Modern vehicles have many built-in features that, while impressive, can contribute to increased complexity and the potential for numerous points of failure.
The same holds true for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
While it’s known for its roomy interior, comfortable ride, and off-road ruggedness, its internal systems are not immune to failure – including the climate control system.
Also known as the HVAC system, this system controls the temperature inside the vehicle’s cabin area.
Over the last few years, I’ve seen many climate control system-related issues in the Grand Cherokee vehicles, such as
- A/C turning on and off.
- A/C blowing hot or cold air only.
- One vent blows cold, while the other blows hot air.
- Weaker Airflow.
- Climate control buttons/screen freezing.
- Air is not coming from the A/C.
How to Fix Jeep Grand Cherokee Climate Control Problems
In this post, we’ll discuss the possible causes and fixes of these climate control problems.
1. Jeep Grand Cherokee Climate Control Reset
In many cases, the Grand Cherokee’s climate control system malfunctions not due to any problem with itself but due to electrical issues.
Therefore, we’ll first try resetting the climate control system to see if anything changes.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Park your vehicle and turn off the ignition.
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal and keep it like that for a few minutes.
- Make sure that this terminal doesn’t touch any metal part of the vehicle.
- Reconnect the terminal and turn on the vehicle.
In many cases, this will reset the climate control system. But if it doesn’t, you’ll need to reset it through physical buttons:
To do this, Press and hold the BROWSE ENTER and VOLUME buttons until the display goes blank and then turns on again.
This will indicate that the reset process is finished.
2. Replace Faulty Blend Door Actuator
If you’ve reset the climate control system, but the issue is still there, the problem is hardware-based.
Therefore, we’ll have to check different components in the climate control system to find the root cause.
The first thing we’ll check is the blend door actuator.
Also known as the HVAC actuator, it’s a small-sized motor that adjusts the blend door – depending on the position of the temperature control knob.
This motor can malfunction over time due to moisture, corrosion, or aging, resulting in improper temperature regulation and inconsistent air distribution among passengers.
Some common symptoms of faulty blend door actuators include constant tapping/clicking sounds from the dashboard area, inconsistent airflow, and temperature stuck on hot/cold.
As for the fix, you’ll need to replace the actuator in most cases. That’s because its internal components are most likely to be damaged at this point, and repairing them requires time and expertise.
Therefore, if you want an urgent fix, it makes more sense to buy a new motor altogether.
3. Replace Clogged Air Cabin Filter
The next component we’ll check is the air cabin filter.
As its name suggests, it cleans the air coming to the passenger area through the HVAC system.
This filter can clog over time due to dust, pollen, insects, and other pollutants, reducing airflow, compromising air quality, and putting more load on the HVAC system.
If the air coming from the HVAC system is according to the temperature but the airflow is lacking intensity, or you get an unpleasant smell upon turning on the A/C, it usually indicates a dirty air cabin filter.
To fix this issue, you’ll need to replace the cabin air filter. While the exact process varies between Grand Cherokee models, here’s a brief overview:
- Open the glove box.
- Remove the dampening cord on its right side. Then, push in from the left and right sides at the same time to disconnect the glovebox from the vehicle.
- Now you’ll able to see the cabin filter cap.
- Remove this cap by pressing a clip on its left side to access the cabin filter.
- Pull the older cabin filter out and put a new one in its place.
- Reattach the filter cap.
- Reattach the glove box and connect the dampening cord back again.
To get a better understanding, watch this video.
4. Replace Bad Blower Motor
The blower motor is another component that can cause weaker airflow in your passenger cabin.
It’s a motor that powers the fan, which circulates hot/cold air into the passenger area. If this motor goes bad due to excessive load, aging, or heat/moisture exposure, you’ll get reduced or no airflow.
To fix this issue, you’ll need to confirm whether the blower motor is the culprit. That’s because, in many cases, the blower motor is fine, but the wiring malfunctions – causing the blower motor not to work properly.
Once you’re sure the motor is causing issues, you’ll need to replace it. As it’s too complex to DIY, I recommend hiring a professional mechanic for this job.
5. Check the Blower Motor Fuse And Relay
If the blower motor works fine, you can check its related fuse and relays.
Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles come with a blower motor fuse/relay to protect the blower motor from electrical surges and control its current flow.
If this fuse and/or relay gets damaged through any electrical issue or physical damage, the blower motor will not get any current and will not work.
Therefore, you’ll need to test them with a multimeter and replace them if they’re not working.
If your Grand Cherokee has separate HVAC vents for rear passengers, it’ll have an additional fuse/relay for that rear blower motor. So, you’ll need to check that fuse/relay, too.
6. Check the A/C Fuse and Relay
Just like the blower motor, Jeep Grand Cherokee models come with an A/C fuse and relay to control the current flow to different HVAC components, including the air conditioning compressor.
In case of any electrical issue, the A/C fuse can blow, preventing any current supply from reaching the compressor and turning it on.
As a result, the compressor doesn’t work, and you get no air from the HVAC vents.
The same holds true for the A/C relay, which sends a low-power turn-on signal to the compressor. If it goes bad, the compressor will remain off – even if the A/C system is on.
Therefore, go to the fuse box in the engine compartment, locate the A/C compressor fuse and relay, and test them with a multimeter to confirm whether they’re working or not.
Conclusion
These were the main fixes for climate control problems in the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
If you’ve applied all the fixes but your issue is still unresolved, I suggest consulting a mechanic.
Why?
Because there can be many other lesser-known reasons, too, such as loose mounting bolts, a failing compressor, leaking air conditioner lines, faulty A/C control module, etc.
Checking each one of them would be too lengthy and tedious.
A mechanic would use an OBD-II scanner to have a rough idea about which component is malfunctioning.
Once correctly identified, you can have a discussion with them about repairing or replacing that component.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the A/C Not Working in my Jeep Grand Cherokee?
If the A/C is not working in your Jeep Grand Cherokee, it’s probably due to a refrigerant leak, malfunctioning air compressor, dead blower motor, blown fuse, or a faulty relay.
What is the ‘Auto’ Option for Climate Control in Jeep?
The ‘Auto’ option in the Jeep climate control system automatically adjusts the air temperature, air distribution, and fan speed in the passenger area of the vehicles.
Why is my Jeep Grand Cherokee Not Blowing Hot Air?
If your Jeep Grand Cherokee’s heater is not working, you should check the thermostat, coolant level, heater core, HVAC controls, etc., as these are the most common culprits behind this issue.
How do you Calibrate the Blend Door Actuator on a Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Turn on the ignition. Set the Automatic Zone Controls to AUTO and turn the ignition off. Remove the IOD fuse from its slot, wait a few minutes, and plug it back.
Turn on the ignition again, but don’t touch any climate control-related button for a few minutes. Turn off the ignition and then restart the vehicle.
This procedure is specific to Grand Cherokee with Automatic Zone Controls. For other models, check the owner’s manual.
How to Turn On A/C in the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee?
Go to the center screen and tap the ‘Climate’ option in the bottom row. This will open up a new screen with different options to select the temperature level for front and rear passengers for your Grand Cherokee.
My 2018 GC has climate control issues payed dealership close to 400$ to recharge system. After 4 months issues resurfaced, dealership wants to charge me another service fee which I find to be BS. Will try some of the suggestions from this site