no heat and knocking sound in dash '03 windstar

[cassandra724]

My van just started making this knocking sound a few days ago and now I have no heat inside. Can anyone tell me what could be causing this?

[kenneth j somers jr.]

CHECK YOUR COOLENT LEVEL

THAT knocking sound could be traped steam, Be VERY VERY CARFUL WHEN OPENING
THE REDIATOR CAP IF ENGINE IS HOT.....LET IT COOL DOWN (car engine ) BEFORE ADDING WATER OR ANTIFREEZE.

let me know how you make out.

[TRXSandRacer02]

I have ran into this problem twice with ford products and found that the noise you hear could be a white plastic control box for your heat. It controls the heat and cold air control. There are two ways of fixing it; One, take some pliers and turn the screw between the white plastic box and the heating box it is a white plastic screw, if youget under neath youcan see it not turning and is clicking trying to turn and just leave it eitehr hot or cold. The other solution is to replace it but a dealership asks quite bit for a new one and is rather hard to replace. I figured i would give you yout options. My windstar does the same thing but we just change the control to hot in winter and turn that screw manualy or help it turn, and in summer turn it to cold and help the screw turn the other way. Kinda a sad situation with the a/c hvac units but hopefully that could shed some light on the situation. If you need pics of the box or how to do it, email or pm me

Ben Wilson

[Drrandall]

I just fixed this problem in my Aunt's windstar. Its the AC Blend Door Motor.
Remove the radio, then the rest of the center dash, 2 screws at the top and 1 one each side of the drink holder.
Directly behind the heater controls, is a ~4" square box with a wire connector on the side. Its held in withe 3 screws. When you remove the 3 screws yo need to pull it about an inch out, there is a shaft that comes out the back and goes into the heater box. Its keyed so you can only put it in one way. It took about 30 minutes to remove, replace and re-assemble.
I also removed the bottom compartment to let me get my big hands in. Its held in place by 4 plastic "screws". You remove the screw, then pull out the plastic insert.
If I remember right, the 4 screws that hold the center section are 9/32" and the ones for the Blend Door Motor are 5/16". You sill also need a set of radio removal tools, $6 at Advance Auto.

Advance Auto Parts sells the Blend Door Motor for ~$35. My store didn't stock it but got it overnight.

Good luck