Ok, I'm just hijacking this thread now..... I bought a new actuator, installed it as per the heater treater instructions and my AC isn't cold, I figured it was due to the fact that the hole in the bottom of the heater box was open. I taped it up with the aluminum tape and drove home at highway speeds but the AC never got super cold like it was.

I didn't replace the heater door, the stock plastic one still moved freely and didn't seem like it was broken however the bottom of the door is missing a little foam as I hit it with the dremel as I cut into the box. I don't think it was damaged enough to leave a gap when AC or heat is open.

One thing though, when the hole was there. The air was hot no matter what, AC or heat. I chocked this up to the fact that air no matter what will be hot as it is in contact with the coolant and all the door does is separate when the air passes through the core or condenser.

I am stumped as I don't think it could have developed a leak with only 4-5 years old. Any advice?

 

is your max ac setting colder?

 

Not by much. The coldest I could get my cabin tonight was 68*. The outside temp was about the same. Then it dawned on me maybe the AC settings won't let it get colder then the outside air temp.

The only thing I didn't do when installing it is disconnect the battery. I did earlier when I didn't know it was the actuator that was bad. But when I changed that, I didn't disconnect the battery thus resetting the temp heat and cold positions. The instructions did say that it would take a few cycles to "self adjust", I just can't tell if it's slowly getting there or the next time I turn it on it'll be fixed.

 

never heard of "resetting the positions". The temp dial produces a certain voltage at a certain position. That then tells the actuator where to move too. If its all put together properly you should be fine.

Now your other option is you have a ac leak and need it fixed.