weak heater. 2015 TRDORDC with 52k

another thing i want to add, just so we are addressing all areas. I feel the temp of the heat is fine, but the amount of heat coming out of the floor vents is terrible, at least on mine. I usually keep it on defroster or dash vents. And as far as feeling drafty, the second gen tacomas arent exactly luxurious, they're loud, rickety, and drafty.

 

Maybe something is blocking the floor vent Mouse nest

 

Watch this video. The guy even checks the squirrel cage fan for debris.
It's literally a 2 minute job if you don't check the fan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96CrLLMD-Rc

 

Nah, its been weak since day 1. Compared to vehicles i have had in the past, just not a lot of heat coming out the bottom, or maybe just drafty like the OP said. It doesnt bother me, just pumping more info to the OP. Ive had it since the end of 2014 and i'll use the bottom vents, but not until my cabin gets up to temp.

 

I park in an attached garage so don't want to kill myself and the family. But it would be nice at work and everywhere else I park outside. Seat heaters would also help.

 

Yes there is a servo motor on the passenger side of the airbox. Air Mix Control Servo.

 

Same deal here, ever since I bought it. I just assume it's normal. It doesn't bother me. I've seen/had worse. Truck is a 2013 base level access cab, 4 cyl, if that makes any difference.

 

"I feel the temp of the heat is fine, but the amount of heat coming out of the floor vents is terrible."

I couple of you have commented on the floor vents, indicating not much air flow there. I usually only have the air directed out of the floor vents. Can't stand air blowing in my face. Upon opening up all vents the cabin heated up much faster (feet and legs were still cold and feeling a draft). This will help some to heat up the cabin and then switch to the lower vents as soon as possible. It's an odd thing to me but the floor vent air doesn't feel nearly as warm as the dash vents.

 

The floor heat is weak for whatever reason. I just set it on the dash vent/floor setting and point the dash vents down. Other than changing your cabin filter, not much else you can do other than a block heater.

 

Glad i could help commenting on the floor vents. Its always good to know if your truck is normal or if something is out of whack. I think the temp of the heat coming out of the floor is affected by it being very drafty, and thats also where all of the firewall connections are made. I usually keep the heat on the defrost vents, then the only vents you have to deal with are the ones next to the windows, which can be directed. nevertheless, check the filter. I check mine, or at least inspect/clean every 10k.

 

Changed the cabin filter. Dirty but nothing unusual. After that I decided to put the fan on high with as much air directed to the floor as possible to determine where the air is coming out on the driver's side. Instead of blowing down it blows towards the driver hits the back of the dashboard, below the steering column. Some of the air is getting blown up under the dash instead of towards the floor. Plus the air outlets are too far away from the firewall, towards the seat, to blow on the feet of the driver. Even on high the air flow is weak. Poor design and weak air flow. Probably no real solution to improve that. At least I have some heat. The car I drove back and forth to college had no heat or a/c. I'll see if my mechanic has any ideas to improve it while it's in for service next week. I'll share with him all of the ideas in this thread as well. Even a slight improvement would be welcome in this bitter cold.

 

Just wondering if you guys are turning off the AC? On my DCSB It auto selects Outside Air and AC. When I am by myself I select Recirculate and AC off and I will roast out of the truck in no time. When the Wife and Kid are in the Vehicle the windows fog up to fast and I will have it the other way.

 

a/c is off for me. I use recirc when I can.

 

Yes recirculation helps....my DCLB doesn't come to temp near as quick as my old gen 1 extra cab did...but there's twice the volume to heat.

Added: plus, at -35 c ...nothing warms up inside of half an hour...

 

Whenever it's going to be below 20F, I always put a piece of cardboard in front of about half of the radiator. I don't know how easy it is to do on our Tacos but I always did on my T-100 and it made a huge difference. The truck seemed happier too. Just don't forget to take it out when the weather warms back up.

 

Coldest day of the year yesterday. Minus teens for the wind chills. First drive after changing the cabin filter and that made a noticeable difference. I thought it was my imagination but I asked my mechanic if the cabin filter can make a difference and he said yes. I really don't see how. I guess air must pass thru the filter, even on recirc? I assumed it was just incoming make-up air that passed thru the filter. In for service today and they are going look at other ways to improve heat.

 

I've always though the heat was weak in my 4cyl base Access Cab. I guess I need to check the cabin air filter!

 

I replaced my cabin air filter today. I dont think they cabin filter had more than 9k or 12 months, but it sure needed it. I think my heater and airflow are a little better. I also changed the engine air filter too.

 

Back from service. No issues with the thermostat, coolant or anything else. I guess I will have to be content with the improvement I noticed after changing the cabin air filter. AND, I need to buy my next vehicle in the winter or move somewhere much warmer. I can take excessive heat but not bitter cold.

Thanks again everyone for your input.

 

When you buy a replacement cabin air filter, IN MY OPINION, don't buy one of the so called high efficiency ones. I bought one at Wal Mart that is thicker than the stock unit and it reduced my air flow. I won't use them in my furnace in the house either. They just block too much air and don't let the system perform like it should.
As a test only, remove the cabin air filter for a couple of days and see how it does. Just don't run without one for too long. You'll get crap in your fan motor.