Air Handling

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2021 Ford F-150. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

There are 4 door actuators that control the air flow into the passenger compartment:

Air distribution
Air inlet
Driver temperature
Passenger temperature

All of the door actuators contain a reversible electric motor and a potentiometer. The potentiometer circuit consists of a 5-volt reference signal connected to one end of a variable resistor, and a signal ground connected to the other. A signal circuit is connected to a contact wiper, which is driven along the variable resistor by the actuator shaft. The signal to the HVAC control module from the contact wiper indicates the actuator door position. The HVAC control module powers the actuator motors to move the doors to the desired positions. The desired door positions are calculated by the HVAC control module based on the requested temperature, in-vehicle temperature, ambient air temperature and sunload.

When an airflow mode, desired driver or passenger temperature, fresh air, or recirculation mode is selected, the HVAC control module moves the actuator motor in the desired direction.

The HVAC control module sends a PWM signal to the blower motor speed control to regulate the blower speed as necessary. The blower motor speed control provides variable ground feed for the blower motor based on the input from the HVAC control module. A delay function provides a gradual increase or decrease in blower motor speed under all conditions.