Auto Climate Control Servo Motor Replacement

[BamaDrewski]

I have a 2000 T4R Limited with the Auto Climate Control. In 2009, the heater was not blowing heat and I took it to the stealership. For $340, they replaced the “Air Flow Control Servo Motor.” So, here I am in 2013 and I had a similar issue. This time, the heat is blowing when in fresh-air vent mode. I ran the “self-diagnostics” on the climate control and it gave me a code which said the same part I replaced in 2009 was faulty. I contacted my parts guy at Toyota of Newnan, spent a little more than $100 and they shipped me the new servo. It was kind of a pain to replace but with patience and the right tools, it’s no big deal. (Three screws of which one is a B1T(H to replace) So, now the Auto Climate Control works like a champ again. If you are having a similar issue, let me know and I can try and post some pics on how to replace the servo motor.

 

[Brignola85]

I had the same problem on my 99'. I ended up removing the panel, and adjusting the 'arm' manually until I scrounged around and waited for a part out. A dude from this site sent me the part for the price of shipping.

 

[inthepipe5by5]

I am having this exact problem on my '02 Limited. Can you please post more info before winter comes and i turn into a popsicle?

 

[Singtoe]

I took my servo apart and flipped the stripped gear and solved the problem.

 

[BamaDrewski]

Your unit must be different than mine. The gear is "one sided" - meaning, the bottom of the gear has little metal strands/blades that contact a plate for a connection. (Kind of like needles on a record player) Flipping the gear over put doesn't allow for the sensor arms to touch. (they would be on the top side. Regardless, the replacement is not hard. If you look at the passenger side heater vent (at the front section of the center console - close to the floor) you will see the small motor. You need a short Phillips head and I also used a ratchet with a Phillips head bit. There are three screws. The first two screws are not difficult. It is the rear screw (back towards the driver's side) that you can see. You have to feel around to get to it. (This is where I used the small ratchet with the Phillips head bit). Take out the three screws and slide in the new motor making sure the control arm catches on the upper control arm of the motor. Takes about 30 minutes to do.

 

[USMC0351]

This is slightly off topic, but other than the control unit obviously, what is the difference between the two climate control setups? In other words, my completely asanine question is could the 99+ controls be retrofitted into a 98- truck? Haven't seen it done but this thread kind of got me curious about it.

 

[BamaDrewski]

It's a reasonable question. If you are thinking of a swap from a manual system with the knobs to a Auto Climate Control System like on the Limited editions, there would probably be an issue. The Auto Climate Control system uses a series of servo motors to open and control the vents through the control panel. These motors would require wiring harnesses to operate. The knob/manual style version probably does not require these servo motors and the vents probably open and close when you turn the knobs. Just a thought but not entirely sure if this is correct.

 

[Singtoe]

Your unit must be different than mine. The gear is "one sided" - meaning, the bottom of the gear has little metal strands/blades that contact a plate for a connection. (Kind of like needles on a record player) Flipping the gear over put doesn't allow for the sensor arms to touch. (they would be on the top side. Regardless, the replacement is not hard. If you look at the passenger side heater vent (at the front section of the center console - close to the floor) you will see the small motor. You need a short Phillips head and I also used a ratchet with a Phillips head bit. There are three screws. The first two screws are not difficult. It is the rear screw (back towards the driver's side) that you can see. You have to feel around to get to it. (This is where I used the small ratchet with the Phillips head bit). Take out the three screws and slide in the new motor making sure the control arm catches on the upper control arm of the motor. Takes about 30 minutes to do.

I did notice that one side of the gear has 5 fingers and the other side had 6. Two finger per track except one .

I flipped the gear just to try it and it works with no malfunctions or codes.

 

[alaskaflyer]

I think I'm having this problem now. I get the clicking from the servo, and all I get is heat, AC no longer works.

Does this sound like the same issues you guys have had.

 

[alaskaflyer]

Part number?

 

[nissanh]

Replied

Part number?

PM'd

 

[alaskaflyer]

Picked up a Servo from forum member, everything is working as it should again. Only took about 20 minutes. :bluejump:

 

[T4R-DDOGG]

Picked up a Servo from forum member, everything is working as it should again. Only took about 20 minutes. :bluejump:

Do you have the part number for the servomotor?

thanks,

 

[BamaDrewski]

The part number for the servo I bought from Toyota was: 87106-35070

This is the servo for the 2000 T4R Limited with the digital climate control and this is the servo on the passnger side (front) down near the console. Hope this helps!

 

[MS4Runner]

Servo motor

I went to the Toyota dealership today for a recall notice and asked them to check why my air/heat was not deflecting based on selector switch. They told me the part was $100 but the labor was $1034, says it takes 9 hours to,remove dash. Can someone post some pictures of this for me since it doesn't seem that it is really all what Toyota is saying.

