Tacoma AC Vent Mode Noise

Hi Folks,

As of today when changing the AC vent mode using the dial in my 2018 Tacoma, I am hearing an electrical whine (motor noise?) coming from behind the glovebox area. It can be heard sitting in the drivers side seat with the glove box closed. See video link below. Is this normal? Anyone else have the same behaviour with their 3rd Gen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtqjbVq0NRs&feature=youtu.be

 

They do make some strange noises .... Check out the Darth Vader noise thread as well as the numerous blower motor threads
There are multiple motors that change the blend doors and various positions

 

Yes they do! I have read through a few of those threads already but did not find anything specific to what I am seeing above. Start Tacoma, leave idle in park, change through vent modes, electrical whine noise or not? I am certain it was not always doing this but I have come to realize I may have more sensitive ears than others. I'm curious if anyone else gets the same thing before I start investigating or bring it to the dealer over something that may be trivial.

 

You are not the only one lol. My wife dont hear it but i can. Mine is making whiny noises at 3 bars fan speed at HEAT tho everything else is ok

 

I would like a member to show a repair ticket with possibly the part number to the blower motor that replaced the old defective units and what the difference is with the new vs the original

 

I have done some more research and testing today guys. It turns out the AC temperature control knob is also making the same noise, maybe slightly louder. I have found online that there are 2 servo motors, the air mix servo motor which the temp knob controls, and the mode servo motor which the vent mode knob controls. These motors run when you are adjusting the AC settings. I will try and take a look at them tonight after work if they are easily accessible, but my guess is these have started struggling for some reason, or are possibly failing, I don't really know. Seems odd that both would start having problems at the same time on a 2018 with 24000km.

 

Update: I have confirmed without a doubt it is the servo motors. I stuck my head under the glovebox area to see. Here is a video from the passenger footwell while I change through the vent mode dial settings and temerapture knob:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amv0gJZ_gLM&feature=youtu.be

If this was your truck, would you live with it or bring it to the dealer? I have no idea what is a normal amount of noise output for these electric motors are but mine seems pretty loud and it never was until recently. Still curious if anyone else's is this loud. Anyone want to test and report back?

 

My 2019 is not loud but when everything is off and you are trying to listen for it it's there my biggest complaint about the whole truck is the breathing or cycling noise more than the noise yours is making

So to get this correct yours dose not make the Darth Vader or the scuba mask noise at all?

 

Not that I have noticed so far, I get a bit of an AC hum on the lowerst fan setting but that is it. And the noisy servo motors, and the AC blower motor is also ticking. I have a dealer appointment next week, we will see what they say. Expecting I will get the normal response but at least it will be documented.

 

What was the story on the noisy blower motor and the servos
Did the dealer have a legit answer

 

Got it back yesterday, they said they could not hear the blower motor noise, in their defense it was coming and going, sometimes louder than others. I already looked for leaves, the cabin filter and blower fan are spotless. I think its just a noisy bearing in the motor. If it gets louder and more consistent I will bring it back or just replace it myself. They said the servo noise is normal, and mine does not seem out of the ordinary. I was going to ask to hear another truck but no one was around to show me when I picked mine up. Did not feel like arguing with them about mine being loud so I am going to keep an eye on it and see if it gets worse. I still have 1 year of warranty and they did not charge me anything which was a nice surpise.

 

My 2010 Tacoma just started making that same noise today. Was certainly NOT like that yesterday. Gets louder as I turn the the ac\heat nob up. Vents don’t seem as strong as yesterday either… Did you ever finding a solution?

When I first started it up I seriously panicked because it sounded like it was coming from my engine. Thankfully that was not the case.