Heater fan not blowing

[Runner Up]

Two days ago we got close to 10" of very powdery snow, and my fan worked great. Yesterday was -19C and it wouldn't come on. I drove 40 minutes to a garage and they put it in a heated bay to let it warm up, and then lightly tapped on the fan motor and it started working, and worked for the rest of the day and evening. This morning it was -23C, and again, the fan isn't working. So, it seems as though somehow light powdery snow or condensation is getting into the fan motor and freezing up.

Is there anything I can do to get rid of the condensation in the motor, and then prevent snow or condensation from getting inside it going forward, or should I replace the motor, and if so, will a new fan motor resist getting powdery snow and condensation from getting inside it?

 

[Runner Up]

I just read on another thread some information on TSB # AC002-07 issued on May 18, 2007. The TSB can be found here:

http://www.justanswer.com/uploads/skyvisions/2008-12-16_164136_03_runner.pdf

To summarize, Toyota recommends installing a little triangle "Blower Packing" which costs $12 CDN plus tax.

It also recommends applying sealant around the blower case, and then installing a new blower motor. The sealant is approximately $22 CDN plus tax. I will use general exterior window caulking, and after thawing out the the motor and blowing it out with an air compressor, I will drill two small holes in the bottom of the original fan motor and re-install it.

Finally, it recommends installing a new, redesigned plastic cowling below the windshield which costs about $650 CDN plus tax. I think not!!!

 

[Bossman]

I had posted about this in the TSB sub-forum.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/tsb/95186-ac002-07-hvac-blower-motor-ice-build-up.html

Happened to me, too

 

[4RunnerTime]

Hi all. This just happened to me and there doesn't seem to be a ton of info about it. I can get behind a new blower motor, the little triangle thingy, and the sealant. I'm curious if the windshield cowel part is mandatory or just preventative?

Also curious if the blower motor is fixable (it runs fine when not frozen) or is it just worth it to get a new blower? I could bring it in to let it dry out and maybe lube the bearings (using a hydrophobic grease?)

Finally -- where do you buy the little triangle part? Does it come with a new blower motor? When I search the part-numbers in the TSB I can't quite find it.