Fan speed switch not working.

$250 OUCH. I'm sure you have younger backs that would charge a lot less and do just as good of a job. But yea this is a bad problem. I let mine go for a while before I finally did it. I don't know how much longer that insulation would last. I changed the resistor and spliced new wires (Emergency vehicle wiring) in with a new plug (chevy plug delphi p/n from Mouser/Newark).

 

My fan only works on high now, too.....but it worked correctly intermittently for a while; now it only works on "high"...Where is this resistor?

 

Passenger front kick area, under the dash, just a little to the left. 4 wires in a connector. Wiggle that connector and see if your fan works again.

If you disconnect that connector the resistor is sitting in the top of it, hidden from view when connected underneath the fan box.

 

Having been on here for a while as only a bystanding reader since I bought my '11 AC, I have done a bunch of searches and found lots of help. Thanks to all!

On this topic, I learned all about the resistor, the bum plug and lead wire, the upgraded blower and all the related stuff to know. Having experienced the same "noisy on high, only, and nothing else" symptoms a few weeks after buying my used Taco, I delayed taking it in for warranty service. Before going down to the stealership, though, I pulled out the cabin air filter and found it clogged with cottonwood tree seeds! I suppose the PO parked under one with the engine and fan running at work or something. I pulled out all I could and inserted a new filter, but I am guessing a bunch of that junk got into the blower motor and caused the resistor to, um, resist, and burn out.

When I got it down to Toyota, they found some bits of seeds I had left behind and noted "rodent infestation" in heater assembly, so no warranty joy for me. I know mouse nests when I see them, nd there were no feces in this clump, so I am confident it was just sucked into the air intake. They even told me they found evidence of similar rodent damage in the engine air intake. Duh! Why would mice only nest where high velocity air is sucking in past them?

So, their bad assumption made me ineligible for the warranty resistor replacement and I just ordered up a new one, plus the blower/fan assembly. I'll do the work and know it was done right.

 

Nausetnuts, EXCELLENT find regarding TSB-0149-11. The connector, White/Blue supply wire, and resistor are heat damaged/brown on my '06 ride. I will order the harness and updated resistor and be done with it...already installed the upgraded fan motor and it's been noise free for over a year.

 

I found the resistor very easily and the white/blue wire was a little brown right by the connector. But I simply sprayed electrical contact cleaner that I got from Home Depot onto the connectors (both the wire end and the resistor connector, re-inserted the connector several times, and its been working fine since....

 

So I just found this thread and my 2006 Tacoma is blowing on the high setting only. I am a novice on auto repair. If I am correct I understand this repair is under the glove box area. How difficult it it to get to and replace the items shown in the TSB-0149-11 bulletin? from what I have gathered in this thread I will unplug and then remove the resistor and then have to replace it and then cut the wires on the plug. Once they are cut I have to splice the new wires then plug it all back up. Are they any videos showing this? I do not want to pay the dealer if it is something a novice can do. I am willing to give it a try. Also does the glove box have to be removed? Any further help is appreciated.

 

It's not hard guys, just go do it and be done with it. I've had no further problems with mine since replacing the pigtail.

 

Thanks for the in depth insight . That's super helpful for replacement.however, it may not need to be replaced . Try to spray some contact cleaner on the connections first then plugging it back in. It worked for me. If that doesn't work, then replacement is the way to go. Thanks for all the info.

 

I got mine to work by just replacing the resistor. So far so good and did not have to cut and splice any wiring. I do have the new wiring if ever needed but so far just changing the resistor did the trick.

 

I just ordered the resistor and wire harness pigtail from E-bay for considerably less than my local Toyota dealer wanted. Reading through the long history of this thread, there doesn't seem to be a lot of mention about the role that a dirty or neglected cabin air filter plays in the equation. I see some posters mentioning they were unaware that a cabin air filter even existed. I think this oversight might also be playing a part in the failed/noisy blower motor problem as well.

I plan to remove the blower motor, clean and lubricate the output shaft/bearing, then start with a fresh air filter. I think this should be standard procedure when replacing a failed resistor, but that's just my opinion.

PS: Dielectric grease is an insulator, not a conductor.

 

Those of you who have replaced the resistor more than once, Did you use the OEM part number, or did you use the upgraded part number from the TSB? (87138-04052)

Specifically, I would like to know if the upgraded resistor is solving the problem or not. How long between failures?

 

I am grateful for all this good info on this common problem. I had already replaced both the resistor and the blower fan assembly, and all seemed fine for a short while. When it failed again, I removed the fan and "shocked" it on my bench with a Craftsman lithium ion cordless tool battery (19.2 volts) and it hums along just fine once again.

I suspect the motor had some minor corrosion or the armature brushes were not cleanly contacting or something, but the little jolt (less than a second of wire touch) seems to have brought it back to life. All is good (for now) and I am happy to have a heater in the truck again.

 

I replaced the resistor on my 06 Tacoma today. 78 and change for it and the connector. Tried just replacing the resistor first but no luck. So I swapped the connector when I got home and to my tools. Still so luck. So I sat down in the passenger seat feeling slightly defeated and kicked at the blower motor. Low and behold it came on and worked at all speeds. hopefully it keeps working as it was stuck off and its been below freezing most days. Next time I'm skipping straight to percussive maintenance!

 

This is why I was saying it would be worth the effort to clean and lubricate the blower motor whenever you replace the resistor and plug. I think contamination on the motor brushes and/or the bearing may be contributing to the problem.

 

"Percussive maintenance." Haha. Love it, Anphonic. I'm guessing the toe kick probably accomplished the same thing as my quick shock to the motor - just broke it loose from a bad spot where the brushes meet the armature contact points. How 'bout "impact refurbishment."

 

which fuse is for the blower motor?

 

Thanks for this. Just replaced the resistor.

Took about 10 min.

I did not have the 5.5mm socket, but 7/32" worked just fine.

Picked up the new resistor from Mid Atlantic Toyota Parts for $28.51 shipped.

http://www.midatlantictoyotaparts.c...ac/motors/?trim=pre-runner&engine=2-7l-l4-gas

Thanks again!

 

My blower fan would only work on hi, the resistor on my 06 is at the toes of your left foot when in the front passenger seat. I removed the plug added some dielectric grease and its working fine.
Thanks again for the great info,
I hope Toyota is reading these threads as they had better clean this shit up!
Doug

 

I had the same problem! I love how much I learn from these Forums! Wiggled the harness & voila! All fan speeds are once again operational!!!