Cabin air filter causing weird noise?

ltjpayne · 10-14-2008, 03:20 AM

My truck is making a weird noise from the passenger side floorboard area. It is almost like a constant, quiet clicking noise only when the fan is on. Doesn't matter which setting the heat/AC is on... As long as the fan is on it makes the noise, and gets progressively more loud and agressive sounding as the fan speed is increased. Could it be due to a dirty cabin air filter? Only have 14k but frequently travel in very dusty areas.

Janster · 10-14-2008, 03:56 AM

Take the cabin filter out (temporarily) and see if the clicking sound goes away. That'll tell ya if its the cabin filter.

After only one year and 10K miles - I was amazed at how dirty mine was. I got a new one and kept the old one (cleaned it and set it aside).

mws4ua · 10-14-2008, 12:36 PM

Do all of our trucks come w/ a cabin air filter? The manual says that it needs to be replaced at 30k miles (if equipped) and I was wondering how I know if I have one.

Bart · 10-14-2008, 12:42 PM

Replace it!! I did mine the other day I went 28000 with out doing it it was nasty. I found leave's in it and all kind of shit. It's easy to replace drop the glove box and you will see to latches pull them down and pull it out. The replacement cost about 35 buck's.

lsocoee · 10-14-2008, 12:44 PM

The clicking is probably from leaves or something.

BeefTaco · 10-14-2008, 12:44 PM

Could be that some debris got down into blower motor cage and it is wedged in the cage and every time it rotates it is hitting the blower motor housing making a ticking noise.

Isocoee beat me to it ^^^^^

linkfeeney · 10-14-2008, 01:16 PM

the cabin filter thingy isn't cheap, the only one i saw was purolator like $30

Rockstar Junkie · 10-14-2008, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltjpayne

My truck is making a weird noise from the passenger side floorboard area. It is almost like a constant, quiet clicking noise only when the fan is on. Doesn't matter which setting the heat/AC is on... As long as the fan is on it makes the noise, and gets progressively more loud and agressive sounding as the fan speed is increased. Could it be due to a dirty cabin air filter? Only have 14k but frequently travel in very dusty areas.

I just made an appointment this morning for the same thing on my truck (plus an other issue). I just noticed it this morning sitting at a train crossing. I didnt have the stereo on, and noticed the little clicking. Finally linked it to the passenger side floorboard/under dash area. I know it has something to do with the blower/vent down there cause if I turn the fan off, it goes away. Let me know if you find out anything.

lsocoee · 10-14-2008, 01:26 PM

Occasionally, I'd get a click. going from 0 to full speed on the AC controls helps out.

Rockstar Junkie · 10-14-2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsocoee

Occasionally, I'd get a click. going from 0 to full speed on the AC controls helps out.

I noticed that makes it go away, but only for a few seconds before it comes back. I will go check the cabin air filter right now.

Rockstar Junkie · 10-14-2008, 01:39 PM

Ok, I just pulled the cabin air filter. It was pretty clean... had just a few small leave pieces and thats about it. Gave it a good cleaning and the clicking was still present. It sounds like its coming from inside the vent motor. Maybe a piece of something is in there.... not sure. Ill just have them check it out when its at the shop on Thursday.

ltjpayne · 10-15-2008, 04:51 AM

Thanks for all the help everybody. I'm gonna go ahead and have the dealership change out the filter and take a look at the motor to see if something got stuck in there. I have to have several other annoyances checked anyway (what the heck is up with the seatbelt connector squeaking, anybody else have that???), and an alignment, so even though I'm sure it will cost 3 times as much as doing it myself, it's convenient to have it done there.

lsocoee · 10-15-2008, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltjpayne

Thanks for all the help everybody. I'm gonna go ahead and have the dealership change out the filter and take a look at the motor to see if something got stuck in there. I have to have several other annoyances checked anyway (what the heck is up with the seatbelt connector squeaking, anybody else have that???), and an alignment, so even though I'm sure it will cost 3 times as much as doing it myself, it's convenient to have it done there.

