Recirculation Door Actuator. 2012 JK Wrangler

[Tom]

Clicking sound and will not move except manually. Has anyone run into this and have an easy fix.
This is the actuator behind the glove box that opens the door over the filters. I would be happy just to disable it (power) with it permanently open or closed. From everything I am reading it is a total cluster f$&*k to replace.

Any help or ideas appreciated.

Video has similar issue but his door moves.

https://youtu.be/FyM_kT8QJpo

Video explaining what a pain in arse it is.

https://youtu.be/SSGhYzqtH8Y

[Trevor?]

Sounds electrically actuated... like there is a little motor in there with a stripped plastic gear. Do you have a shop manual with wiring diagrams? If so maybe trace the circuit and cut a wire in a more accessible location.

[Tom]

Sounds electrically actuated... like there is a little motor in there with a stripped plastic gear. Do you have a shop manual with wiring diagrams? If so maybe trace the circuit and cut a wire in a more accessible location.
My Chilton’s shows a wiring diagram that’s really just a schematic. Basically useless for this issue. It looks like if I remove the speaker and loosen the lower dash I may be able to reach the plug on the actuator and remove it.

Will be a day or two before I give it a try. Will report back when I do.

[Tom]

Issue resolved.

What I did…
1. Remove glovebox
2. Remove dash passenger side panel.
3. Loosen dash near glovebox to enable speaker removal (3 screws)
4. Remove passenger front speaker. (3 screws)
5. Identify actuator
6. Get some light under the dash to see.
7. Attempt and fail at removing the actuator power plug.
8. Trace wire down from the plug to location my hand would fit.
9. Remove electrical tape from a portion of traced wire.
10. Cross fingers and cut blue wire. (Choice of blue or black)
11. Put electrical nut/cap on cut wire.
12. Test (joy no clicking)
13. Reassemble
14. Start engine and test again (still joy)
15. Call it done/fixed to my satisfaction.

Total time about 1 hr.