I had the climate control in the "off" position.

You'd think or hope someone would have come up with an aftermarket metal replacement part or something that would be a permanent fix.

 

[FiSTerMr]

What about if one leaves the whole system TOTALLY OFF when shutting down, and not on ANY setting at all (as well as never turning it on at all while driving)?

Does this help 'save' those plastic gears, or is there much movement of the mechanism anyway??

I think if you leave it off all the time, it won't wear out. Once it's in the default (vent) position it will stay there.

Maybe I'm lucky, but mine is still going good at over 22k.... Won't be long before my luck runs out. I better stop talking about it now, if I know it's good for me. [emoji55]

 

[The Cuzi]

You'd think or hope someone would have come up with an aftermarket metal replacement part or something that would be a permanent fix.

Agreed, but I can't imagine enough people wanting to purchase to make this worthwhile. My guess is if there was a way to profit off of a stronger part we would have already seen it on Whoosh.

 

[Speed90]

My 2019 has almost 33k and no blend door actuator problems. I almost always have the setting to "Auto".

 

[M-Sport fan]

You'd think or hope someone would have come up with an aftermarket metal replacement part or something that would be a permanent fix.

Supposedly, the Dorman replacement part does 'improve upon' the design , but it still uses some form of plastic for the gears, not metal.

 

[FiSTerMr]

Supposedly, the Dorman replacement part does 'improve upon' the design , but it still uses some form of plastic for the gears, not metal.

Maybe it will rust out, and they don't want to spend the extra money on stainless...

 

[FiSTerMr]

My 2019 has almost 33k and no blend door actuator problems. I almost always have the setting to "Auto".

I wonder how the system works with Auto, in terms of the blend door actuator.... I always hate that setting in cars, it never seems to get me comfortable, idky.

 

[The Cuzi]

My 2019 has almost 33k and no blend door actuator problems. I almost always have the setting to "Auto".

I think mine failed somewhere around 50 or 60k. Obviously, the true count here is cycles on the system versus miles on the car, but I think mine happened in proximity to the 3,000th start-up cycle. 3k is a SWAG just using an approximate average per day by duration to failure.

 

[iammacey]

Supposedly, the Dorman replacement part does 'improve upon' the design , but it still uses some form of plastic for the gears, not metal.

I have the Dorman still in the box for when mine fails again. I tried to get Ford to do the warranty work, cover the labor, and I would provide the part... But no. They had to replace with OEM. So once it fails again, I'll throw the Dorman in.

 

[flbchbm]

what’s up fellas? Proud owner of 238k FiST here. Still on OG motor.
From Pearland, TX.

Welcome to the machine, Tex.

 

[E34less]

I heard on here that they might've fixed it for 2019 🤞 So far I've managed 2yrs ~17k miles with no issue. Running with the temp set at 69 auto (yes, I'm immature af)... that's in Ohio, so often times heat and air same day.

I don't think they quite got it. My 19 made it about 18 months and 12k miles before the clicking started.

 

[flbchbm]

I don't think they quite got it. My 19 made it about 18 months and 12k miles before the clicking started.

Wow...my 19 has two years of use, 11.8k miles, I use the air and change up dash to feet all the time. I'm either lucky or due..? lol

 

[E34less]

Wow...my 19 has two years of use, 11.8k miles, I use the air and change up dash to feet all the time. I'm either lucky or due..? lol

Both my 16 and my 19 had a blend door fail in the first 2 years, so I'd say you're on borrowed time. It is covered by the 3/36 warranty at least.