Only half of my defrost works?

Hi all..I was just wondering if any of you would know if it would have been possible for me to "break" my defrost..lol.I recently (a couple wknds ago) installed a new stereo in the truck and it was an uneventful install..surprisingly easy as I was a little nervous doing it.Everything fit nice and smoothly and I ran the Ipod cable to the glove box.And yesterday (of course it was a freezing rain day) I notice my defrost is not blowing on the passenger side.Could I have pinched or done something to cause this? I don't think I have used the defrost since the install so could it just be coincidence or is it possible my install didn't go as smooth as I thought.Just curious to what you all think..I can't get the truck into the dealer for awhile as I am going away for abit with work.Thanks!
lisa

 

It may have gotten blocked on that side somehow. I think I have something stuck in my dash down where the air comes out because the whole windshield defrosts fine except for one spot (conveniently right in front of my face). Perhaps if you had to take the dash apart some wire or something got moved to a spot that blocks the air flow? I would start there.

 

Yes..thats what I thinking could be possible,too.Perhaps theres a cable harness or something that got pushed because I remember trying to feed the Ipod cable and it was a little tricky.Well I was really hoping not having to pop off that dash kit and cover ever again but it looks like I may have to.Maybe I will try and get in from the glove box side first and do some moving around before I pull everything out.Thanks!

 

The duct system for your front vents is a one piece so if it is only working on one side then chances are it is blocked somehow. There is a black foam like strip that goes along the front of the dash. If you took the dash off then you may have misaligned this strip and block the vent. You can try sticking a piece of mirror into the vent area. You might be able to see it if it is pronounced enough.

 

Thanks,K3..I will try your suggestion.I didn't take the whole dash apart but just the middle part to remove the stereo so possibly when I pulled out the unit maybe something behind shifted and blocked this? I guess I will be removing everything again (and I was so proud of myself) and take a look around in there.Thanks again!

 

Well I totally forgot about the defrost not blowing out of the right side thru this spring and summer..And this early winter I was reminded..So anyways it was doing the same..no blowing from the passenger side..then out of the blue..it started blowing out of the passenger side yesterday..yayyy I thought..until i got on the highway and now the driver side is not blowing!..Only the center and left side. I haven't done anything since last year dashwise..so I guess I need to haul her in to Toyota.

 

I found that in my Access Cab that the Defrost is a pain in the ass(a few days ago). When there was 2 people in the truck the windows wouldn't be defrosted at all. All ice on the inside. I put de-icer on the outside of my windows over a week ago so that could explain why there was none outside on the window. Once I dropped off my passenger it took about 20 minutes for the all the windows to become defrosted. I am going to put de-icer on the inside of the windows once it warms up outside.

 

JW..that is what happened to me..driving into town (it was cold..-39C windchill),the windshield was fine.As soon as I got two more passengers and headed out on the highway,the inside frosted up..the defroster did the passenger side but I had to scrape the ice off the inside drivers side every 20 minutes.But that was what was hapeening lasy year..just different sides..I will try the de-icer thing..but eventually I know I will have to take it in.

 

Put a portable 12v heater on the dash for when the defrost/heat decides to not work. Ask me how I know.

 

I don't remember this happening last winter. Even when I had my 11' I don't remember it happening. Maybe it's because it's too cold outside and the air from two people breathing might have been a variable in it. Yeah! I was just thinking of doing the de-icer thing. It's the only thing that I could really think of to curb the problem. If you did take it to the dealership I am not sure what they're going to say since that they aren't going to be able to get the tempature down to -40C to replicate the problem. I only ever seen this problem during the winter in a (2009) Dodge Caravan out in Quebec in the middle of February.

I would hope that I wouldn't need an external heater only after 13 months of buying it off the lot. It's something that I am going to keep in mind.

 

my dad had a plastic bag sucked up in his once

 

Last week the blower didn't work after a cold (-20 lets say) start up but 20 min of driving it started working and has worked since until today it didn't work during my 5 min around town cruise. We'll see what the morning brings. Sounds like a new blower motor is in order.

 

It's the foam that is glued on the underside of the front window defrost vent, it's fallen and blocked the one side. It happened to me and yes driving to go ice fishing with 3 ppl in the truck at 7 am it iced over on passenger side. It likely happened in summer and now only when winter/cold weather comes around that it happens.

Take it in if it's under warranty - they grumbled as I have an amero truck in Canada but warranty is warranty on Tacoma's .

It's a 6+ hour job to take apart entire dash and your truck will likely not be the same I got an f'n squeek that developed a month or two later and it's been bugging me for 9 months now but I'm long off bumper to bumper warranty.

 

Thanks for all the input!..Sorry I haven't replied sooner but was away working up north (where it was even colder -50 windchills)..but luckily had the company truck this time.Some good advice here and I wi look inot some of your suggestions..thanks again!

 

Well..went to my dealer and it turns out to be legit..there's a TSB (?) on what is happening in my case..he thought it was a weird issue but looked it up and please forgive me here as I don't remember exactly what he said they were..but it is for 09 and 10 models..defogger somethings (up in the dash in the vents) need to replaced and they ordered the parts..Takes 2 hrs to replace and covered under warranty..(am glad I extended the warranty now..lol)...Anyways,I will get the correct name of the parts when they do it and share with you all here