Blower motor replacement

[Jeff614]

Was wondering if any of you have had your blower motor replaced? Couldn't find many 5th gen. threads relating to a problem with them.

2014 TE with 47xxx miles, started to notice a "ticking" relating to the speed of the blower a few months ago. Happens on all settings and vent directions.

"Ticking" has gotten worse recently and fan speed seems to vary on its own, today the fan completely died.

Cabin filter is replaced regularly but checked for obstructions anyway and all looks good. Figuring there wasn't much to be done I checked the general area of the blower motor, but still no movement. Blower finally came back on as I accelerated onto the freeway but now comes on only at random.

Had a GX whose blower motor made the same ticking sound but it held strong in the 75xxx miles I owned it. Anyone replaced, or had one replaced on a 5th gen.? Doesn't look terribly hard to get to but being an apartment dweller I'm gonna take it in (where it will of course work perfectly for the dealer).

Know I'm not under warranty so if anyone else has had theirs replaced I'd love to know what I can expect.

Thanks in advance!
- Jeff

 

[ST1FLER]

your the first Ive heard of.... 47k on a 2014? you love drivin eh?

 

[Jeff614]

your the first Ive heard of.... 47k on a 2014? you love drivin eh?

Yea, found quite a few 4th gen issues. Lots revolving around the "blend door" that changes the vent direction.

Haha! yea I do. Ironically this is first issue I've had with the truck. All things considered not the end of the world but an annoying issue all the same.

- Jeff

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

I really don't know what the 5th gen motor looks like, but you might wanna just pull it all apart and clean the brushes and drop some oil on the bearings.

I've had to do this on more than one vehicle in the past and that's gotten many more thousands of miles out of them before they finally die completely. And on every one of them, it was the brushes coated with dust and crap that put 'em down! A little 1200 grit on the commutator (copper "pads" where the brushes touch) and some light oil really brings them back to life!

And, if that doesn't work, you might be able to just take the motor over to an alternator/motor rewinding shop to have the whole thing repaired for less than a new motor--sometimes! YMMV!!!!

If you do take it apart, please take photos of the process and what you find! That would be good info for some of us here!!!

 

[Jeremy556]

31 Fan & Motor (c) 1.2 87103-60400 $157.00

Not too bad, only $157 retail, so you can get it for 20-25% less than that online. 1.2 hour install time.

The fan in my 2nd gen Tacoma always ticked and it drove me crazy. Fortunately my 4runner only ticks when there are leaves and crap stuck in there.

 

[Jeff614]

Thanks to you both! $157 or so plus install is less than I was imagining. I'm guessing the exploded image of parts 31 & 32 are where the problem lies.

Given that it doesn't seem to hard too get to I'd be tempted to try it myself, but without a spot to work on it and most tools in storage I'd probably make the problem worse and wind up with a bucket of parts .

Hopefully taking it in tomorrow and will report back with what's found/replaced and cost/time.

- Jeff

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

And one other thing, if its only $157, buy the TOYOTA one! The aftermarket ones suck! Replaced the one in my truck with a "lifetime" warranty, and that fan puts out about half the normal amount of force! Yeah, it'll never die if its only spinnin' at half the speed!!! :ak472:

 

[Jeff614]

And one other thing, if its only $157, buy the TOYOTA one! The aftermarket ones suck! Replaced the one in my truck with a "lifetime" warranty, and that fan puts out about half the normal amount of force! Yeah, it'll never die if its only spinnin' at half the speed!!! :ak472:

Couldn't agree more. I'm sure there are decent non-OEM parts, brake pads come mind, but a blower motor I don't think I'd take a chance on. GF had her A/C compressor replaced at a shop with an off-brand and the performance is awful.

- Jeff

 

[Jeremy556]

I haven't removed the blower motor, but have removed basically all of the dash to install a remote start. I would be comfortable tackling the job in a parking lot. I don't think you would need any tools other than a small plastic prying tool, 10mm socket, and maybe a phillips screw driver. You'll want to disconnect the battery before removing the knee airbag.

 

[96r50]

Looks pretty easy.

 

[Salvo]

Mine did the exact same thing at about 8k miles. Clicking for about a week and then it died. Replaced under warranty 3 months ago and now the clicking has started again. That obviously doesn't help you replace it, but you're not the only one.

 

[Jeff614]

Looks pretty easy.

