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GLE Class (V167) Produced 2020 to present

Climate Blend Door Actuator Is Stuck: cold air on driver's, hot air on passenger side

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Old Mar 23, 2023 | 11:41 PM
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Climate Blend Door Actuator Is Stuck: cold air on driver's, hot air on passenger side

I think my climate zone control blend door actuator is stuck where the driver's side vents only blow cold air and the passenger side only hot air. Has anyone else had this issue? I've read the actuator going out on other models on these forums but nothing for V167.

Last edited by wildta; Mar 24, 2023 at 08:48 PM.
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Old Mar 24, 2023 | 10:22 AM
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One trick I read in the other threads is to change the temp, max heat to max low, many times to get it unstuck but that didn't work for me.
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Old Mar 24, 2023 | 08:48 PM
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Well today it ended up fixing itself. Whew!
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Old Mar 27, 2023 | 12:30 PM
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I've never encountered this issue, but why not take it to the dealership and have them change it under warranty?

Although it may have fixed itself now, that does not mean the issue won't come up again and this way you would have a written service record of it.
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Old Mar 28, 2023 | 08:42 AM
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Originally Posted by wildta
I think my climate zone control blend door actuator is stuck where the driver's side vents only blow cold air and the passenger side only hot air. Has anyone else had this issue? I've read the actuator going out on other models on these forums but nothing for V167.
Might have to do with this: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...ing-issue.html
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Old Mar 28, 2023 | 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by makris0000
I've never encountered this issue, but why not take it to the dealership and have them change it under warranty?

Although it may have fixed itself now, that does not mean the issue won't come up again and this way you would have a written service record of it.
You're 100% right. The more we report on issues (even the small ones that fix themselves), the more likely a technical service bulletin will get pushed out. It might also help engineers for future models become more robust in design.

Last edited by wildta; Mar 28, 2023 at 10:19 AM.
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Old Mar 28, 2023 | 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by wildta
You're 100% right. The more we report on issues (even the small ones that fix themselves), the more likely a technical service bulletin will get pushed out. It might also help engineers for future models become more robust in design.
Exactly. It makes them aware that more and more people are having these issues which will then cause the manufacturers to look into them and proceed accordingly. I have had quite a few TSBs performed on my GLE.
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Old Apr 21, 2023 | 05:33 AM
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Originally Posted by makris0000
Exactly. It makes them aware that more and more people are having these issues which will then cause the manufacturers to look into them and proceed accordingly. I have had quite a few TSBs performed on my GLE.
Mentioned it to dealer and they went ahead and replaced it. It's a no joke process of taking most of the dash apart to get to it.
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Old Apr 23, 2023 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by wildta
Mentioned it to dealer and they went ahead and replaced it. It's a no joke process of taking most of the dash apart to get to it.
Ouch, I really hope that doesn't introduce rattles in the cabin and they got the fitment perfect.
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Old Apr 23, 2023 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Ouch, I really hope that doesn't introduce rattles in the cabin and they got the fitment perfect.
They took some pics of the process and I think it's rather difficult to introduce rattles since everything is locked down so securely in the first place. But crossing my fingers.
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Old Apr 24, 2023 | 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by wildta
They took some pics of the process and I think it's rather difficult to introduce rattles since everything is locked down so securely in the first place. But crossing my fingers.
Really hope it is like you said and no rattles were introduced, glad they finally got it fixed though.
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Old Apr 24, 2023 | 08:39 AM
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Originally Posted by wildta
One trick I read in the other threads is to change the temp, max heat to max low, many times to get it unstuck but that didn't work for me.
Having the same issue but in the rear left pillar (car is equipped with 4-zone HVAC). Any thoughts?
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Old Apr 24, 2023 | 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by djgiovanni
Having the same issue but in the rear left pillar (car is equipped with 4-zone HVAC). Any thoughts?
Mine fixed itself when I had it detailed and I attributed it to the detailer blowing out the vents with his air compressor but can't confirm 100%. If your vehicle sat on the lot for awhile, I think that's how they get stuck. A believe the blend door for the 4-zone might be somewhere underneath center console. Like mentioned above, just mention it to the dealer so they can keep track of it.

Edit: one more thing to try is close all of the unaffected vents, put fan on high, and then toggle max cold and max heat back and forth many times.

Last edited by wildta; Apr 24, 2023 at 10:27 AM.
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Old Apr 24, 2023 | 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by wildta
Mine fixed itself when I had it detailed and I attributed it to the detailer blowing out the vents with his air compressor but can't confirm 100%. If your vehicle sat on the lot for awhile, I think that's how they get stuck. A believe the blend door for the 4-zone might be somewhere underneath center console. Like mentioned above, just mention it to the dealer so they can keep track of it.

