Help - Heater stopped working

ToyotaDan

ToyotaDan

Guest
2003 4runner limited with v-8/4wd. This morning, it was 6 degrees, car starts fine but heater is not working. The indicator shows heater is supposed to be at full blast, but the fan doesnt engage. Car is at the train station. Do you guys think its just a fuse? or it was just too cold for it to kick in? Anyone else have this problem?
 
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Sounds like it could've been too cold for it to kick in. How far of a drive to the train station? This past weekend when I saw temps around 8* I noticed that my truck was only 1/3 up the coolant temp gauge when it's normally 1/2. It stayed like this around town until I got on the highway with higher rpm. But during the around town driving it wouldn't run as fast in auto mode (although it would show high on the display) as it would at normal temps achieved driving on the hwy.
 
Mike07SE said:
Sounds like it could've been too cold for it to kick in. How far of a drive to the train station? This past weekend when I saw temps around 8* I noticed that my truck was only 1/3 up the coolant temp gauge when it's normally 1/2. It stayed like this around town until I got on the highway with higher rpm. But during the around town driving it wouldn't run as fast in auto mode (although it would show high on the display) as it would at normal temps achieved driving on the hwy.
Click to expand...

its 3 miles, but the thing is, even when I hit it (the fan - so not in auto mode)manually to defrost my windows it didnt kick in.. normally does. Needless to say, I drove with limited visibility.
 
To answer my own question, I took the small 15 amp fuse out called HEATER2 and put it back the fan started to work. There was no faulty fuse or anything. Almost like a reboot or something like that was necessary. Is the 4runner running on Microsoft Windows :)

hahah

I actually had to do that with my nav last summer.
 
Just a follow up. The AC module was replaced and the heater works, but not in sub zero temps. Basically the fan doesnt turn on. Once the car warms up, it works. So dealer is having issues troubleshooting (by the time I get there, everything will work). Anyone have any ideas why cold weather is affecting the heater?
 
My blower fan doesn't start kicking in until my truck has started warming up enough for warm to blown into the cabin. Just the nature of a Auto or Semi-Auto climate control system.
 
Hello ToyotaDan,

If you live in an area with ice/snow, then this might be building up on your blower motor causing the motor not to turn.

Toyota has issued a Technical Service Bulletin for this very problem:

Component Description:
1. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER Bulletin Number: 00207
Bulletin Date: MAY 2007

Vehicle: 2003 Toyota 4Runner
Summary:
HVAC BLOWER MOTOR ICE BUILD UP. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10021712 )

Toyota will install (at no charge to you) a protective shield to cover the blower motor from snow/ice build up.

Hope this helps.
 
Bossman said:
Hello ToyotaDan,

If you live in an area with ice/snow, then this might be building up on your blower motor causing the motor not to turn.

Toyota has issued a Technical Service Bulletin for this very problem:

Component Description:
1. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER Bulletin Number: 00207
Bulletin Date: MAY 2007

Vehicle: 2003 Toyota 4Runner
Summary:
HVAC BLOWER MOTOR ICE BUILD UP. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10021712 )

Toyota will install (at no charge to you) a protective shield to cover the blower motor from snow/ice build up.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I looked up this service bulletin and didn't find anything. I'm having the same problem with my 2003. Fuse was good, but no fan. Indicator says the fan is on high, but it's not blowing air. It's really cold up here in Minnesota right now. Any ideas on a fix?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.....I'm freezing!
 
MNYota said:
I looked up this service bulletin and didn't find anything. I'm having the same problem with my 2003. Fuse was good, but no fan. Indicator says the fan is on high, but it's not blowing air. It's really cold up here in Minnesota right now. Any ideas on a fix?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.....I'm freezing!
Click to expand...

Can you get to the wires as they go into the blower? If so, check for voltage there. Ensure that the switch is ON and that it SHOULD be blowing. Obviously if you have correct voltage, your blower-motor is bad.

Good Luck
 
MNYota said:
I looked up this service bulletin and didn't find anything. I'm having the same problem with my 2003. Fuse was good, but no fan. Indicator says the fan is on high, but it's not blowing air. It's really cold up here in Minnesota right now. Any ideas on a fix?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.....I'm freezing!
Click to expand...

What do you mean you looked it up and couldn't find anything? Where did you look?

I did the TSB myself with a help of a mechanic friend who has access to All Data Pro or whatever it is called that the auto mechanics use to get TSB, parts, repair, and other information.

It was basicly some silicone and little foam wedgie thing to help block out the water from the blower fan.

Short term solution would be for you to remove the blower fan (from behind the glove box) and dry it out as well as moving the fan by hand to get it unstuck.
 
2004 4 Runner Blower Not Operating

Had this problem, veh sat for (1) day with temps 0 to +15. When temp went above ~25F the blower miraculously fixed itself. Go figure!!

:guitar3:
 
Same thing happened to us this weekend.

Didnt work this past Sat. morning, was on route to dealership to have them check it out when it started working again.

Yesterday, again, no heat.

Its in my garage at work, thawing-out. Hopefully that'll do the trick. If not, back to the shop it goes!

(btw, was a -14 deg. ride into work this morning. Holy crap!):violin:
 
Update: Had the heater kickin yesterday, parked it overnight, no fan movement AGAIN this morning.

Called the head tech at my dealership, he said the TSB is covered only the first 3 yrs 36k miles, and now id have to pay for it.

I dont think i have much of a choice, as this truck NEEDS HEAT up here in New England.

I wonder how much i'll get $crewed for...
 
parts are dirt cheap and labor should be one hour at most IMO. or you can try to do it yourself. sorry, i don't have the TSB procedure anymore, but someone on here might.
 
Thanks anyways.

My dealership has yet to screw me, so there is a level of trust there. They want me to drop it off tonight, they'll check it in the AM so they'll get a sense of what isnt working right.

I've done some work myself, but i would never start ripping out the fan. Sorry, im not a mechanic. I have a history of THINKING i know what im doing, then there's usually a "SNAP" and me saying "AWW !*&!@$!" and then im at the parts counter paying for my own mistake(s) and wasting hours, sometimes days. Not to mention, this is my wife's truck. I reeeeeally dont wanna have her after me for screwing it up!
 
zerowkul98 said:
I have a history of THINKING i know what im doing, then there's usually a "SNAP" and me saying "AWW !*&!@$!" and then im at the parts counter paying for my own mistake(s) and wasting hours, sometimes days. Not to mention, this is my wife's truck. I reeeeeally dont wanna have her after me for screwing it up!
Click to expand...

been there, done that on all accounts. :)
 
zerowkul98 said:
Update: Had the heater kickin yesterday, parked it overnight, no fan movement AGAIN this morning.

Called the head tech at my dealership, he said the TSB is covered only the first 3 yrs 36k miles, and now id have to pay for it.

I dont think i have much of a choice, as this truck NEEDS HEAT up here in New England.

I wonder how much i'll get $crewed for...
Click to expand...

I guess every dealership is different ...

I have developed a very good customer-service department relationship over the many, many years of my Toyota/Lexus ownership.

When I bought my 03 T4R used and had this blower motor ice build-up problem shortly after taking ownership from the dealership, I found the TSB and brought it in to them ... they did the repair (parts and labour) at no charge to me. I was way past warranty coverage on both time and mileage. Now that is customer service!

I'm not sure what the cost would have been. Hope it is reasonable in your case. And I hear you about needing heat!
 
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