Need help heater problem not sure where to start??!!

Ok so I have been looking through a lot of posts but I get mixed reviews or ideas. Last night heater stopped working, blower motor is good fan blows at all levels, but only cold after getting up to running temp. “Doesn’t overheat” I have read it could be the blend door but it’s not making any weird sounds. Both of the lines going into the cab were warm so I don’t think it’s a bad or clogged heater core? Maybe a stuck open thermostat or some air is in coolant system? Anyone with any knowledge would be appreciated 08 Tacoma thanks Daniel

 

So you have a problem with heat or cold? Are all three positions(defrost, chest, feet) getting airflow when they should be?
Other questions to follow but I'd like a specific direction first.

 

It's the blend door.

 

Also

yes I believe so going to head down and make sure now.

 

That’s what I am hoping and thinking, wondering if there is a test?? Maybe I will just go pic one up

 

If the coolant temp gauge gets up to normal position, then thermostat can be ruled out. Blend door or control to the blend door are the likely suspects.

 

There is a controller to that door? I ask because the main switch in the cab the light has been dm going on and off I have been tapping it to make it work could the hot cold controller be bad?

 

No I don’t think it’s that drove it for over a hour last night home didn’t get hot ect

 

My heat would go out after about an hour and a half of driving ( I have a long commute). Eventually it stopped working, altogether. Then the engine blew.

 

Ya not the case for me thanks for the input, motor is cooling fine. No overheating problems just no heater

 

Say what? The heater core is not gonna make or break a cooling system. Reading your other posts, sounds like you were losing antifreeze and either didn't notice or weren't keeping up with replacing it.
You lost heat because enough antifreeze was lost that it couldn't feed the heater core. Enough was lost and the motor overheated to it's demise

@MOT pop the HVAC controller out and make sure the plugs are connected tight. There have been reports of one of the connectors being loose and causing overheating at the connector. And, do you hear water bubbling around in the dash? I did when my head gasket popped.

 

Sorry to hear about your heating troubles..


4 Common Car Heater Problems

If your car heater isn’t working right, there are several things that could be happening. You need your heater working properly, especially if you live in an area with extremely cold temperatures. Take a look at some of the most common issues that can cause your heater to fail, and what you can do about it.

Thermostat
If your car isn’t blowing hot air, the first thing to check is the thermostat. This is a fairly easy fix, and depending on the car you may even be able to repair it yourself. Thermostats wear out and can get stuck in either an open or closed position, causing the heater to not work properly. In fact, this piece is what warms and cools the coolant in your car. A worn-out thermostat can lead both to overheating and overcooling of the car, depending on how badly it’s worn. If you think your thermostat may be worn out, your mechanic can usually change this quickly and easily.

Gunk and Grime
Another issue that can cause your car to not heat properly is gunk and grime in the coolant system. Since the coolant is what helps regulate the temperature in your car, this can cause major issues. When sediment accumulates between the coolant and the heater core, it restricts the flow of the coolant. This is also an easy fix, and usually only requires a flush of the coolant system. In some rare cases the buildup may require tubing replacement. Your mechanic will be able to check the system for you and service the coolant lines effectively.

Electrical Problems
In some cases, the reason the heater isn’t working properly is due to electrical problems in the car. If you notice your blower motor isn’t running or there is no sound or air coming out, make sure to have your mechanic check the electrical system. There are several things that can cause these issues, including the fuses, the fan motor, and even a loose wire. The fix for electrical problems can be as simple as changing out a fuse, or it can be much more difficult.

Heater Controls
While you think you’re turning the heater up, it’s possible that the controls are not actually connecting properly to your car’s heating system. Heater controls can get stuck, broken, or clogged. If you think you’re turning the heater up but it’s not getting warmer in the car, talk to your mechanic. They should be able to quickly and easily fix the issue. In some cases, it’s as easy as cleaning off buildup around the controls. Other times, it may be more difficult and require a full replacement of the controls.

Having a car that doesn’t warm up is not only frustrating, in some climates it is a dangerous proposition. Make sure your heater is working properly before extremely cold temperatures set in. If you notice your car isn’t getting as warm as you’d like, or the heater never actually kicks in, make sure to take your car in for a check.

Good Luck...keep us posted

 

No. "Control" just means you should test the wiring going to the blend door actuator with a test light or multimeter. See: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/06-air-mix-servo-stuck-no-heat-solved.454709/ Check for good ground on pin 1 of the harness connector to the actuator. Check for 12V on pin 4 when the key is in the "on" position. Check for a range of voltages (1-12V) on pin 2 when you move the temperature knob.

Note in that thread Branmuffin and 05Taco4x4 had different causes resulting in the same symptom. Because the whole system is supplied by General Motors, everything could be suspect. The blend door may be mechanically jammed. Wiring could be bad. The pot in the control panel may be going. etc. etc...

 

Update, went and started the truck up let it get to running temp and played with the hot to cold switch back and forth. The blend door started making noise I went down and tapped it afew times with my finger and it stopped making noise. Then it’s started working good. Got hot as hell so I drove the truck around for about 30 mins all was good. When I took out the cabin air filter I noticed a lot of dirt in the blower motor, even though I change out the filters often. Desertlife is a bitch trails are always dusty here. I ended up dropping down the blower motor cleaning it out with air and cleaning out the whole air box with a damp micro it was super dirty!! After that I went and picked up a k&n cabin filter everything is perfect now I am going to order a blend door actuator and have it on standby. Thanks for the help and input guys! Hope this helps someone that might run into the same problem

 

Yikes $42 cabin particulate filter. A bit of a tough sell when disposable filters with activated carbon are going for $4: https://www.amazon.com/Dependable-Direct-Premium-CF10374-Activated/dp/B07MGKGVQH/

 

@MOT
See my post #10 from the other day about this matter and some initial diagnosis in this thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/door-blend-actuator.644617/#post-22337467

 

thanks got it dialed haha sorry i never check tw anymore