Another heater issue thread

Searched all over and I think I am the only person that had this happen. I think my blend door is broken, but not sure without tearing it apart. Drove 3 hours with heater on full blast on floor and the truck got warm at best in low 30s weather. Noticed the defroster blowing cold air, floor and side vents blowing warm air.

04 prerunner v6

Troubleshooting Steps
- full of coolant, has been for a while, no leaks anywhere in that dept in or outside the truck (don’t ask about oil leaks plz lol)
- haven’t flushed in about 8-9 years but changed water pump and timing belt about 40-60k ago(don’t remember exact) and used the Toyota SLL pink stuff to refill.
- at normal operating temp
- actuator is working for most part… gets hung up sometimes going from hot to cold… been meaning to fix because I have that annoying clicking sound sometimes. Just been turning the radio up lol
- tried with AC off and on, no change
- tried with recirculate off and on, no change
- swapped to face only setting, middle vents were warm
- heater core hoses are both hot to touch entering and exiting
- valve and cable move from hot to cold fine
- pulled ever so slightly on what I’m assuming is the blend door that’s supposed to turn with the actuator and what appears to be a broken rod (unless that’s just how it’s made? Idk never taken it apart) pulled down out of what I’m assuming is the heater core or Evan housing? I’ll try to get a pic of it tomorrow.

I don’t think it’s the heater core stopped up since the coolant is not that old and I had hot heat last winter but I plan on doing a flush of it just to be sure.

I do plan on fixing the actuator as well I’m the near future, but if the issue is that the actuator isn’t turning what it’s supposed to be turning because it’s broken, then I have a problem. I’ll try taking it loose and moving the linkages manually first and update in the morning with the picture of the suspected broken door plastic.

The air coming out the side vents was warm enough I guess, but the defroster was just blowing cold air on my face off the windshield. Normally I have to take my jacket off or turn the heater off in the winter after a bit. I left it on the entire ride and never broke a sweat.

I’d love for anyone to chime in on this. It’s just weird to me how the side and floor would be warm/hot/whatever but the defrost be cold.

 

I’m not sure why these uploaded twice or whatever. I’m on mobile.

The actuator is working, the little plastic rod that it hooks to shown is seemingly broken and I’m pretty sure that’s the cause of my issue. If someone could look on theirs and confirm this so I can source a replacement before I tear the dash apart on my daily.