Air blend door actuator

It has suddenly gottten very cold, so I thought I’d turn the heat on. Brrr it blows cold air. My coolant level is good, so I think it could be a stuck blend door. (This week is the first time I heard of a blend door.) I understand it mixes the cold air from outside with warmer air from engine much like a mix valve in your shower. Ok so where is it exactly in 2016 taco 6 cyl off road? I am not sure what it looks like. I’m believing it to be under the dash passenger side.(I hope not in engine compartment behind fire wall) Do I need to remove glove box or any trim to see it?
Thanx for any help.

 

Not sure about our 2016 taco. Usually it is on one side of the heater unit accessible on one side of the console under the radio. Hard to believe that is already malfunctioning. They are usually 100,000 mile actuators. Hope you can find and download a service manual. I usually do that for my vehicles but not the taco yet. If you locate it remove it and test it in the truck before buying one. With it connected to the harness should see it rotate when changing temp mode.

 

How long was the truck running when testing the heat? Did the air blowing out get warmer as the truck warmed up?

 

Generally they are 2 inch square plastic bodies with a rotating arm. Google pictures of an older tacoma blend door actuator for a reference.

 

I found a great u tube video about testing actuator, so when I do locate it, I will know how to test it. I figured this wasn’t a common thing for an actuator to go bad this early, as I haven’t found anything on the 2016 taco. I never heard a sound like I would think I might of a change in heating system.
The truck was in motion for over an hour, so no it didn’t get warmer as I went. Last week, I had heat before ten minutes had gone by. It was as if I had AC on,this week.
Any pictures I have found of other models look the same; however they are out of the vehicle, and are seen arm side up.
If it isn’t the blend door any other ideas, of what it could be? (Hoping not to hear anything like heater coil.)
Mrproduxn the heater unit you are mentioning would be possibly on drivers side near my feet ? I will look when it gets light outside.

 

Possible thermostat issue. Does your temp gauge read normal operating temperature? Actuators pretty uncommon to fail so soon.

 

If you can get to it, use a temp gun to take inlet and outlet temps on heater core, before you go tearing the HVAC system apart.
Even if you have heat in and out, still doesn't mean you have a door problem, could be the controller, which may best well be built in to the dash controls.
Climate control or el manual?

 

With the ignition on, change the temp and see if you hear the flap. See if it’s making a popping noise or if it sounds like it’s binding.

 

When the blend door failed in our 2013 Highlander with multiple climate zones (during the summer), the drivers zone would blow hot air while the rear and passenger zones would blow nice air conditioned air. I'm not sure where it was located since it was fixed under warranty.

 

The vehicle starts at cold and goes halfway, as usual

 

I made appt with dealership. The day of the appt the heat suddenly came on. I kept the appt and got the software update for the transmission slipping, the technicians checked out heat found nothing wrong with it but told me if it happened again bring it back. So, I guess it is too soon for actuator blend door to malfunction. ( and I did turn ac on and back to heat several times seems fine)

 

I think I have a problem on my 2004 tacoma with the blender door actuater. I hear random noise from dash area and when I just turn the ignition on and adjust the temp control I can hear the noise easier. Is it a hard fix or should I take it to my mechanic?

 

Had the blend door actuator go out on my wifes 2014 highlander earlier this year only had about 25,000 miles. The whole dash front seats everything had to come out to replace. I had a extended warranty so only cost me the $100 deductible thank god because it was a expensive bill. Just about paid for the whole extended warranty.