TheRyster

It appears that this thread is a top-search result concerning the blend doors not working. Realizing that this forum is for literally a ton of cars, it's good to note that the Orig Poster is talking about a Gen 1 (1999) Legacy Outback Wagon. If you do not have this model and year, this thread isn't really going to (and shouldn't) apply to you. The mode door actuator, flap motor, heater mode motor are just some of the many names used to describe the motor that moves a set of levers which are connected to flaps that direct airflow in the car's cabin. The levers are all connected and controlled at one point, this is what the motor moves. There are 3 main positions and 2 halfway positions between those three. step 0: is to check all fuses. then obviously after each step, start the car, run the fan and test...If that doesn't get the system changing airflow direction, then step 1: It's definitely good to first clean your center console unit with windex or other liquid that will wash out any dried high fructose corn syrup left by spilled sugary drinks. i'd do this with the control unit removed from the vehicle, see instructions below to get to it. 4 screws on the sides and down below in the passenger foot well disconnect the wire. once dry reassemble and test, if it works you had sticky buttons. If that doesn't get the system changing airflow direction, then step 2: remove the cup holder (2 screws on sides) and pull out. at those 2 screw hols you'll notice that the top trim tabs are behind the lower trim tabs. Gently pull the lower center console trim towards you just enough to lift up the top trim to wiggle it out from behind the lower trim. pull out the top of the console (the center vents) and disconnect the hazard button. note: the car's turn signals will not work with this disconnected, so definitely reconnect this before driving! now reach back behind the control unit and wiggle the wires a bit while pressing buttons, if that gets the mode doors to change you have loose connectors. If that doesn't get the system changing airflow direction, then step 3: lets take a look at your actuator motor. It easily located up above the gas pedal in the driver's footwell, attached to the side of the center console. It's a small black box with a brown connector. it's mounted to a metal bracket, by... 2 screws? Remove the two screws with a stubby screwdriver or a small ratchet with a phillips screw bit, ya know, something for tight spaces. it should fall out away form the center console. With it dangling, test the buttons again... does the little white arm move? no? motor might be bad or control unit might be bad and not sending a signal... at this point you can get a multimeter out. disconnect the brown connector and run some tests. There are 10 pins. Pin 1 is ground, should be Black according to my subaru gen 1 wiring diagram. find it and make sure its a good ground. it's easy to figure out, since pin 8 is not used, it's at the opposite end of that 'space'. Jam a very small wire in that hole and then alligator clip it to the black wire of the multimeter. Get another small wire and test pins 2 (vent) to 7 (defrost) for voltage for each of the buttons. now..don't ask me what the voltage is suppose to read because my stuff 'aint working either. I've got two control units and yes the lights light up under all the buttons as they are pressed, one sends 12v to pins 2,3,4 no matter what button is pressed, and the other sends 12v to all the pins (2-7) no matter what button is pushed. I tested that the 16 pin harness to the back of control unit has a good ground and 12v in. I can only conclude that I have 2 bad control units. will grab a third from the junkyard soon and test. any EE want to translate the wiring diagram? What should we be expecting at the mode door actuator for each mode button?