No heat on driver side

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GRKN

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I have no heat on driver side top or bottom, air blowing but cold. Passenger side has great heat. I've messed with all 3 actuators I can get to (1 behind the glovebox and 2 behind the center console), the doors are moving fine and not stuck. The most confusing part is, it's not dual zone, just an SLT single cab. I'm stumped, any ideas? Like I said the 3 doors I can get to are moving fine, but I've heard there's a total of 5 actuators, I have no idea where the other 2 are.
 

Burla

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Plastic gears in the blend door would be my guess.
 

crash68

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similar issue has been reported multiple times usually in HD trucks(which are also built in Mexico), it's possibly a plugged heater core. Sometimes it can be back flushed out but some require replacement.
 
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GRKN

GRKN

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Plastic gears in the blend door would be my guess.
Are you talking about inside the actuator unit or are there other gears? I removed the actuators and flipped the door shafts by hand, I can hear them opening and clapping shut. So actuator and doors being stuck I believe can be checked off the list.
 
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GRKN

GRKN

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similar issue has been reported multiple times usually in HD trucks(which are also built in Mexico), it's possibly a plugged heater core. Sometimes it can be back flushed out but some require replacement.
Others have said the same thing, but I don't see how that's possible as there's great heat on the passenger side top and bottom, but none at all on driver side. It's not dual zone either like I said.
 

crash68

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@GRKN unless the temperature blend door has broken in half, your truck only has one so that can rule it out. Another issue could be partial blockage of the heater core causing heat to come out of part of it.
Get yourself a bore scope and inspect the face of the heater core to rule out something external blocking part of the core.
Other have reported the same half-n-half heat issue and replacement of the heater core resolved the problem.
 

bigdodge

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It's the heater core. Even on the single zone the driver's air passes over the lower half of the core and the passenger over the top. The lower half is clogged and why the passenger side is hot. I changed mine 2 years ago and it's already noticably cooler on the driver's side. OTC 6043 Blast-Vac Multipurpose Cleaning Gun https://a.co/d/aPTweMz

This might work for you
 
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GRKN

GRKN

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It's the heater core. Even on the single zone the driver's air passes over the lower half of the core and the passenger over the top. The lower half is clogged and why the passenger side is hot. I changed mine 2 years ago and it's already noticably cooler on the driver's side. OTC 6043 Blast-Vac Multipurpose Cleaning Gun https://a.co/d/aPTweMz

This might work for you
That makes sense, thanks a lot!

I already pulled the dash, now that it's off I see I have to take off the steel frame behind it also... I think I got all the bolts, but on the driver side there's what appears to be some sort of a massive rivet holding the frame to the cab, anyone have any idea how I'm supposed to get that off? it's all that's holding it as far as I can tell, idk why they didn't just do another bolt. Can't find any decent videos on 4th gens that go any further then taking the dash off which I've already done obviously.
 

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GRKN

GRKN

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These videos walk you thru it pretty good, there's four of them.

That was a very helpful series, thank you! Turns out I had missed 2 small bolts under the steering column, that rivet looking thing was just a hook to line things up.

I decided to try flushing the core first before I dig into the heater box and have to deal with freon.
 

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I have always checked to see if the Motorcity Mechanic has done a video on some thing that i have wondered about, every one else is a close second best
 
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GRKN

GRKN

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Flushed the heater core and I now have very hot heat on both sides!

For any others with the same issue, here’s what I did. Disconnect the heater core lines at the water pump, directed one to a drain pan and poured water into the other, then blew it threw with an air compressor in short spurts. Did that several times both ways (didn’t know which was in and out lol), then with both hoses held up as high as possible I poured in CLR (calcium, lime, rust remover for those who don’t know) and let it sit in there for about 30 minutes. Then drained that out and rinsed several times with distilled water blowing it through with the air compressor. Finally I reversed the hoses when reconnecting for a long term back flush and after dealing with some air bubbles it’s nice and toasty!
 

TinaKotek

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What a great resolve, I am having the same issue and already did a flush/backflush but did not try the CLR - going to give it another go with your method before resorting to pulling the dash/heater core change. cheers
 

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Back flushing have me hotter then hell heat whereas b4 i had none on drivers side BUT plenty on passenger
 

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