Edit: one more thing to try is close all of the unaffected vents, put fan on high, and then toggle max cold and max heat back and forth many times.
Will give that a try
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Old Apr 24, 2023 | 01:19 PM
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Originally Posted by djgiovanni
Will give that a try
Nothing.
Have an appointment on Wednesday at the dealership. Thank you!
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Old Apr 25, 2023 | 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by djgiovanni
Nothing.
Have an appointment on Wednesday at the dealership. Thank you!
​​​​​​Got mine back just yesterday. It's nice to know I have a new one. The workmanship seemed good and everything back in place as it should with no scratches on the leather dash. Work order adds up to around 8 labor hours to get into my dash.

​​​​​​ @djgiovanni do make sure to take pics beforehand of your center console or wherever they think they might have to open up just in case. I did because I was dealing with a different dealership. Wanted to hold them accountable should any new scratches appear.

Had a blast with the EQB loaner. The instant torque is addictive.
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Old May 4, 2023 | 03:25 PM
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I got a call today from my service advisor informing they had "duplicated" the problem where the rear left A/C vents are blowing warm while the right one are blowing cold. They said the culprit is a bad stepper motor which has been ordered.
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Old May 4, 2023 | 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by djgiovanni
I got a call today from my service advisor informing they had "duplicated" the problem where the rear left A/C vents are blowing warm while the right one are blowing cold. They said the culprit is a bad stepper motor which has been ordered.
I wonder what the difference is btwn a stepper and actuator. My dealer left the bad part for me, I tossed it but should have snapped some photos. When I Google stepper motor, it also shows some actuator motors and they both look a little similar.

My device looked very similar to the one on the left. It's small, fits in the palm of your hand.


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Old May 4, 2023 | 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by wildta
I wonder what the difference is btwn a stepper and actuator. My dealer left the bad part for me, I tossed it but should have snapped some photos. When I Google stepper motor, it also shows some actuator motors and they both look a little similar.

Same thing. Hopefully won't take long.
I believe this is in the rear console where the HVAC controls are opposed to the front dashboard.
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Old May 21, 2023 | 01:01 AM
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Originally Posted by wildta
I wonder what the difference is btwn a stepper and actuator. My dealer left the bad part for me, I tossed it but should have snapped some photos. When I Google stepper motor, it also shows some actuator motors and they both look a little similar.

My device looked very similar to the one on the left. It's small, fits in the palm of your hand.

similar issue at my end, did they tell you which steeper / actuator motor did they replace? The May be on the service record.
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Old May 21, 2023 | 12:40 PM
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For my GLE they replaced this stepper actuator motor: Actuator - Mercedes-Benz (099-906-52-04)
https://www.mboemparts.com/oem-parts...ator-999065204

And distributor housing distributor Housing - Mercedes-Benz (167-830-27-05)
https://classicparts.mbusa.com/oem-p...ing-1678302705

Here's work order:
Pg 1

Pg 2

Pg 3
​​​​​​If you add it all up, I think it was around 12hrs of labor. I don't know if all of it was necessary since you might know the exact problem of the stepper actuator or distributor housing. I was surprised they went ahead and replaced it since the problem fixed itself. It makes me feel better that they did though.

Last edited by wildta; May 21, 2023 at 12:43 PM.
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Old May 23, 2023 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by wildta
For my GLE they replaced this stepper actuator motor: Actuator - Mercedes-Benz (099-906-52-04)
https://www.mboemparts.com/oem-parts...ator-999065204

And distributor housing distributor Housing - Mercedes-Benz (167-830-27-05)
https://classicparts.mbusa.com/oem-p...ing-1678302705

Here's work order:
Pg 1

Pg 2

Pg 3
​​​​​​If you add it all up, I think it was around 12hrs of labor. I don't know if all of it was necessary since you might know the exact problem of the stepper actuator or distributor housing. I was surprised they went ahead and replaced it since the problem fixed itself. It makes me feel better that they did though.
Wow 12 hours, that is pretty time consuming to do and like you said glad they replaced it, at least you know it will have a known good unit, opposed to trying to repair the existing one.
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Old May 22, 2024 | 09:22 AM
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Climate control

I have experienced almost the same problem. When on auto, it works fine for a short while, like 10 minutes, and then after that, it starts blowing warm air; it doesn't matter what the outside temperature is or what it is set on, and it just gets hotter. Only way to stop it is to reduce the temperature to "low" and take it off auto. I went to the dealer twice, and they can't seem to find the problem. I assume they did not drive the vehicle.
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Old May 23, 2024 | 04:43 AM
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W167 2021 GLE63S, W223 2022 S580
21 63 is being repaired at the dealer for this issue presently. Plus replacing the wood dash (cracks) and to replace the oil pressure valve in the engine.
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Old May 23, 2024 | 03:29 PM
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Wow..12 hrs at $275/hr + parts would be like $4,500 repair! Scary after warranty for sure. I have seen this HVAC "unit" out of the car, heater core, evaporator core and associated ducting and everything has to come out to get to it.
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