mine squeaks too. I figured I was just too fat. Let me know what they decide.

airsoft_warrior · 10-15-2008, 06:55 AM

Mine did this after i took it in for service. Mine wasn't a little clicking noise it was loud like someone dropped paper in there. I took it back the next day and complained. They looked underneath and said that I had papers on the ground and that was making the noise. I told them that there was no papers down there when it was occurring. He said there was nothing he could do because he didnt hear anything when he turned it on. I hate dealership bastards. How do I remove the cabin air filter to check it. I know its behind the glove box.

lsocoee · 10-15-2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airsoft_warrior

Mine did this after i took it in for service. Mine wasn't a little clicking noise it was loud like someone dropped paper in there. I took it back the next day and complained. They looked underneath and said that I had papers on the ground and that was making the noise. I told them that there was no papers down there when it was occurring. He said there was nothing he could do because he didnt hear anything when he turned it on. I hate dealership bastards. How do I remove the cabin air filter to check it. I know its behind the glove box.

open the glovebox, remove the damper on the side of the glovebox, squeeze the side of the glovebox together and pull down and off. There is a small plastic door for the filter.

airsoft_warrior · 10-15-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lsocoee

open the glovebox, remove the damper on the side of the glovebox, squeeze the side of the glovebox together and pull down and off. There is a small plastic door for the filter.

Thanks! I might just see if there was something that got caught in there.

airsoft_warrior · 10-15-2008, 10:33 AM

I checked it. Nothing in there but i think they put the filter in upside down. But nothing caught in there or the blower. I just don't know. Maybe it was nothing like the dealership said. But this is also coming from the dealership that told me that someone put silicon putty into the radiator hoses when they were only ones who ever worked on the car. (this was my camry not my taco).

tacomaman06 · 10-15-2008, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bart

Replace it!! I did mine the other day I went 28000 with out doing it it was nasty. I found leave's in it and all kind of shit. It's easy to replace drop the glove box and you will see to latches pull them down and pull it out. The replacement cost about 35 buck's.

or you can make about 12 of them from a home a/c filter for about 4 bucks.

ltjpayne · 10-17-2008, 02:07 AM

My not-so-smart decision to have the dealer replace the filter cost me $35, plus $40 in labor. Holy crap!!! I guess ya live & learn... Btw, it still makes the noise. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even check for debris stuck up in there. When I get time I'll look myself and if I find something I'm not gonna be happy at all (not that I'm particulary happy with them to begin with).

hate2work · 10-17-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltjpayne

My not-so-smart decision to have the dealer replace the filter cost me $35, plus $40 in labor. Holy crap!!! I guess ya live & learn... Btw, it still makes the noise. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even check for debris stuck up in there. When I get time I'll look myself and if I find something I'm not gonna be happy at all (not that I'm particulary happy with them to begin with).

Yep, this is one of the biggest reasons many of us do things ourselves on our trucks!!

Plus you get to learn about your rig, and you don't have some high school kid putting on the wrong filter, etc.

BTW, you can buy those cabin filters for around $4 each on the net. I got one for my truck and one for the wife's Corolla for $14 shipped right to my door.

10-14-2008, 03:20 AM	#1
ltjpayne Junior Member Joined: Oct 2008, #9731 Location: Charleston, WV Age: 22 Posts: 10 2008 TRD Rugged Trail 2008 Access Cab Manual 4.0	Cabin air filter causing weird noise? My truck is making a weird noise from the passenger side floorboard area. It is almost like a constant, quiet clicking noise only when the fan is on. Doesn't matter which setting the heat/AC is on... As long as the fan is on it makes the noise, and gets progressively more loud and agressive sounding as the fan speed is increased. Could it be due to a dirty cabin air filter? Only have 14k but frequently travel in very dusty areas.

