Blower motor squeek / chirp on low *FIX*

Hey guys, 2008 tacoma and been making noise from the cabin fan for the last two years. took it to the dealership multiple times till i got fed up and fixed it my self. every time they just oil the bearings

read the forums and greased the bearings front and back. This made the noise go away for a while and then it came back again.

The reason for the squeak is the brushes that ride on the motor shaft, that is why it ticks every revolution and the fast it turns the faster it ticks. if you remove the fan and then take off the metal back cover of the motor it will expose the brushes (carbon pieces with the springs behind them that are wired to where the electrical connection plugs in.)

The reason that all the previous suggestions work for a while and then come back is because you end up adjusting the bushes slightly so that they dont make noise but eventually it wears back in and ticks again. The same thing happens when you get the blower replaced under warranty. It will be quiet until the brushes wear in all the way around the motor shaft and the edges start to catch, making the ticking sound.

To fix this, remove the brushes from the motor and use a file to file off the leading edges of the brushes to a 45 degree angle. the brushes are very soft and this is ease to do. reinstall and put back into service and you will have silence finally.

I almost sold the truck I was so annoyed with this but silence is golden. I actually had to hit the switch the other day to see if the fan was on because i was just so used to hearing it all the time.

good luck and there are pictures of the brushes in the first post on this forum which show them very well.

 

Thanks everyone, sadly they used the newer remanufactured twice, after I waited 6 weeks for motor number...uh 3 I think it was. The dealership have told me they know its a problem in these trucks, but they've been doing what the service bulletins say to and its still a problem. I'm wondering about buying the part from a different brand (ie NAPA or some other none genuine toyota) to be honest this is my first Toyota experience. I'm the only person I know that owns one. This problem, in addition to one I had with the dash when it was new, added to the fact that two different service departments have treated me poorly or like I'm stupid have made me regret the decision at times, even though I love the truck! So frustrating....lol. The dealership was supposed to contact Toyota Canada on my behalf, since I'm frustrated that this problem doesn't seem to have a fix as far as they're concerned.... Guess I'll wait for their call...

 

There is an aftermarket blower unit on Amazon. Don't know how good it is. It costs about $40 if I remember.
I'm sure someone can dig up the link if it's not already in this thread somewhere.

 

I did something that hasn't been tried yet and I think it fixed it. Atleast for now. I have read every post on here and tried everyone of them and it always came back. I (like a lot of people) narrowed it down to the brushes. So early this week I filed the back of the brush to square it up because it was cut at an angle. I also cut 2 small squares of old intertube and placed it between the brush and the spring. The square rubber was just large enough to slide in but not large enough to impede the movement of the brushes. No more noise. I can't even get it to make noise. The rubber seams to dampen the vibration. I also removed all the old grease from earlier attempts.

I also did a little research on brushes. It seams there is a trade off between good quiet brushes and long wear brushes. The long wear are harder and contain more silica and less carbon. I opened up my old drill and looked at the brushes. The contact point is smooth and the commutater has a nice film of carbon on it. The toyota fan motor brushes are very rough with grooves wore in them. So I suspect it may just be the quality of the brushes that have been used. I tried to find some better brushes but I don't really know where to look. That will be next thing I try if the rubber fix does not hold up.

Update 11-23-11. Its back, didn't work, still not giving up.

 

@Relik whats the TSB number to reference with the dealership? I am scheduled to take my truck in on Monday.

 

Scroll about 6 posts up. It's attached to a post.

 

Well I've heard that if you just let it go long enough the blower motor chirp/tick/click will eventually go away. Not sure though - it keeps getting worse and worse. Got the truck in August 2010 - had the original blower motor replaced and an insulation kit installed in Feb. 2011 (that was the 87103-04042 motor on TSB-0092-10 - I think they just replaced the existing 04042 motor with a new one and put some foam insulation around it). Within a few months it was intermittantly chirping/ticking and it is nearly constant now. I called the dealer and they have ordered me a

$179 87103-04043 Genuine Toyota Blower Motor Sub Assembly

87103-04043 motor that they are going to install on Monday. So, we'll see - it is a new motor part number that is supposed to address the issue - but I think there have been three different motor part numbers before this one from 2005-present - none of the last three part numbers seems to have totally addressed the problem. I'll let everyone know if it works.

 

Just got a 43 motor installed this morning. Nice and quiet for now. We'll see how this goes.

 

going in on tue......i didnt double check part number but the guy didnt even think twice on replacing and said he knew of the tsb. we'll see...if not i'll just get another eventually

 

Just an FYI, mine was a new part number than last time.

 

Thanks for this info. I had mine from my 2010 replaced and now 6 months later it's doing the same thing. Such a little thing yet really freaking annoying. And in FL the A/C is almost always on.
Mike

 

Just had the 87103-0404(2) installed. Seems to me that even though this motor doesn't squeak, it's definitely louder than the original. I posted on this after the first replacement as well...(This is my third motor).

 

Went for oil change this morning mentioned the tick the dealer had the blower 4(3) in stock in and out under an hour. So far so good.

 

I just realized the dealer installed the old part number blower motor! Unbelievable. I heard the damn thing ticking when I left but didn't say anything as the last one did the same thing. They even told me there was a new motor out and still installed the old one! Can't say I wasn't somewhat culpable as I can't read or I would have caught this before I left..

 

Dealer installed a new 04043 blower motor yesterday. I did check the paperwork they gave me and it did list the 04043 part number. So far, so good - but this is the second replacement motor they have installed - although the second one was the same motor as the first. I won't be convinced they have fixed the problem until I go at least 6 months with no chirps. I'm seeing that some people are saying the dealerships are still replacing motors with the 04042 part number. Make sure you mention the new motor part number and the corresponding TSB. The parts guy at my dealership had to order the 04043 motor from the warehouse - he said they had 11,000+ at the warehouse - but they had none in stock at the dealership when I called last week.

 

I've got a cricket chirping in my vents for the past two weeks, so I guess I'll have to call the dealer to get it addressed. 2011 with 5800 miles, but I have had it for 11 months.....

 

Make sure they put in the -0404(3) motor. My dealer ordered the correct part number for me after they realized they installed the old one. The -0404(2) heater is loud...ticks a lot. I'll be on my third heater with a 2010 that is just getting to 15K. You can be sure it's the heater if you're hearing it on the low fan speed setting.

Rossi

 

I first heard it in my 09 the first month i bought it believe it or not. Pass few months it seems to be getting worse. Starting to really get on my nerves.

 

So, my 2011 has under 2000 km and it started doing this today very quietly. Im pretty pissed. But at least it will be covered under warranty.

Has anyone had the chirping come back with the "new" 43 motor? and has anyone in canada had theirs fixed?

Sorry, I went through the first 15 pages and the last 4 or 5… So my answer could be somewhere in the thread, just hard to find.

 

The chirp Started in my 2011 yesterday. Going to go to the dealership on Monday so they can fix it with the new motor.