Ticking Noise From Blower Motor?

[jerlane]

My 2012 TE has a noisy blower motor. It sounds like a ticking noise and happens intermittently. I had this same problem with my 2011 Tacoma. It seemed to be a pandemic with the Tacomas. It went away once I had the motor replaced on the Tacoma. There is a TSB for the Tacomas, but I haven't seen one for the 4runners.

Has anyone else had this problem? I'm wondering if they use the same motor as the Tacomas.

Thanks!

 

[GrantK]

Check the easy thing first. Remove the cabin filter (in the glove box) and clean out any leaves, twigs or other junk.

 

[jerlane]

Check the easy thing first. Remove the cabin filter (in the glove box) and clean out any leaves, twigs or other junk.

Thanks, I was going to give that a try this weekend. I'll be surprised if there's anything there since the truck is only 3 months old, but you never know. I hope to find something.

 

[Mason]

I'm going with what GrantK says! I didn't think anything of it when I was looking through my glove box a month ago. I figure I would take a look and see how dirty the filter was, and to my surprise I ended up having a whole mound of twigs and leaves in it. Some pieces are probably still in there... Sadly it isn't a garage queen as it has been outside the past two years.

I thought the problem with the Tacomas had to deal with a high pitched buzzing noise? I've noticed a noise like that before when the heat or AC was on the lower settings... Is that what we are talking about?

 

[Jivewalker]

I had the chirp chirp fan in my 11 taco as well. Had the fan replaced under the TSB and it went away. My 12 TE has not done this yet, hopefully it's not the same thing.

 

[RubiconSS]

Thanks, I was going to give that a try this weekend. I'll be surprised if there's anything there since the truck is only 3 months old, but you never know. I hope to find something.

You could end up with a leaf in there first day driving home. Any time I have had intermittent "ticking" sounds when the fan was on - it was a leaf.
Good luck with it. :thumb3:

 

[jerlane]

I'm going with what GrantK says! I didn't think anything of it when I was looking through my glove box a month ago. I figure I would take a look and see how dirty the filter was, and to my surprise I ended up having a whole mound of twigs and leaves in it. Some pieces are probably still in there... Sadly it isn't a garage queen as it has been outside the past two years.

I thought the problem with the Tacomas had to deal with a high pitched buzzing noise? I've noticed a noise like that before when the heat or AC was on the lower settings... Is that what we are talking about?

I would definitely describe it as a ticking sound, which is just what my tacoma sounded like. It's seems to be mainly on the lower fan speeds. Interestingly, if it is making the sound and I turn the AC off (but leave the fan on) the noise goes away. It also only seems to happen with the vehicle in drive but not in park.

 

[jerlane]

I had the chirp chirp fan in my 11 taco as well. Had the fan replaced under the TSB and it went away. My 12 TE has not done this yet, hopefully it's not the same thing.

Another early Taco convert!

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

I know the sound. My dad's 10' Taco has is really bad and my truck seems to have it on the lower fan speeds, pretty much anything below half way.

 

[jerlane]

Update: it was a leaf festival in there! I can't believe how much crap was in there after such a short time. I cleaned the filter and vacuumed out the fan since leaf fell in there and the noise is gone.

Thanks for the help!

 

[casselj]

I had the chirp chirp fan in my 11 taco as well. Had the fan replaced under the TSB and it went away. My 12 TE has not done this yet, hopefully it's not the same thing.

I think this is the same issue I'm having in my 4R. Sound is definitely coming from up under the glove box on the passenger side. Only happens at fairly cold temperatures (<50) and sounds like a crickets chirping really loud. It's annoying as hell. Anyone know if there is a TSB for 4runners on this or if it's covered under warranty?