Blower noise

[xcx85]

My hvac blower is annoyingly loud. Its lower than the radio up to 5. Its the high pitch frequency even on the lowest setting. Dealer said to then up the radio. What crap. We gor got in another new one and it had it too, just not as bad.

This is horrible for a nearly $40k vehicle. Anyone get it fixed? Its not a leaf or filter but a bad motor or fitting. Plan on making myself eally annoying to Toyota and the dealer ship with any facts.

Yep, started noticing that high pitch frequency/static noise probably 6 months ago. Brought it to my local dealer and mechanic did confirm the noise. He then compared it to a new 2018 4R and it also had the same noise.

It's really annoying especially that they said it's "normal".

 

[MaltLiquor]

The blower in my 4runner has always made a little more noise than I think it should, especially on the lower settings, I'm just curious if anyone else notices this or if maybe I have a bad blower motor.

It's not the kind of noise you get from the fan turning fast and moving a lot of air. It just seems like it's coming from the motor. Sorry I can't describe it.

i have noticed that on my 2017 OffRoad Pro. Very annoying at low settings.

 

[4RHoser]

I had the same "whine", which was especially noticeable at low speeds on my 2017 TRDP (noticed it the first time I turned on the fan). Took it to the dealer eventually, they replaced the fan. The new one was exactly the same. I brought it back, and a different technician brought in his personal 4R to compare. Same noise in his. "That's the way it is" was the conclusion.

 

[tacoyota]

Yep, AC on low the blower makes a very low noise...Guess they could have used a better motor. Good to know its normal...I guess

 

[ToolUser1]

I have the same fan noise - I high pitched whine that's _much_ more annoying on low speeds. On high speeds it's somewhat drowned out by the sound of the airflow but it never really goes away if the fan is on. I pulled it once to check for obstructions (none) and added a drop of oil to the bearing which seemed to help a little for a very short time - but not very much and for not very long. Or it could have been the placebo effect 'cause it was probably a sealed bearing...

I actually have several electrical rants and it really feels to me like MrT tried to save a bit too much money on the electrical components in the 5th gens:

It's the ONLY vehicle I've ever owned where the windows freeze closed pretty much anytime it's wet and the weather drops below freezing. The motor's just aren't strong enough to break even the slightest stickiness. It's exceedingly frustrating if your commute requires you to open your window every morning. (Pull up to checkpoint in cool looking trail edition off road beast, then pull slightly past and open your door, explaining to the guard that the window is frozen... either again or still, as the case may be).

I can hear the motors in the dash straining to move the HVAC valves every time I make an adjustment. Admittedly its always worked so far, but it's not confidence inspiring.

My sunroof motor is only able to close the roof about 70% of the time without a little extra manual push at the 3/4 point where it starts to depress the air dam. I eventually got tired of wasting time at the dealer so I've tried every (yes, every) tip and hint and resetting and greasing and de-greasing, etc. but to no effect.

But second most annoying after the fan noise is that the rear window wiper doesn't make a full arc and leaves a big section of dirty right on one whole side of the view from a properly adjusted rear view mirror. But that's more a straight up design flaw as the motor at least seems to work well.

OK - frustrated electrical rant over. :sobbing:

But I do feel the pain on the blower noise. I've heard it in several 5th gens so probably the only guaranteed long term solution would be to pull the motor apart and see if you can put in better bearings. From my experience that's easy on some motors and impossible on others - but I'm no expert and have too many other things on my to-do list to try it myself.

 

[MossJenks]

 

[4RHoser]

It's the ONLY vehicle I've ever owned where the windows freeze closed pretty much anytime it's wet and the weather drops below freezing.

I've actually found the opposite. While I've had the windows freeze shut in the 4R, I've actually been surprised how many times they've opened. My other cars it was pretty much given that they wouldn't open below freezing.

 

[4RHoser]

Turn it up to 11

This was how my 4R was returned to me when the blower was replaced. I immediately turned it down to a reasonable speed and sure enough the noise was still there. Perhaps the high speed was a 'suggestion'.

