Yes, I'm sure that the end of the return spring that is supposed to pull the linkage back over center is no longer attached to the outside of the housing where it should be. Apparently the plastic anchor point molded onto the outside of the housing to retain the end of the return spring has broken off.

It took me several afternoons learning how to disassemble the instrument panel/dashboard (errors in the service manual didn't help) to the point where I could determine the problem and manually get the linkage over center so the door could be positioned in the fresh air position. (Because the linkage goes over center, just removing the blower motor and reaching up to the door does not allow repositioning of the door when in the recirculate position).

- Bill