Behind glove box/passenger dash grind noise on ON key position

4Runner Glove Box Grind - YouTube

2005 Limited 208K miles just started doing this noise when the key is put to the ON position just prior to START. Doesn't do it every time, it's after the vehicle has sat for a bit (~15-20 mins). Makes me think a blend door is having trouble moving or something with the A/C system which is having trouble. Anyone recognize/know off the top of their head? TIA.

Flooder305 said:

4Runner Glove Box Grind - YouTube

2005 Limited 208K miles just started doing this noise when the key is put to the ON position just prior to START. Doesn't do it every time, it's after the vehicle has sat for a bit (~15-20 mins). Makes me think a blend door is having trouble moving or something with the A/C system which is having trouble. Anyone recognize/know off the top of their head? TIA.

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Is that with the HVAC fan running?

If so then I think you have a leaf or some other type of debris that has gotten pass the cabin air filter and is down into the fan, easy enough to fix start by removing the glove box and cabin air filter and maybe fan if needed to remove the debris.

If not then I would agree it's possibly the blend door or mode door actuator/s being stuck or broken, if so you should be able to pinpoint which actuator it is . by removing the glove box and adjusting the HVAC controls to activate the actuators to see which one is making the noise

Flooder305 said:

4Runner Glove Box Grind - YouTube

2005 Limited 208K miles just started doing this noise when the key is put to the ON position just prior to START. Doesn't do it every time, it's after the vehicle has sat for a bit (~15-20 mins). Makes me think a blend door is having trouble moving or something with the A/C system which is having trouble. Anyone recognize/know off the top of their head? TIA.

Click to expand...

Might be the A/C damper motor, it's pretty common. I posted a picture of the part in post #13 here: 03 4runner buzzing noise at start up

I think that's it Southern_runner. Thank you. She hit 200k, and she's letting me know she wants some TLC if she's gonna keep on truckin'.

Flooder305 said:

I think that's it Southern_runner. Thank you. She hit 200k, and she's letting me know she wants some TLC if she's gonna keep on truckin'.

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I haven't tried to remove it yet. Like I said, the third screw is blocked by the entire blower unit. There are other threads here about removing the damper.

Some people leave the third screw in and bend the bracket enough to get the damper out. Others remove the blower, and I've heard some actually drill a hole in the side of the blower to access the screw, and then plug the hole.

Good luck with yours, if you find a great way then let me know!

Yes, I had to use an inspection mirror to even see that 3rd lower screw. Not sure how I'm going to tackle it just yet. Part is $132+shipping on Partznet, so it's not that bad. Just gotta figure out 1 screw. Anyway I'll holler if I find a good solution.

Flooder305 said:

4Runner Glove Box Grind - YouTube

2005 Limited 208K miles just started doing this noise when the key is put to the ON position just prior to START. Doesn't do it every time, it's after the vehicle has sat for a bit (~15-20 mins). Makes me think a blend door is having trouble moving or something with the A/C system which is having trouble. Anyone recognize/know off the top of their head? TIA.

Click to expand...

My 2005 SR5 with 210K has been doing something similar for about 2 years. Sometimes I’d go for days and not hear it, sometimes it would begin as soon as I started the car. Sounds like a tapping with an occasional short squeak. Wife said a mouse was in there. More like a family. I thought it was some plastic rattle but haven’t been able to isolate it.

Today, I removed the glove box, lower panel and dropped the AC Blower. Thought that might be an issue or something was trapped there. Nope. Finally got the noise to come back and it seems to be a small black actuator that is at the very top of view, when looking up and toward the driver side. There is actually a similar unit just below that seems fine. When I place my hand on this actuator, I can feel the tapping. It’s a Denso part but I can’t read the whole model number. I don’t know if I can get to that one myself. May take it into my local guy’s shop.

Flooder305 said:

Yes, I had to use an inspection mirror to even see that 3rd lower screw. Not sure how I'm going to tackle it just yet. Part is $132+shipping on Partznet, so it's not that bad. Just gotta figure out 1 screw. Anyway I'll holler if I find a good solution.

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Dang, my link showed when that part was $69...everything has gone nuts.

pingman27410 said:

It’s a Denso part but I can’t read the whole model number. I don’t know if I can get to that one myself. May take it into my local guy’s shop.

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Check out this thread and scroll down to post #13

03 4runner buzzing noise at start up

How it started vs. how it's going...

So this issue began with this grinding noise, which was correctly diagnosed as a failing servo by Southern_Runner (Thank you again). I ordered up the part, and was wondering how to attack the 4th screw problem that you'll see varying solutions to on the forum, and then we had a long hot summer here in the SJ Valley where the A/C began to blow warm on one side, the characteristic low refrigerant symptom. I had it serviced, and within 3 weeks, it was doing it again. I had them search all the engine bay components for leaks and none were found. This then pointed to an Evaporator Core leak which is not too uncommon at this age (16 yrs.). On recommendation, I had an A/C shop use a sniffer to confirm the Evap Core leak and it was present. I then ordered the remaining servos to have replaced in order to not have to replace them one by one as they failed. If you've researched this, the whole dash has to be dismantled in order to replace that core. I ordered up the parts and elected to have the shop do the labor. Anyway I'm happy to report the core has been replaced, along with all the servo's and the 4Runner is back in business, holding A/C system pressure, and no squeaks or messed up dash sounds. In the pic you can see the the old servos, and the area on the core where the leak was present.

Old Core and Servos