98 XJ 4.0 AW4 Factory sunroof Woohoo!

My A/C was not working. The compressor clutch wasn't engaging. I bought a can of freon with oil and charged it. The compressor started working, and refrigerant line got cold. Still hot thru the vents. I figured I had an issue with the blend air door. After researching here, and looking at the Heater Treater site, I began to diagnose my blend door actuator.

I laid upside down in the passenger floorboard to watch the actuator. When I moved the temperature selector, I couldn't see any movement of the shaft. I could feel the motor trying to move the mechanism, but it wouldn't move. I removed the actuator (3 screws- 67% of which suck). With the actuator removed and the wire still attached, the motor still would not turn. I was able to insert a screwdriver into the blend air door and move it through its' full range of motion. I then disassembled the cover of the actuator. This was difficult due to the build up of crud around where the bottom of the shaft goes through the case. This crud, which was present on top and bottom of the case, was the problem with the actuator. I used electronic cleaner to clean it, and applied a little dielectric grease before assembly. Replaced actuator, now have cold air.

Took a test drive and it works great. After the test drive, I made the following observations.

Ambient temperature: 78* F.
A/C temp at center vent on normal: 24* F., on Max, 17* F.

I'm a happy camper.

 

24* O_o holy crap

 

Dude, that's cold lol

 

I hope my actuator shaft thing doesn't crud up, I don't think I'm as mechanically inclined as you seem to be.