Help please! Heater & A/C fan stopped working.

Well the weather is changing and it is getting cold, surprise my fan stops. Looks like I will be checking it .... I know there is junk in it as the other day I saw a piece of foam coming out of the vent. I always like to double check the information on known problems before plowing into the problem at hand. Makes it less stressful.

 

if tapping the blower motor works, most likely the motor bushings are getting dirty. Prob be easier to get a new blower motor. eventually it will quit working altogether.

 

Not quite. Their was a bunch of Tacomas with a bad pigtail that connects to the resistor block. Look at the white wire entering the resistor block. If it has turned brown or discolored it is a bad connection. Toyota knows this and has a pigtail replacement. To be sure that is it when it stops running reach over and wiggle the connector. If the motor comes to life that is your issue. I replaced mine back in 2009 for the exact same issue.

 

My blower progressively stopped working until it was no longer blowing any air. Turned out to be my cabin air filter. Once I pulled it out, the blower started working again. Seems like a good place to start

 

If the stops and starts working again, there is a good chance the brushes are stuck in their holders. The brushes transfer the volts to the commutator As they do this there are small spark and dust released , and as the brushes wear the springs that force them against the commutation extend and get weaker compounding the problem. The whack with a hammer unstuck the brush in the holder and it works until it happens again.

 

Just found this forum yesterday and it paid off. I just got my 07 Tacoma and it almost immediately had the problem several folks described. My regular mechanic replaced the resistor which took care of the problem for about a week and then it quit totally yesterday. In fact SeafireXV described exactly what I experienced. So this morning I followed everyone's recommendation, watched a couple of YouTube videos on removing the blower; removed glove box, pulled the cabin filter out and cleaned in (a lot of debris sitting in that area). I then disconnected the cable from the blower, removed the 3 screws and popped it out. There were a few leaves and debris in the blower so I pulled off the outer housing (4 screws) used my compressor to blow out the insides of the motor - a lot of dust and debris came out of there too. I vacuumed the area and re-installed blower, filter and glove box. So far, it is working like a charm.

Forum and thread (along with those videos) probably saved me at least $150.

Thanks y'all!

 

Thanks Same exact thing here Fan work one day not the next couple taps with a rubber Mallett and Waalaa

 

This was most helpful in researching my issue, I got the resistor and it didn't fix but in the process of doing resistor I saw this post and bumped fan and it started working. Thanks!!!!

 

Where is the fuse located for the blower? The was no indication for it in the fuse panel behind the coin cup

 

It’s under the hood, behind the battery, in that fuse box.
It’s 50A

 

Thanks!

 

It's labeled HEATER if I remember correctly.

 

It is.

 

Mine does it from time to time.
I just jiggle that wiring harness and its good to go.
I think if it's the pigtail or resistor, it'll still work on "high". At least mine does.
Anyway, that may save some future readers some $'s and or time when troubleshooting, ie if it's not working on "high", then don't worry about the resistor and start with the brushes, etc.

 

You guys! Thank you! The fuse was fine. Pulled out the glove box, banged underneath the squirrel cage with a rubber mallet, blower working again. I'll take it...even if I have to do that from time to time.

 

I’d undo the connectors and see if they are starting to melt.
If they are, you aren’t helping yourself any in the long run.

 

I had intermittent issues, suddenly stopped after a short drive, and I found this forum.
Unplug white connector,
Used a 5.5 mm ratchet to remove resistor, 2 bults in a precarious place (technically you should use gloves so your oily fingers don’t get on contacts- but I didn’t , it wasn’t working anyway).
cleared some caked residue yellow-white powder ( with my finger wiped it away-,like leaky battery acid if you leave them in a old tape Walkman for too long) from top of contact.
put back, and presto- better than ever. Thank you for excellent post! $10.00 wrench adapter Home Depot, and “know where to hit the hammer”. Thanks, hope this helps someone!
This is a 2006 Tacoma TRD with 280,000 miles