Does anyone know what this is?

[zooroadbaja]

My 4Runner just started doing this. You can see the white arm in the second picture. Whatever it is the motor keeps opening and closing the arm. I can't figure out what it's for and if its shorting out or what's causing it. Any help?

 

[BigFishAllDay]

HVAC control motor/arm. On all Limited models and later models w/the rotary knob HVAC controls, the flaps that control the direction of the air flow (feet/face/defrost and vent/recirc) are controlled electronically.

Sound like one of your motors is wigging out. Turn on your heater/AC and see what symptoms show up. That's all I've got.

 

[zooroadbaja]

I thought it was for the AC/Heater too, but I've messed with all the gauges, AC, Circulated Air, just continues to do it, and every so often it doesn't. But it seems all my air controls work on whatever I put them on. I'm thinking of pulling the fuse for the AC if there is one and see if it resets it, or maybe tracing the wire and unplugging it and see what happens. Is this something that goes that needs replacing?

 

[BigFishAllDay]

There have been a few threads posted over the years where someone is having trouble w/them, but it's not a common issue IMO.

Is your 4Runner a limited model? IIRC, you just set a temp on the limiteds and the HVAC unit automatically controls to that temp. If that's the case, then maybe the temperature sensor isn't getting a constant reading/providing a clean signal to the HVAC control unit and the unit is cycling that motor as part of it's attempts to control to the temp you set. I'm guessing now, just fyi.

I'm curious to see what others have to say.

 

[zooroadbaja]

02 SR5 I believe, dash looks like this

 

[zooroadbaja]

Anyone else have any advice?

 

[moneypit]

Re: HVAC issues

It's the servo that regulates heat/AC. The control sometimes fails and just clicks or keeps moving. Try the attached.

 

[rebelbowtie]

I've had this go out on almost every vehicle I have owned. If you need to replace it, it should be called a "blend door actuator" or something along those lines. You're lucky it's an older vehicle, my GM truck the part had to be programmed by the dealer since it had multiple zones and automatic fan and temp control.

 

[zooroadbaja]

It was finally cold enough in CA to turn on the heater last night, and when I did it stopped doing it. So I figured that's what it was. But thanks for the info, very helpful.