10-14-2008, 03:56 AM	#2
Janster Pre Senior Citizen Joined: Mar 2007, #1138 Location: Lancaster, PA Age: 41 Gender: Female Posts: 2,920 2007 4.0L 4x4 TRD Sport Access Cab A 2007 Access Cab Automatic 4.0L Advantage Torza top (tri-fold), Husky floor mats, RuffTuff seat covers, C2C hood struts, Homelink mirror, Ipod2car (80gig Classic/4gig nano), Garmin Nuvi 660, Protecta Bed mat, Pop-n-lock, TSB Springs, Scangauge II, Heated drivers seat, Fumoto drain valve, Aries pushbar, PIAA 540 fog lights, Hood scoop grahics, Flowmaster 50 series dual catback exhaust.	Take the cabin filter out (temporarily) and see if the clicking sound goes away. That'll tell ya if its the cabin filter. After only one year and 10K miles - I was amazed at how dirty mine was. I got a new one and kept the old one (cleaned it and set it aside). __________________ Our Homepage http://www.lieblweb.com/ My truck photo gallery http://www.lieblweb.com/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=16

10-14-2008, 12:36 PM	#3
mws4ua Southern by the Grace of God Joined: May 2008, #6624 Location: Birmingham, AL Age: 26 Gender: Male Posts: 575 '06 Prerunner TRD Off Road 2006 Double Cab Automatic 4.0 V6	Do all of our trucks come w/ a cabin air filter? The manual says that it needs to be replaced at 30k miles (if equipped) and I was wondering how I know if I have one. __________________ There are no stupid questions... only inquisitive idiots!

10-14-2008, 12:44 PM	#5
lsocoee Why am I always the little spoon? Joined: Feb 2007, #872 Location: Metairie, LA Gender: Dude Posts: 6,674 2007 PreRunner SR5 Double Cab Long B 2007 Double Cab Automatic V-6 Bed mat, URD CAI, URD MAF Calibrator, C2C Hood Struts, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Pop-n-Lok, Wet Okole Underwear	The clicking is probably from leaves or something. __________________ Tacoma World: One big happily dysfunctional family.

10-14-2008, 12:44 PM	#6
BeefTaco WESTern Alliance: NORCAL COAST Joined: May 2008, #6481 Location: Santa Cruz County Ca. Gender: Dude Posts: 279 08 White Dcab SR5 S/B 4X4 2008 Double Cab Automatic V6 3 inch lift, grillcraft,Redline hood struts,DRLmod	Could be that some debris got down into blower motor cage and it is wedged in the cage and every time it rotates it is hitting the blower motor housing making a ticking noise. Isocoee beat me to it ^^^^^ __________________

10-14-2008, 12:42 PM	#4
Bart Member Joined: Jan 2008, #4512 Location: Franklin,NC Age: 32 Posts: 70 08 TRD OFFROAD V6 4x4 2008 Double Cab Automatic V6 4.0 metra ipod	Replace it!! I did mine the other day I went 28000 with out doing it it was nasty. I found leave's in it and all kind of shit. It's easy to replace drop the glove box and you will see to latches pull them down and pull it out. The replacement cost about 35 buck's.

10-14-2008, 01:16 PM	#7
linkfeeney Senior Member Joined: Dec 2006, #393 Location: mount laurel, NJ Posts: 652 09 Doublecab TRD Off-rd 2009 Double Cab Automatic v6	the cabin filter thingy isn't cheap, the only one i saw was purolator like $30

10-14-2008, 01:26 PM	#9
lsocoee Why am I always the little spoon? Joined: Feb 2007, #872 Location: Metairie, LA Gender: Dude Posts: 6,674 2007 PreRunner SR5 Double Cab Long B 2007 Double Cab Automatic V-6 Bed mat, URD CAI, URD MAF Calibrator, C2C Hood Struts, Wet Okole Seat Covers, Pop-n-Lok, Wet Okole Underwear	Occasionally, I'd get a click. going from 0 to full speed on the AC controls helps out. __________________ Tacoma World: One big happily dysfunctional family.

