Thread: AC recirculation not working

It is 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix base. The AC recirculation does not work. I remember when I press the recirculation button, the air from the vent seems to blow a little faster and there are more "noise". Now when I pressed the recirculation button, no change in sound and the outside air still comes in as I can smell. The indicator light turns on when I push the button and other AC function works totally fine. I am wondering what could possibly be the problem. I guess it is the recirculation actuator but I don't know enough about it. So any opinions or suggestions is highly appreciated. Thanks a lot for your help!

I don't believe the 04+ actuators use a vacuum line, mine stopped working on my 05 last year and I have a new one sitting around here somewhere. If I manage to find it I'll post a picture, yours may just have died.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

this isn't a actuator issue, its a recirculate issue.

and the actuators dont use vacuum. the part that changes air flow direction does tho.

Thanks a lot for your suggestions! I don't know enough about how this actually works. Could you explain a little bit what happens when I press the recirculation button? What is the function of the actuator and the vacuum line? It seems that the actuator get the information from the button and then "command" the door shifting the air source. The force that moves the door is using vacuum.

I will take off the glove box and see what is there. Maybe I will understand how it works better once I can see the internals.

Originally Posted by Coldwaves

It is 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix base. The AC recirculation does not work. I remember when I press the recirculation button, the air from the vent seems to blow a little faster and there are more "noise". Now when I pressed the recirculation button, no change in sound and the outside air still comes in as I can smell. The indicator light turns on when I push the button and other AC function works totally fine. I am wondering what could possibly be the problem. I guess it is the recirculation actuator but I don't know enough about it. So any opinions or suggestions is highly appreciated. Thanks a lot for your help!

Just post an update. I got it fixed and it is an actuator issue. Just take off the glove box. The actuator is on the right side behind the glove box. Taking off the glove box takes me a while. You have to take off the panel covering the fuse box and the small strip panel on the right side of the glove box. Then you have to wiggle a bit to squeeze the glove box out. Be careful that two things are connected to the glove box. A wire is connected to the glove box light and the main wire harness was attached to the backside of the glove box.

I had a feeling it was the actuator. Scotty, an actuator controls that flap, at least on the newer models. There are so many small differences in the new GP's I feel like GM is just screwing with us sometimes.

I lost mine apparently, I have to pick one up for when I fix my A/C. Thanks for the tip on the wiring harness, knowing me I'd tear it out and have it rattling behind my dashboard from then on.