1998 Lincoln Mark VIII Blend Air Actuator Temp Fix

[tjernagel]

If heat starts coming out and the grey arm is still attached to the wire, you will know it's the blend air actuator that is broken higher up. I have 2 Mark VIII's. One has the broken blend air door actuator as shown in the video and the other one has the grey lever broken. It was a faulty system. Leave some feedback. I'd like to know what you find.

[tjernagel]

Look towards the center of the car behind the radio and AC controller. Behind them you will see a grey actuator arm attached with a wire. This arm can break. Once you find it, with the car running and heat on, grab it and pull it towards the passenger door for heat or towards the driver door for AC. It only moves about 5mm or 6mm so don't put too much force on it.

[tjernagel]

It probably is the blend air door, either the actuator or the arm the motor drives. Either can break. One check is to open glove box remove the wire supporting the glove box from inside the glove box ( it slides down so you dont need to remove the string ). Next pull the tabs in on the glove box on both sides and the door will swing down far. The control for the actuator is on the left side and is gray.

[MsCymbalCrash]

My 98 Mk VIII has a/c, but no heat. All fluids are normal. Does this mean that it is most likely *not* the blend door actuator causing the problem?

[srlewis76]

If your fan motor is not turning on follow the instructions I posted below to lower the glove box and then find the large orange and black wire to the motor. The motor faces up and the wires attach from the back making them hard to get to. Move them and see if that makes the blower turn on. I have seen where you can pull them and crimp it tighter however I just pushed mine in and am going to see if thats sufficient.

[srlewis76]

EASY TEMPORARY FIX INSTRUCTIONS...Open glove box remove the wire supporting the glove box from inside the glove box ( it slides down so you dont need to remove the string ). Next pull the tabs in on the glove box on both sides and the door will swing down far. The control for the actuator is on the left side and is gray. Grab it and the wire and pull it towards the passenger door for heat or towards the driver door for A/C. It only moves about 5mm or 6mm so don't snatch on it.

[MEGABOINK65]

I have 2 Mark VIII one a 97 and the other 98, the 97 has the blend door Actuator

broken, so every change of season, i get behind the glove compartment toward the middlle behind the tempture control unit and turn it to heat or ac. it take me 30 sec, i'am not fixing it, getting rid of car. the 98 was recently repaired by the previous owner, bu the air comes out really low, agrrr cant figure it out why so low. is not the blower cause i exchanged the blower from the 97, that blows super hard.

[390merc65]

what if you used some kind of super glue,,and if you have room to put a small hose clamp on it..i think that would be better then the wire..if there is room

[kcat0866]

.....pushed down on the gray lever and WOW HEAT!!! that'll work at least till I find the part for installation; but in literally took me 10 min. to unhinge the glove box on find this lever that you showed in video as well as the other guy gave me instructions on how to get there and simply pushed dwn on the gray lever & have heat!!! But Thank You for taking the time to make this video; I cant believe how easy the temp fix was for me & the dealer offered no knowledge. Again thank you

[kcat0866]

I have a Mark viii that I had to take to a dealer for a diagnostic & found out this is my problem. This is my 1st mark viii & didnt know much of certain problems & apparently either did the dealer w/ all the BS they gave me about the repair & of coarse the bill too!!! Anyhow I'm having a real hard time finding the right part & living in Buffalo NY safe to say the car sat for most of the winter!!! Until I saw your video & help from another guy online I went thru the glove box pushed down.....

[paintballkiller54]

i my self have a Mk Viii. the part that broke is for the ac? or what is it for. thanks!

[tjernagel]

@paintballkiller54 yes it is for the air conditioner. This is the actuator that opens and closes the blend air door, gives you either hot or cold air. There was poor engineering in the actuator arm and when it is in full cold (60 degrees) it stresses the actuator causing it to break. In most cases, when it does you will no longer heat. To replace it you have to pull the entire dashboard loose about 5 inches on the righthand side. I have 2 98 Mark VIII's and both are now broken. Very common.