2003 Creaking/Grinding sound from beneath dash. | Ford Thunderbird forum club group 1955-2005 models

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2003 Creaking/Grinding sound from beneath dash.

  • Thread starter Thread starter detroitmoe
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detroitmoe

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Thunderbird Year
2003
Sound initially came when starting the car and began as a slight creak. Now I find that it’s more pronounced and loud. Just finished a 8 hour road trip with no issues. Power steering has been leaking a bunch. Not sure if that’s where the sound is coming from. No other issues. Can’t tell where this is from. Any ideas?
 

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Do a self test on your ac heater module and you will find that you have a faulty actuator that opens and closes one of the baffles such as directs the air flow to the windshield for defogging or directs the flow more to you feet etc. They cannot be replaced or repaired without pulling the dash.
 
tmdtmd had a great idea about putting the Dual Automatic Temperature Control module in self-test mode to determine if one of the actuators is the cause of the creaking/grinding sound, but he forgot to tell you how to do it.

The DATC module self-test is done through the front panel display and can be initiated at any time. Normal operation of the system stops when the self-test is activated.

Enter the self-test by pressing the OFF and DEFROST buttons simultaneously and then press the AUTO button within two seconds. The self-test begins by reporting all on-demand DTCs as a four-digit DTC, less the alpha character. Record all DTCs displayed.

Next the self-test will calibrate all the mode doors and check all analog inputs. Listen for the creaking/grinding sound while the mode doors are being calibrated.

To exit the self-test, press any button. This will clear all on-demand codes from the DATC module memory. If no button is pushed, DTCs will continue to be displayed. Always exit the self-test before powering the system down (system turned OFF). Upon exit from the self-test the DATC module returns to operational status. The DATC module executes a hard (cold boot) reset which places the DATC system in the OFF mode.

The instrument panel does not have to be removed to replace all of the door motor actuators, it all depends on which door motor actuator needs replacing. The air inlet door, the floor door and the cold air bypass door actuators can be replaced after removing the right or left floor duct. To replace the defrost door or the panel door actuators you have to remove the plenum chamber, which requires removing the instrument panel.

doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue
 
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