View attachment 175323

View attachment 175322

Thanks for posting that! That does make it look a little easier when only focusing on getting at just the blower motor.

Dropped it off at the dealer early this morning (first time ever ironically) and of course the fan was working, still with the loud ticking though. Strangely enough it only turned on today after once again getting the rpm's up getting on the highway.

Will report back on what they find. Have a feeling it'll fall into the "cannot duplicate problem" scenario. Given I'll be paying a diagnostic fee I'm almost tempted to have it replaced regardless and not worry about anymore.

Def prefer to fix things myself when I can but this cave my apartment complex calls a garage makes anything but the most simple and routine tasks difficult.

Will report back on results. Thanks everyone. Hopefully the info above will help anyone else that runs into this problem.

- Jeff

 

[Jeff614]

Took the dealer a little longer than I thought to get back to me since I dropped it off early this morning, but the blower motor was indeed the culprit, specifically a bearing that they claim was the cause of the consistent "ticking" sound.

Quoted $345 for part and install. Not cheap but seems in-line with what Jeremy556 had posted assuming labor rates in northern VA. As this is literally the first issue I've had I can't complain much. Does seem a possible do-it-yourself fix for those with the time/tools/location and I'd think would even be a covered by warranty for those with less miles than mine.

Dealer didn't have the part so I'll get it back tomorrow with hopes of a nice quiet fan. Will post back with final cost as well.

Once again, thanks all for the help!!

- Jeff

 

[Lester Lugnut]

and I'd think would even be a covered by warranty for those with less miles than mine.

If I read your opening post correctly, you have < 60K miles. This should be covered under warranty.

 

[Jeremy556]

If I read your opening post correctly, you have < 60K miles. This should be covered under warranty.

60K is power train, bumper to bumper is only 36K

 

[Jeff614]

If I read your opening post correctly, you have < 60K miles. This should be covered under warranty.

I'll certainly double check but they kindly reminded me that it wouldn't be covered as I'm past the 3yr/36k miles (whichever comes first, miles for me!! Yay!) basic warranty and they wouldn't consider this falling under the 5yr/60k miles powertrain warranty.

FWIW I didn't purchase any of the extended warranty plans. Have had mixed results with them on past vehicles and weighed the 4runners reliability against the added cost. Just my opinion, know lots of folks swear by them.

Will ask again though and see what they say, can't hurt!


- Jeff

 

[Lester Lugnut]

60K is power train, bumper to bumper is only 36K

Thanks for the clarification.

Still...pathetic that a company that claims to make such great vehicles won't cover this.

 

[Jeff614]

So after two full days in the shop and $493.17 the trucks back with a quiet and powerful blower motor installed.

Not quite sure what to think as admittedly this is my first time at (any) Toyota dealer and this particular dealer's pricing may just be the norm. Yesterday afternoon I got the call and an estimate of $345, about what I expected thanks to all the great info posted here and knew sometimes it comes in a bit higher.

What wasn't mentioned was the $146 diagnostic fee on top of that. I've encountered these fees before at other dealers over the myriad of vehicles I've owned but seemed to recall they usually apply to either problems that are more difficult to diagnose, and/or charged should you choose to not have the work performed after being diagnosed. Freely admit I could be wrong, and I know techs can't work for free but just felt that this should've been factored into the estimate which I repeated back to the service manager to be sure we were on the same page.

Is what it is I suppose, again this was my first, and hopefully last time using a dealer (especially since a shop we all know and love was literally in walking distance from this dealer). And I literally have not had a single issue in the time I've owned it. When I paid the bill I thought I was back at the Lexus dealer, 'cept no free donuts/massage chairs/flatscreens lol)

Anyway, not a dealer rant. Just bringing the thread full circle for anyone who finds themselves with the same problem. Advice.....if its just the blower motor, do it yourself!

Be interested to hear others' thoughts on that price though. Bearing in my this was in northern VA where I'd think prices might a little higher than average.

Anywho, thank you all for the help and posting those images.


- Jeff

 

[philsey]

I'd be throwing a hissy-fit over the quote vs the end price. After all, what is a quote for?

If there is a diagnostic fee, it should quoted - yes? Seems a little slimy to me.

Besides, what the hell was to diagnose? You went in to have it replaced, it was known bad, yes?

 

[Jeremy556]

They didn't diagnose shit. The labor to replace is a cake job, too. I wouldn't have paid it.