Noisy and cold Heater

[Wstrelevitz]

Hi guys thanks for all the information on this forum. I just bought a used 2001 Toyota 4Runner SR5 with 140,000 miles. I am concerned because the heater is very loud and does not blow hot air. Even after about 15 min of the engine warming up, the heat is not warm. Winter is coming and I'm hoping to fix it before it starts getting too cold. If anyone has any ideas on what is wrong and how much it will cost to fix, that'd be great. Thanks.

 

[Gerdo]

Does it blow any air?
What is the "noisy" sound?

Possibly, if it is not blowing any air, the fan blades may not be attached to the fan motor anymore.

 

[Wstrelevitz]

No it the fan seems fine because it blows air. It's just the air never becomes warm or hot. And the noise is hard to describe. It's constant and fairly loud. Not quite clicking.

 

[BlackCat914]

sounds like a bad blower motor. There isn't really a whole lot more it could be. Does the noise get louder or faster the higher the speed? Make sure the heater core wasn't bypassed. If it was leaking at one point, a quick fix is to disconnect the lines at the firewall and just loop the coolant circuit. No more coolant leak, but no heat, either.

 

[nissanh]

Usually if the truck is parked prolonged periods, mice make it a heaven. They build houses right in the wiper motor/arm compartment. As soon as you turn on the fresh air, all the bits and pieces will suck in.

You can remove the blower motor by removing the glove box. After removing the glove box, Simply remove the 3 x 10 mm bots/bolts and the wire plug. Pull it out.

You should have rear heater in that truck. See whether you get hot air from it. Located right below the center console towards the rear seats.


Usually in 1-2 minutes I get the hot air in my truck.


It is very unlikely a 01 4runner has a bad heater.

There is a cable that open and close the heater valve allowing hot water to flow in to the heater core. This is located in the firewal right behind the engine. It looks like a black plastic unit with 3/4 inch houses running into it in either side and on top of it there is a leaver attached to a cable. See whether this leaver moves as you select the heater from inside of the truck. Feel the hotness in the water before the valve and after the valve when the engine is running.


I have posted a thread on how to remove the heater core called "heater core removal". There you can find on how to remove the glove box in early part of the thread.

 

[4R99JB]

This is the valve.

 

[Wstrelevitz]

Yes thanks alot. I will take out the blower motor and clean it out. hopefully that is all it is. if it is the heater valve how expensive is it to replace that? and could i do it myslef?

 

[nissanh]

Thanks for posting the pic!

Heater valve is plastic. The only way it can go bad is to leak coolant towards the heater core, which is what you want. What I am thinking is, may be the leaver is loose and it won't open the valve.

Have you checked the rear heater? Is it works fine?

 

[Wstrelevitz]

Yea thanks for the help on the heater valve. I checked it this morning and it moved when I turned it from cold to hot so I don't think it's that. I will check the blower motor next. Thanks for the help and the picture on the valve. Any advice getting the blower motor out?

 

[Wstrelevitz]

I pulled the blower motor out and ran it when it was out and it seemed like it ran fine. It was not noisy or anything. When I put it back in and turned the fan the same noise kept coming from under glove box. Any ideas what it is if its not the blower motor?

 

[snow junky]

the heater is a fairly simple system. try to post a video. sounds to me like what ever air blend door actuator is in there most be causing problems

 

[snow junky]

i have had the fan blades clog up with dirt leaves and crap but if you already checked that and its blowing not much els to it