B1A04 on Dodge: How to Diagnose & Fix
Speaker #4 General Electrical Failure
1 Dodge model · 1 documented issue · $35-$1,940 repair
B1A04 on Dodge by model: symptoms, diagnosis and fix
Dodge Challenger owners across the LC/LA platform (2008-2023) commonly report the A/C not blowing cold, blowing warm/weak, or one side of the cabin staying warm. The complaints split into two distinct failure clusters that share the same symptom. CLUSTER 1 - Refrigerant/AC-system side: Low refrigerant from slow leaks is the most-cited cause of weak or warm cooling. Owners also report A/C-system component failures including a failed expansion valve (multiple Scat Pack owners had the expansion valve replaced, several under warranty, which restored cold air), evaporator/condenser icing-up that an A/C shop resolved by evacuating the system, replacing the receiver/drier and recharging, A/C compressor failure, and condenser damage. A clogged or leaking evaporator never gets enough refrigerant to cool the air. A dirty cabin air filter reduces airflow (air is still cold, just weak). CLUSTER 2 - Blend-door / mode-door actuator side: This is the signature Challenger HVAC complaint. The dash-mounted plastic blend-door actuator strips its internal gear teeth and produces a repetitive clicking/tapping sound from behind the dash (often loudest when changing temperature or after start-up), the temperature gets stuck (heat stuck on, or A/C feels weak in hot climates because any leakage from the hot/heater side bleeds into the duct), and in dual-zone cars one side blows cold while the other blows warm. The Challenger uses multiple actuators: on the driver's side the upper unit is the blend/temperature actuator and the lower unit is the mode (vent/floor/defrost) door actuator; dual-zone Automatic Temperature Control cars add passenger-side actuator(s) for the second zone. The actuators are interchangeable across the positions. Forum consensus strongly favors genuine Mopar/OE actuators - aftermarket units are widely reported as DOA out of the box or failing within months. The blend door's plastic gear itself can also strip teeth or break, so an actuator swap does not always cure it. Affects the full LC generation (2008-2014) and the facelift cars (2015-2023) across all engines and trims; severity is medium - it is a comfort/seasonal issue, not safety-critical, but defrost loss can be a winter-visibility concern.
Common Symptoms
- A/C blows warm or only mildly cool air
- A/C cooling is weak even on max
- Repetitive clicking or tapping sound from behind the dashboard, often when changing temperature
- Temperature stuck - heat stuck on or won't get cold
- One side of the cabin blows cold while the other blows warm (dual-zone cars)
- Cannot switch between defrost, dash, and floor vents (mode door)
- Reduced airflow from vents (dirty cabin filter)
- Evaporator/condenser icing up then blowing warm
How to Fix
Diagnose which cluster you are in before spending money. First confirm the controls (temp not accidentally set to hot, vents open) and check/replace the cabin air filter if airflow is merely weak. Then have the A/C system pressure-tested: if refrigerant is low, find and fix the leak (commonly the expansion valve, evaporator, condenser, or O-rings) and recharge - a recharge alone without finding the leak is a temporary fix. A failed expansion valve, compressor, or evaporator requires component replacement and an evacuate/recharge; replacing the receiver/drier and orifice/expansion valve at the same time is recommended to protect new parts. If the symptom is the clicking sound, stuck temperature, or one warm side, the fix is the blend-door (temperature) or mode-door actuator. Identify the failed actuator by cycling temperature and mode while listening for the click, then replace it - use a genuine Mopar/OE actuator (interchange/replaced part numbers include 68031977AA, 68033337AA, 68238243AA, and Dorman 604-024). On many positions the actuator is reachable behind the dash, but some require partial instrument-panel removal and separating the HVAC housing, which is labor-intensive. If a new actuator still clicks or sticks, inspect the blend door gear itself, which can strip or break; recalibrate by removing the actuator, resetting the door to its default position, and reinstalling carefully so the gears mesh. DIY part cost for an actuator is roughly $35-100; a typical shop blend/air-door actuator replacement runs about $239-284, more if deep dash disassembly is needed. There is no HVAC-specific recall; TSB 24-008-14 addresses a separate 2015 blower-motor-cutout-on-high condition via control-module reprogramming.
What you need to fix it
Only diagnosis- and fitment-reviewed repair parts are linked here.
- Genuine Mopar 68299450AA A/C and heater door actuator
Clicking, stuck-temperature or one-side-warm branch after actuator command testing isolates the failed position Fitment: Live fitment lists 2008-2023 Challenger, but multiple HVAC doors and the control head can create similar symptoms; i…
- Genuine Mopar 5139687AA expansion valve
Early-car refrigerant restriction/pressure-pattern branch after leak and pressure diagnosis Fitment: 2008-2010 Challenger 3.5L, 5.7L and 6.1L; the system must be professionally recovered, evacuated, leak-tested and recharged, with new co…
- Genuine Mopar 68238028AB A/C expansion valve, O-rings and clamp
Later-car expansion-valve branch after pressure readings and leak inspection point to the valve Fitment: 2014-2023 Challenger 3.6L, 5.7L, 6.2L and 6.4L; this does not cover the unresolved 2011-2013 catalog gap $78.64 and Add to Cart on t…
- Genuine Mopar 68160395AI air-conditioning compressor
V6 compressor branch only after pressures, clutch/command, oil condition and leak diagnosis confirm compressor failure Fitment: 2015-2023 Challenger 3.6L only; V8s and 2008-2014 vehicles require their own VIN-confirmed compressor $912.95…
- Genuine Mopar 5061585AA A/C evaporator core assembly
Early-car evaporator branch after leak testing directly confirms a leaking core Fitment: 2008-2010 Challenger 3.5L, 5.7L and 6.1L only; substantial dash/HVAC-case labor and professional refrigerant handling are required $296.59 and Add t…
- Genuine Mopar 68071668AA cabin-air filter, superseded by 68535614AA
Restricted-airflow branch when blower speed is normal but vent volume is weak Fitment: 2011-2020 Challenger; this filter cannot repair warm air with normal airflow and is not evidence of a refrigerant fault $25.63 and Add to Cart on the …
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases; other part links may also earn au7o a commission. Confirm fitment by VIN before buying.
Sources for this issue (1)
B1A04 code reference
General diagnostic-code context. The code alone does not confirm a cause for your vehicle; use the applicable issue card and its sources.
Frequently asked questions
What does B1A04 mean on a Dodge?
B1A04 stands for "Speaker #4 General Electrical Failure." A Ford body code set by the Audio Control Module when it detects an electrical fault on the speaker #4 circuit. Ford's service charts break it out by sub-type: :01 general electrical failure, :11 short to ground, :12 short to battery voltage, :13 circuit open. The module disables that speaker output when the code is set, so the practical symptom is audio loss from one speaker. Which physical speaker is "#4" is not fixed across the lineup - Ford ACM charts assign speaker numbers differently depending on the audio system fitted, so the location must be read from the specific vehicle's wiring diagram rather than assumed. It has no effect on how the vehicle drives. On Dodge it is documented across 1 model: Challenger.
What are the most common causes of B1A04?
The most common causes of B1A04 are: Open, shorted, or chafed wiring in the speaker circuit (often at a door harness boot flex point), Failed speaker, including damage from excessive volume, Corroded or loose speaker or door-jamb connector, Aftermarket audio installation shorting the factory speaker circuit, Faulty Audio Control Module or amplifier. The specific cause varies by vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix B1A04 on a Dodge?
Published repair estimates on Dodge range from $35 to $1,940 depending on the model and root cause. If an issue mentions a recall or campaign, check your VIN with the manufacturer or NHTSA and confirm eligibility and coverage with a dealer.
Looking for B1A04 on a different make?
View B1A04 across all makes →Content compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, and owner reports. May contain errors. Always verify with your vehicle's service manual.