Heater Control Assembly Issues

Greetings,
This is my first forum post. Please send me in the correct path if I've made any mistakes.
I recently purchased a 98' 2WD Tacoma for 3k that has numerous faults.
The first issue I'm attempting to resolve is the AC's refusal to shut off, which prevents the heat from working. I'll merely attempt to swap out the unit.
It doesn't actually work because the knobs are so sticky. When I try to remove the unit, the cables are difficult to remove. I would appreciate any information.
Another issue I have is that my driver's side wheels protrude an inch more than my passenger side wheels. There are no spacers, and the tires and wheels are exactly the same size and offset. It's like this for both front and back. It makes the steering wheel shake back and forth at any speed above 60 mph.
Thank you

 

Welcome to Tacoma World.

Did you recently purchase this truck? Has the heater control unit (pictured) always been like that? You can't move any of the selectors? I'd probably lean toward just replacing it.

As for the shaking, sounds like the best thing to do is take it in for an alignment. They should be inspecting front suspension components as part of the alignment service and should be able to tell you if anything is amiss.

If you want, get it up on jack stands, pull the front tire off and take some pics. Without any pics at all it makes it kind of impossible to diagnose from the exterior pics you shared - need to see suspension components. Could also slider under it and take some pics that way.

 

The A/C is still on even with the A/C button removed?

 

Is there some sort of direct reply button. I've never used a forum.

I just picked up the truck 2 weeks ago and I've been fixing the cosmetic issues. The knobs and levers on the unit are very stiff/stuck. The AC is always on even with the button removed. I press the AC button when its installed and it just stays green.

I will take some pictures of the truck with the front tires off once I get home.

Thank you very much for replying.

 

Just click the quote button to reply to someone.

The A/C button is a conundrum. Removing it should disable it. Unless by A/C you just mean cool air? If it stays green even when depressed I wonder if someone jumped those pins somewhere.

I've had the knobs refuse to turn before because there was pressure on their connection points. Make sure there is nothing blocking the flaps.

 

If everything is unplugged from the climate control unit and it doesn't turn on, then I would just replace the unit with another used unit from a junk yard or classified sale. Maybe even a seller from the marketplace here on the forums. You could also try cleaning it but it might just be easier to replace. 95.5-97 year trucks hava a different style climate control and may not be usable in 98+ year trucks so keep that in mind when looking.

 

The AC select switch green light normally illuminated on my 1997 Tacoma whenever DEFROST mode was selected (switch in or out). In any position other than DEFROST, I had to push in the AC select switch to turn on the light.
The AC system still operates in my 1999 when in defrost mode, however the light in the AC selector switch doesn’t illuminate.

 

I feel a little stupid the more I look into this problem I had.
I started out by ordering a oem replacement for the heater control unit. I thought that there was AC in my truck since there was a button for it. I was trying to install the new head unit and noticed I dont have a AC Compressor in my engine bay... The previous owner did some serious jerry rigging to make the current heater control unit work, sometimes. I picked up the correct Heater control unit without the AC button and now it all hooks up and works perfect. But now that the heating is fixed I am ready for my next issue to fix of the wheels being out father then the others on the passenger side. Waiting for a sunny day the see of the entire body of the truck is off center by measuring the underneath of the truck.