Rear air duct work blocked?

[X-Tanker]

Got a problem with my rear air not working very well. When I turn it on, it sounds like the blower is sputtering and only minimal amount of air comes out of the vents, barely enough to even feel when set to high, when on low it makes noise but no air at all comes out. I thought maybe the blower was to blame so I took it out and turned it on and it worked perfectly on both high and low. When I put it back, I got the sputtering and minimal flow again. I noticed that if I moved the blower slightly out of its housing, the air flow returned to normal. I then took off the side panel with the duct that goes back under the dash towards the cabin air filters and that also resulted in a return to normal airflow. This led me to believe the filters may be blocked, so I took them out (they were fine) and put the side panel back on. Turned on air and got more sputtering. So my question is, does anyone know how to access the section between the side panel on the blower housing and the cabin air filters? If there's a blockage, it was to be in this section. I see couple of screws, but I'm not sure it can be taken apart in situ.

Took this side panel off, resulting in normal air flow:

This is how it looks currently. If I can't figure out what's going on, I may just leave it like this and see how it works once everything is put back together:

Section I'm thinking there may be blockage, not sure how to access:

 

[loosenut]

You might want to take a look at this thread if you haven't already: http:// [url]http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123793291-HELP!-Rear-a-c-vent-not-blowing-air!!!![/URL]
Sounds very similar.

 

[X-Tanker]

Thanks! I did a search but I didn't come across that thread. I'll have to take a look at the actuator tomorrow.

 

[X-Tanker]

Checked out the actuator today and watched it open and close the flap. Maybe it decided to spontaneously start working again. Now to take my center console apart and put the side panel of the blower housing back on. Even with that panel off and the blower blowing air from inside the console, the air was still quite cool.