 

[BamaDrewski]

I went to the Toyota dealership today for a recall notice and asked them to check why my air/heat was not deflecting based on selector switch. They told mem he part was $100 but the labor was $1034, says it takes 9 hours to,remove dash. Can someone post some pictures of this for me since it doesn't seem that it is really all what Toyota is saying.

First off, does your rig have the auto climate control that came on the Limited edition? If so, there seem to be only two servo motors on the system. The one that usually goes bad is the servo on the passenger side down on the left bottom corner (about where the passengers left foot would land). The other servo looks like it is mounted to the blower unit system. (looking at the FSM that is...) I have never had to deal with that. NOW, if there is something wrong with your heater core, that is a different story and they probably would have to take out the dash to fix that. Try and figure out what they actually quoted you....did they write it down? If it is a servo motor, it's a 20-30 minute fix and the part costs about $125 with shipping from Toyota of Dallas. Or, alternatively, you can take out the old unit, take it apart and rotate the plastic gear 180 degrees, put it back together, install it and see if it works.

 

[MS4Runner]

I do have the Auto Climate Control. I have a 4 Runner Sport. They did quote a servo motor and it was the ~1100. When I got a survey and complained about it I got a call from the dealership and they were telling me that it was worst case scenario and that they had to discharge and recharge the AC in addition to taking out the dash etc. I am going to look around and see if I can get to it based on your suggestions. I might also add that some of the bulbs seem to be out as well and wonder if there is a fuse somewhere that could be causing all of this? I have no lights on the low, med high selector or the Temp Up/Down and AC/Auto selector switch. The 3rd selector switch for Face, defroster, floor etc is fine. Thoughts?

 

[BamaDrewski]

I do have the Auto Climate Control. I have a 4 Runner Sport. They did quote a servo motor and it was the ~1100. When I got a survey and complained about it I got a call from the dealership and they were telling me that it was worst case scenario and that they had to discharge and recharge the AC in addition to taking out the dash etc. I am going to look around and see if I can get to it based on your suggestions. I might also add that some of the bulbs seem to be out as well and wonder if there is a fuse somewhere that could be causing all of this? I have no lights on the low, med high selector or the Temp Up/Down and AC/Auto selector switch. The 3rd selector switch for Face, defroster, floor etc is fine. Thoughts?

First off, if your dealer is quoting $1,100 for the servo I am thinking off (passenger side foot well by the console) he is either an outright thug, smoking crack or both. As far as them telling you they had to discharge and recharge the AC system for a servo motor replacement, they are LYING to you if it is the servo I mentioned. AFTER THE STUFF I AM HEARING YOUR DEALER TOLD YOU, I AM THINKING YOU LIVE IN BEVERLY HILLS WHERE THE DUMB-ASS PARIS HILTON'S OF THE WORLD BELIEVE THIS KIND OF SHENANIGANS. I would be reporting that dealer to Toyota USA for that kind of crap. You are right to question these clowns.

I picked up a new servo (Toyota Part # 87106-35070) from Toyota of Dallas just last week for $125 (and change + shipping) and it took me 20 minutes to swap it out. IMPORTANT: Make sure to check your water valve movement and cable under the hood. If the cable is hard to move, it will strip out the gears in the new servo!) As far as the lights/bulbs on the ACC, they are easy to change. You take off the trim around the center console, remove the unit, remove the electronic face from the plastic housing and there are the bulbs. They have little green "condoms" on them you have to re-use for the green light. (Slip them over the white bulbs which are twist connects - BE CAREFUL NOT TO TWIST TOO HARD AND DAMAGE THE ELECTRONIC FILM ON THE BOARD)

I bought replacement bulbs at the dealer, put on the green condoms, twisted them in and they work fine.

I can walk you through the whole servo replacement and light bulbs. Send me a PM and I will send you my #. Glad to help if I can.

 

[MikeOregon]

Thank you BamaDrewski,
I have the same servo that has been out for quite some time now. It was making a weird pulsing humming sound whenever the rig was on so I unplugged it to silence it.
Trip to the local stealership awhile back and they looked it up and quoted me $360 for the part! The guy said I might be able to take it apart and make it work again but I haven't done it.
This is good news that the part isn't really that much (and it helps to know there's only three screws to get it out). I'll have to fix it now after checking the valve under the hood first.

Question; If I do need the part, is that Toyota of Dallas *TEXAS* where you got the part? Thanks again.

 

[MikeOregon]

Awesome... Fixed

A big thanks for bringing this up. I just went out and pulled the servo, took it apart, rotated the stripped gear 180 degrees (has to be exactly 180 so the contacts on the back line up), lubed the cables, pivots, etc. with a dry teflon cable lube (for bikes), and presto... it worked like a charm. NO COST except a bit of time.
If you do this, also make sure to set the cable from the engine compartment to the cold position and the servo also in the cold position so you can set the servo arm on the servo shaft in the right position so it doesn't jam.

:cheers: