The air delivery is controlled by electronic actuators
mounted on the HVAC module. The actuators are electronic stepper motors equipped
with feedback potentiometers. The instrument panel module (IPM) determines
the position of the actuator shaft based on the voltage from the potentiometer.
The IPM controls the actuators with only three different voltage signals:
| • | 0 volts drives the actuator in one direction. |
| • | 5 volts drives the actuator in the opposite direction. |
| • | 2.5 volts stops motor rotation. |
The IPM uses inputs from the temperature sensors, heater and A/C control,
steering wheel controls and passenger temperature control to determine how
the actuators should be positioned.
There are four actuators, air inlet, mode, left air mix and right air
mix:
| • | The air inlet actuator controls the outside/recirc door position.
There are only two manual positions of operation for the air inlet actuator.
In AUTO mode, the IPM may command the air inlet actuator to provide up to
100% recirculated air to the inlet of the HVAC module depending on system
requirements. |
| • | The left and right air mix actuators control the amount of air
that flows around or through the heater core. The IPM can command the air
mix actuators to any door position from full heat to full by-pass. |
| • | The air discharge is controlled by the mode door actuator. The
actuator drives a cam wheel that controls the position or the two air discharge
doors. The IPM can command the mode door actuator to any one of 5 positions. |
