Thread: Replacing zone control actuator in 99 GT, do you need to evacuate/ re charge?

The dealer has my GT, doing the blows warmer on one side thing. THey estimated 297 for the part and a total of 658 with labor. I know they have to take out the dash and it's a PITA, but they said they have to "evacuate and re charge" do you have to do that?

I dont see any reason why they should have to remove an ac line. Ive had the dash out of a gp before not nearly as hard as it looks really.

Id rather do one of these than the 4 acuators thats in my envoy!! (which are currently only blowing ac out the defrost)

If its hot on one side and cold on the other its likely a temp bulb thats bad. Or an acuator but even so e acuators are pretty cheap like under 50 bucks.

Id just plan on a whole day and do it yourself after a little research to help you along....

You do not need to take out the dash to replace an actuator. I replaced both on my 99 GTP. One is behind the glove box. This takes 5 minutes or less to replace. The driver's side actuator can be done in under 10 minutes if you know what you are doing. You have to lie on your back with your head pushed into the corner and look up. I took mine in and out about 10 times testing it in various ways over about 2 hours. It is actually pretty simple when you know what you are doing. If this is what they are doing, you are being gouged. The actuators have a plastic gear inside that can often crack. Some people have repaired them. I replaced mine with Dorman parts that cost less than $100. My car was also recently having warmer air on the driver's side. It was not an actuator problem this time around however. The 2nd time it was just low refrigerant due to a slow leak from the high pressure schrader valve port.