Strange sound (electrical relay/servo) under glove box

01' Prerunner, 4cyl auto 2WD.

I'm getting this weird sound while driving that seems to be coming from under the glovebox. Sounds like a relay or some thing moving, like a servo. It's electro mechanical.

I have no idea what it could be. It is very annoying. At first I thought maybe the noise was being picked up by my stereo and was coming through my speakers but that is not the case.

Any suggestions on troubleshooting this?

 

It might be the Vent or Air Mix Servos?
Have you played with A/C controls to see if the sound changes?

 

I use the AC often as of late and wonder if that has any effect.

I’ll see if adjusting anything effects it

 

I say A/C, although the A/C doesn’t really have to be “on”. (But it won’t hurt)
Try all the different vent settings and also different Heat / Cool settings.

 

I have that too if my vent blowers are on at all. Like the diverter is hunting back and forth. Very annoying and hopefully not a fire hazard

 

Any update on this?

 

It is servo/actuator-related.

You can try getting in there with cleaner or something... if its catching on dirt or something.

However I remember another post some time ago that it could be bad gears/motor itself.

They are plastic components and can bind / wear down over time.


Mine periodically opens/closes itself making that electric motor sound under the dash. Mine happens when A/C is set all the way cold. I think the door actuator continuously binds, gets knocked loose or something, & tries to adjust itself.

Expensive to replace. Most dealer techs don't know anything about it for diagnosis.

Could take dash covers off & search for the motor that keeps moving when it happens. Clean what it moves / connection points... idk

 

Hey good call on the "all the way cold". I know on mine when the blowers are off but the temp dial is even a little off the coldest setting, the residual airflow is much warmer than when the temp dial is bottomed out cold.

 

So today I got a consistent mechanical rhythmic sound that sounded like a servo. I found this white arm was moving back and forth. Not sure if it was stuck but after pushing it a little it seemed to stop.

Not sure if it’s the same sound or source of the found that I heard in my initial post.

 

Work the all ac switches back and forth a few times, cleans the contacts on the rheostats.
Worked for me