My air mode control **** doesn't work on my Honda Civic 2003 EX, so my fan direction is stuck blowing from the front vents. My biggest concern is that it needs to be pointed to defrost for visibility during the winter months, or else my windshield frosts over and I can't see. Is it possible to manually switch the fan mode to defrost? I remember seeing a post about being able to use a screwdriver from inside the dash a while back to manually twist the actuator or something like that to manually reset the position to defrost, but I'm unable to find the directions now and don't know where to start.

 

1. If it is faulty mode control motor, why not just replace it?

2. The mode control motor is located behind the glove box. You can disconnect the 7P connector to the mode control motor.

Connect battery power to the No. 1 terminal of the mode control motor, and ground the No. 2 terminal; the mode control motor should run smoothly, and stop at Defrost. Reversing the connections will switch back to Vent (this is only if the motor works). When the mode control motor stops running, disconnect battery power immediately. Incorrectly applying power and ground to the mode control motor will damage it.

No. 1 terminal on the motor is where the YelBlu wire on the harness side plugs into. No 2 terminal on the motor is where the Yel/Red wire on the harness side plugs into. Double-check the correct terminals on the motor. Yel/Blu is a yellow colored wire with a blue stripe running through it.

3. What you previously found was someone manually moving the arms the motor control motor was attached to. If you do that, you need to be careful you don't break some of the plastic levers parts that are attached to the heater box.

 

Great info tech8!
The issue my car has is that the temp control works fine, recirc/fresh air control works fine, but I have no air flow from the heat registers. I can get air from defrost and the dash registers, but nothing down below. I'm going to do the motor tests later today. Thanks!

 

Check fuse and relay for the mode control motor as well.

 

Problem solved: I changed the cabin air filter. I don't see how any air was getting through the old one. Bet it was the original filter.
Thanks for the replies!

 

Bet it was gross!

 

Yeah, it's the worst I've ever seen. They would probably kick me off of the forum if I posted pics of them.

 

Yeah, don't - hehe.