10-14-2008, 01:39 PM	#11
Rockstar Junkie Senior Member Joined: Aug 2008, #8491 Location: Springville,UT Age: 28 Posts: 153 06 4x4 TRD Sport 2006 Double Cab Automatic v6	Ok, I just pulled the cabin air filter. It was pretty clean... had just a few small leave pieces and thats about it. Gave it a good cleaning and the clicking was still present. It sounds like its coming from inside the vent motor. Maybe a piece of something is in there.... not sure. Ill just have them check it out when its at the shop on Thursday. __________________ 2006 Tacoma DC TRD Sport (Silver) Nitto Terra Grappler Tires (285/65 R18), 18" Ultra Mammoth Wheels, 3" Tuff Country Lift w/ AAL, BTS Bi-Xenon HID's, K&N Drop-In Filter, Silver Rockstar Energy Sticker for Flare!

10-15-2008, 04:51 AM	#12
ltjpayne Junior Member Joined: Oct 2008, #9731 Location: Charleston, WV Age: 22 Posts: 10 2008 TRD Rugged Trail 2008 Access Cab Manual 4.0	Thanks for all the help everybody. I'm gonna go ahead and have the dealership change out the filter and take a look at the motor to see if something got stuck in there. I have to have several other annoyances checked anyway (what the heck is up with the seatbelt connector squeaking, anybody else have that???), and an alignment, so even though I'm sure it will cost 3 times as much as doing it myself, it's convenient to have it done there.

10-15-2008, 06:55 AM	#14
airsoft_warrior POONBAG Joined: Feb 2008, #4861 Location: West River, MD Age: 21 Posts: 126 2008 4.0L V6 TRD Rugged Off-Road 2008 Double Cab Automatic 4.0L V6 Smoked Tail lights, Secondary Air filter removed, Super 40 Flowmaster Muffler, Drop in AFE filter	Mine did this after i took it in for service. Mine wasn't a little clicking noise it was loud like someone dropped paper in there. I took it back the next day and complained. They looked underneath and said that I had papers on the ground and that was making the noise. I told them that there was no papers down there when it was occurring. He said there was nothing he could do because he didnt hear anything when he turned it on. I hate dealership bastards. How do I remove the cabin air filter to check it. I know its behind the glove box. __________________ ~Zack~ 2008 Rugged Off-Road Tacoma 4.0L V6 TRD 4X4 Black everything.TRD Floor mats, Toyota powder finish black rugged rims, Smoked tail lights, 20% Tint. AFE drop in Pro S series, Flowmaster super 40 Muffler, Secondary air filter removed.

10-15-2008, 10:33 AM	#17
airsoft_warrior POONBAG Joined: Feb 2008, #4861 Location: West River, MD Age: 21 Posts: 126 2008 4.0L V6 TRD Rugged Off-Road 2008 Double Cab Automatic 4.0L V6 Smoked Tail lights, Secondary Air filter removed, Super 40 Flowmaster Muffler, Drop in AFE filter	I checked it. Nothing in there but i think they put the filter in upside down. But nothing caught in there or the blower. I just don't know. Maybe it was nothing like the dealership said. But this is also coming from the dealership that told me that someone put silicon putty into the radiator hoses when they were only ones who ever worked on the car. (this was my camry not my taco). __________________ ~Zack~ 2008 Rugged Off-Road Tacoma 4.0L V6 TRD 4X4 Black everything.TRD Floor mats, Toyota powder finish black rugged rims, Smoked tail lights, 20% Tint. AFE drop in Pro S series, Flowmaster super 40 Muffler, Secondary air filter removed.

10-17-2008, 02:07 AM	#19
ltjpayne Junior Member Joined: Oct 2008, #9731 Location: Charleston, WV Age: 22 Posts: 10 2008 TRD Rugged Trail 2008 Access Cab Manual 4.0	My not-so-smart decision to have the dealer replace the filter cost me $35, plus $40 in labor. Holy crap!!! I guess ya live & learn... Btw, it still makes the noise. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even check for debris stuck up in there. When I get time I'll look myself and if I find something I'm not gonna be happy at all (not that I'm particulary happy with them to begin with).