Sunday evening, on a two-hour drive home from visiting family for Easter, the outside temperature was in the low 50s (got down to 48 by the time I got home) and I noticed I couldn't warm up the passenger side of my 2011 Impala. With the vents set to blow air out of the upper vents and two temperature controls all the way up in the 'hot' position, I could move my hand back and forth between the two sides of the center panel vent and the contrast in temperature could not be more extreme. The driver'* side vent was blowing ice cold while the passenger side was blowing blazin' hot air. I eventually closed the two driver'* side vents and aimed the passenger side vent my way to get some warmer air.

A couple of years ago, I had to replace the vent door actuator on the far passenger side--the one that opens and closes the door that brings in air from the outside--when it started making the telltale clicking sound that indicates the plastic gears inside the actuator are stripped out. This time, there is no clicking. It just plain doesn't work. I'm assuming the little motor in the actuator just to the right of the steering column has failed. Am I correct in this assumption. The part is fairly inexpensive when ordered online (about $10-$12 vs. $50 or $60 from a local parts house or stealership). YouTube videos I've watched show it to be a little bit of a PITA to get to but otherwise a pretty straightforward part swap. It seems these actuators are an achilles heel on this generation Impala and other GM cars that use this particular part. In five years of owning this car, this is the worst that'* gone wrong with it so far, so I can't really complain. As the weather continues to warm up, this will be a less pressing issue for the next few months--and less irritating since it'* not making that damned clicking noise--but it does need to be addressed. Can anyone confirm that I'm looking in the right direction with this?

I mistyped the title above. It should read 'driver'* side', not 'passenger'* side'. I would have edited it but I don't see a way to do that.

It sounds like the door is not operating correctly. Actuator? Wiring?

That'* my thought—likely a dead actuator. I've ordered one and we'll see if that fixes it.