If your Crysler 300 makes clicking noises under the dash, this is most likely one of two problems: blend door actuators or stuck blend doors. This is a very common problem for the first-gen Chrysler 300 and it also happens sometimes in the second-gen cars.
Dash electrical problems highlights
- Level of urgency:low
- DIY inspection:impossible
- DIY repair:impossible
- Can you drive?yes
- Price for repairs:$250 - $550
- Symptoms:glitchy dash, functions not working, no lights, no data
- Ways to solve:try disconnecting the battery for some time, take it to a professional
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How to get to the blend door actuators in the Chrysler 300?
Here are the steps you should take to locate the blend door actuators in your Chrysler:
- Take off the plastic panel on the left side of the dash (the one that touches the door when it's closed). It just sits on several clips.
- Unscrew two fasteners that hold the lower plastic panel.
- Now, the lower panel sits on the clips and you can carefully take it off. Don't disconnect the switches - just let the panel hang on the wires.
- Now you can find the actuators. Those are located on the right wall - just near your right leg if you are sitting behind the steering wheel.
- There are two actuators. Touch them both and turn off the AC. Wait till they start clicking and you will feel it in your fingers which one is faulty.
- Now, you may order the needed part online - the aftermarket actuator will just cost you about $20.
- Install the needed actuator. The upper one is pretty easy to replace while the lower actuator is going to be hard to unscrew and then mount.
- When everything is done, check if the clicking noise is gone.
What to do if it's the blend door?
If the clicking noise is coming from the blend door that is stuck, you may feel frustrated because getting to the blend door and repairing or replacing it is not a DIY thing. To get to the blend door, you will need to take the entire front panel off the car and this will require some expertise of a car electrician.
So, if the blend door is malfunctioning in your vehicle, just go to the dealership or to a good repair shop.
Here are the symptoms of such a problem:
- the clicking noise under the dash is pretty strong and loud;
- the blend door doesn't change its position, so the AC and heating don't work as they should;
- the sound seems to come from the center of the front panel, from the inside of it.
Also, the flap door may click loudly when the car is off - several minutes after you turn off the engine and leave it in the garage.
How much is it to solve the problem in the dealership?
The parts for the Chrysler 300 won't cost you a fortune, but the labor is pretty expensive. If you go to the dealership, the labor is going to cost you about $300 for actuator replacement and about $1000 or even more for repairing or replacing the blend door.
In this case, I recommend finding a good professional independent shop that will do the job at least twice cheaper than the dealership.
By the way, Chrysler never admitted that clicking under the dash is a common problem for the Chrysler 300 and there are no recalls or good bulletins regarding this issue.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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