 

[Cat3g0ry5]

I've taken the fan out, checked all around, cleaned filter, no leaves, still making that whine. I do notice when I put my hand on the motor housing to check for vibrations, the noise is diminished. Maybe resonance or vibrations from a poor mounting design?

Has anyone received a reason as to why the noise occurs? I have a '14 trail with 63k, and I've had the noise for the last 20k or so. My mother has a '16 Limited, and her blower doesn't make the whine (although she has engine compartment noise that I don't experience, but thats a separate issue). Tried taking the fan apart from the motor assembly/spindle, but that black cap is stuck on there tight. Couldn't budge it.

 

[FactoryT4R]

Wife had the same issue in her 2011 Sienna. They replaced it under warranty. However, I will also post her habit. She leaves the motor on when she shuts the car off or turns it on, heat for winter and AC for summer. Crazy woman. I on the other hand, shut it off prior to shutting the car off. Little things...

Pensacola33: Are you saying that you turn the a/c system OFF before you turn your truck off??



I have had my blower replaced once b/c it had a high pitch electric motor whine to it on low... pretty much what everyone is saying here, but a new sound is here now... On low, it sounds like the fan is close to a higher speed. Goes away when I turn the system off. Perfect...

 

[FactoryT4R]

Yep, started noticing that high pitch frequency/static noise probably 6 months ago. Brought it to my local dealer and mechanic did confirm the noise. He then compared it to a new 2018 4R and it also had the same noise.

It's really annoying especially that they said it's "normal".

It's the brand of motor you get. I'd just buy them all from rockauto and keep the one that is quiet... send the others back as "defective". Mine was replaced by autonation and it didnt make the sound afterwards.

 

[pDubs]

My 2014 blower motor is getting pretty loud and annoying. Newish filter is in there (only a few months old) and I opened it up again to check for leaves or anything. The air feels weaker as well.

Anyone have a replacement recommendation? I've read the Advance Auto or Autozone ones are louder than the OEMs.

 

[Crush2.0]

Didn't read all posts but mine had critters in it. According to the dealership it is very common for critters to go in specifically to eat the soy based filters. Replaced filter and fan motor and charged me to make a custom screen. Crazy!

 

[FLY_FISHING]

not sure of the design of the motor now, but the tacomas had a common issue where the fan would tick and it was the bushes, you could take it apart and smooth down the brushes and the noise would go away

 

[Surfinguru]

not sure of the design of the motor now, but the tacomas had a common issue where the fan would tick and it was the bushes, you could take it apart and smooth down the brushes and the noise would go away

Yep, my 2007 Tacoma had that and I've noticed the same thing on my 2017 4Runner. Figured it was just a Toyota thing. I only really notice it on the lowest speed setting, but that's my primary setting. So, turn up the radio and have a arty:

 

[MaltLiquor]

My 2017 4Runner ORP had the same issue. Dealership replaced the blower motor under warranty.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[skier686]

Having the same noise issue as described with the blower being noticeably noisy on the lower fan speeds. It's a '17 4runner with 20k. Just bought it certified this weekend and its annoying the hell out of me after only 3 days. I dropped the blower motor. It was clean and so was the casing that it sits in under the dash. I stopped by the dealer this morning and the service writer sat in the car and said it sounds normal. He told me to drive it longer and if its get louder then to bring it back.

I came from a '06 4runner and I've noticed that the '17 cabin is a million times quieter so I'm guessing that the quietness of the cabin is amplifying the crappy toyota blower. It's not reassuring hearing that others have had their blowers replaced and the noise is still there. Has anyone found a different brand blower that works?

Anyone have any other suggestions? I'm going to try and take mine apart and grease the bearings.

 

[Orc]

Well one guy said he pulled into a auto zone then replaced it himself in 10 mins for 150 so this isnt a dealer required fix.

 

[JP421]

My 2019 has been loud since the day I drove it home.

After reading this I will bring it up when at the dealer for maintenance.

 

[Rapid_Amble]

Is the noise from bearings or the blower motor?

In older BMWs the bearings would go bad, and it created a higher pitched chirping noise, like crickets. I thought then that it might be tied to cabin air filters not being changed often enough.