5 degrees with no heat...please help!

[gassface]

Hey gang - I need your help. I have a 2006 limited with no heat. I read a few threads and tried a few suggestions, but still no heat. Here are some details...

- Coolant level is OK
-engine temp levels are ok - warms up fine
- I ran the engine for about 20 minutes with the radiator cap off to try and "burp" out any trapped air in the heater core - No luck
- both hoses into/out of the heater core are hot

any other ideas? I can't believe the heater core could be kaput. Its only a 2006, right? Any help would be appreciated - of course this happens the day a winter storm and cold spell roll into town.

 

[DC Dude]

Hey gang - I need your help. I have a 2006 limited with no heat. I read a few threads and tried a few suggestions, but still no heat. Here are some details...

- Coolant level is OK
-engine temp levels are ok - warms up fine
- I ran the engine for about 20 minutes with the radiator cap off to try and "burp" out any trapped air in the heater core - No luck
- both hoses into/out of the heater core are hot

any other ideas? I can't believe the heater core could be kaput. Its only a 2006, right? Any help would be appreciated - of course this happens the day a winter storm and cold spell roll into town.

It's probably the heater core, but if you open up the fresh air vent, you should at least get some relief from the engine heat while driving.

 

[Bossman]

Hey gang - I need your help. I have a 2006 limited with no heat. I read a few threads and tried a few suggestions, but still no heat. Here are some details...

- Coolant level is OK
-engine temp levels are ok - warms up fine
- I ran the engine for about 20 minutes with the radiator cap off to try and "burp" out any trapped air in the heater core - No luck
- both hoses into/out of the heater core are hot

any other ideas? I can't believe the heater core could be kaput. Its only a 2006, right? Any help would be appreciated - of course this happens the day a winter storm and cold spell roll into town.

Could be the blower motor - check out this thread:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/45458-03-4runner-blower-problem.html

If you have an ice/snow build-up, it could stop the blower motor from functioning properly and prevent heat from entering the cabin.

 

[FirefighterD163]

I'm in WI and have the same issue. Did some research today and there was a recall back in 2003 due to moisture getting into the blower motor assembly. Try this to see if it's your problem... With the blower off lower the glovebox so the cabin air filter is accessable. Remove the cabin air filter and stick you hand into the hole... The blower is of the drum type and made of plastic. It will most likely be stuck but with the tips of your fingers rotate it untill it is free. Remove your hand and try the blower now... Do some internet searching on this issue and you will find the recall issue and the "OEM fix"

 

[sr5hi]

Hey gang - I need your help. I have a 2006 limited with no heat. I read a few threads and tried a few suggestions, but still no heat. Here are some details...

- Coolant level is OK
-engine temp levels are ok - warms up fine
- I ran the engine for about 20 minutes with the radiator cap off to try and "burp" out any trapped air in the heater core - No luck
- both hoses into/out of the heater core are hot

any other ideas? I can't believe the heater core could be kaput. Its only a 2006, right? Any help would be appreciated - of course this happens the day a winter storm and cold spell roll into town.

If you are not getting any air flow out of your vents then you should check if the blower motor/fan is working. If it is working then you may have a problem with the vacuum controlled doors which regulate the flow of warm and cold air in the system. You should also check the heater control valve that regulates coolant flow in the heater core. If this valve is not working, hot coolant cannot flow through the heater core to provide warm air for heating the interior. It is unlikely that the heater core itself is bad because your 4Runner is still relatively new. Heater cores get clogged on older vehicles with poorly maintained cooling systems due to rust and sludge build up.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I would try the above mentioned remedies first but you may also try disconnecting the battery for a while then reconnecting in an attempt to reset the climate control. It seems everything on these 4runners need a hard reset from time to time.

 

[eskimochaos]

Did you check the fuses?

 

[gassface]

Thanks everybody. I will try some of these suggestions and let you know if I can get some heat! It seems like the old mechanical versions were easier to fix, than the push button digital controls. Will post tonight!

 

[gassface]

If you are not getting any air flow out of your vents then you should check if the blower motor/fan is working. If it is working then you may have a problem with the vacuum controlled doors which regulate the flow of warm and cold air in the system. You should also check the heater control valve that regulates coolant flow in the heater core. If this valve is not working, hot coolant cannot flow through the heater core to provide warm air for heating the interior. It is unlikely that the heater core itself is bad because your 4Runner is still relatively new. Heater cores get clogged on older vehicles with poorly maintained cooling systems due to rust and sludge build up.

I am getting plenty of airflow. It even seems to produce minimal heat when accellerating, but not when coasting or at a stop. Not sure if that helps you or not.

 

[gaberelli]

Me too!!

Well, I found this thread because my '06 Limited V6 is experiencing the same problem. I get hot hoses to the core and plenty of air blowing but no heat in the cabin. So I think the issue is the gate that controls the flow of air through the heater core.

So here is the problem, we are in the middle of an expensive adoption and I get the feeling that accessing this is a time consuming affair (read expensive). Anyone here dug into this part that could provide some advice if I go the DIY route?

 

[gaberelli]

The blower is of the drum type and made of plastic. It will most likely be stuck but with the tips of your fingers rotate it untill it is free.

The issue is not the blower. I have plenty of air flow, it is just cold. There must be something busted in the air box that controls the air flow through the heater core. The debate is whether or not this is a task I can take on.

 

[gassface]

Hey gang - I need your help. I have a 2006 limited with no heat. I read a few threads and tried a few suggestions, but still no heat. Here are some details...

- Coolant level is OK
-engine temp levels are ok - warms up fine
- I ran the engine for about 20 minutes with the radiator cap off to try and "burp" out any trapped air in the heater core - No luck
- both hoses into/out of the heater core are hot

any other ideas? I can't believe the heater core could be kaput. Its only a 2006, right? Any help would be appreciated - of course this happens the day a winter storm and cold spell roll into town.

Quick Update in case someone else finds themselves with the same issue. After living with the problem for a couple of years I decided to bite the bullet and take it to the shop. Turns out my heater core was clogged. I could get some heat with recirculated air, but if I turned the fan to high it would blow cold after a few seconds. The mechanic said it was pretty rare, but it fixed the problem. All the motors and blend door actuators were functioning properly. $1050 at my indie mechanic.