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The blend door actuator is a small electrical device that regulates the car’s climate. It controls the air flow inside the main cabin of the vehicle. Appearance-wise, it’s a small plastic box with some gears inside of it. In some cars, the blend door actuator hardly ever fails.
You might not even know how this part looks like because it might never give you any trouble. So, a formal introduction might never happen. But then, this may not always be the case. In many cars, an actuator can fail quite a few times during the lifespan of a car. This means that you should be prepared for the expense that goes into fixing it. Of course, we will get to the cost part so that you know what to expect in terms of invoice pricing.
How Much Does a Blend Door Actuator Replacement Cost?
If you need the blend door actuator replaced, you will have to spend between $200 to $300. The labor cost tends to be around $110 to $125. The part, in some cars, can cost up to a grand, though.
If you own an expensive car, be prepared to spend more than usual on repairs.
| Auto Center | Price |
|---|---|
| Walmart | $20 - $150 |
| Jiffy Lube | $110 - $280 |
| Your Mechanic | $150 - $300 |
| NAPA | $140 - $285 |
Can You Drive With a Damaged Actuator?
Even though you can drive when an actuator fails, the drive quality won’t be the same as before. Right off the bat, the car’s air conditioner will start bothering you. It will stop sending cool air. You will also hear strange grinding noises coming from the car’s interior.
It won’t be an emergency situation, though. However, a failing actuator will definitely get your attention by causing other car components to not function normally. Therefore, it’s better to get the actuator fixed at the earliest.
Blend Door Actuator Replacement Procedure
Once it’s determined that the actuator needs a replacement, the mechanic will open the cooling and heating system to gain access to the damaged blend door actuator. In most cars, the actuator can be easily accessed through the hood of the car.
However, it’s not the same story in all the cars out there. Some cars make it difficult to access the actuator. As expected, this can cause the labor cost to creep up because of the excess work involved in opening the dashboard to access the actuator.
Coming back to the repair procedure, once the old unit is removed, the new actuator is fitted in its place. All the heating and cooling systems are tested as well. Finally, the mechanic takes the car for a road test to see how all the systems are performing while driving.
How To Save Money When Replacing a Blend Door Actuator?
If you are looking to cut costs, the primary question to ask yourself is, “Can I perform this job myself?.” It’s an easy task. But then, you will still need some expertise. So, do not attempt it if the answer to the above question is a big “No.”
You will probably save money by comparing rates from different shops. So, take estimates from mechanics in your area to see whom you can assign the job. You will mostly find some price difference in the rates quoted to you.
So, choose someone with lower rates so that you can minimize the burden of labor costs. While keeping the cost in mind, pay attention to the quality as well. Needless to say, the chosen shop/mechanic should have some decent credibility.
On the CarServiceLand, you can also find estimates of car repair or maintenance service costs:
