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Air Conditioning / Heating Unit , no air coming throught the vents (2007 Toyota Prius)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by DrMetal, Jul 28, 2009.

  1. DrMetal

    DrMetal Junior Member

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    I'm an idiot. There's nothing wrong w/ my dash display. Just had the dim lights knob turned down!

    But there was a problem with the A/C fan, something was stuck in it. The mechanic pulled it out, is working fine now. Didn't even charge me. Found a great Toyota mechanic in the Silver Spring, MD area, PM me if anyone is interested. Thanks all!
     
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  2. hoop

    hoop On The South Texas Coast

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    Update: I replaced the blower assy today with a new one from the dealer. Beautiful, runs like a top. Problem solved. I'm glad your problem was solved too Dr Metal and thanks for all the help dogfriend and Patrick Wong. Here is a pic of the plastic cover you have to remove if you ever need to change one.:D
     

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  3. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    What jammed the blower?
     
  4. Rafikiro

    Rafikiro Mockba

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    I hate to bring a thread back from the dead but I am having what seems like the same issue. Ever since I purchased my Pri in March 08 it has intermittently had issues with getting cold or warm air to the vents. I tried several times over the first year to have it looked at but each time I got to the dealership it would start working again. I found that going over train tracks kicked it back in. It finally stopped long enough for the dealer to see the issue and they replaced the blower motor. Well just recently it started doing it again (on a really cold day). I took it in and they said its the blower motor again but I am out of warranty (60K miles) but they did get it working again and it has not stopped for the month so I am waiting till it dies or I get money that I feel I can spend on it. The cost to replace was like $200-300. Seems like from what is said here that it can be self done so I would do that. I really do not think it should be something I have to pay for though, since it was done under warranty less than a year ago. Any ideas or thought about appealing to Toyota and an Engineer?

    Specifically I will try to explain the issue: I try to use any air as little as possible to save on energy used but if I do turn on the air you can hear things working but no air coming from the vents. I have tried turning up all the way and all the way down and nothing. If I go over a train track or similar that seems to jar something and then full force of air through the vents. Another thing I noticed is what seems like the inside/outside air vent makes noise (can hear it opening and closing) that seems a little more than usual. Personal pet peeve, Pri is constantly trying to open the darn outside vent to let in outside air, I have allergies and such and if I do not notice before I pass lawn mowing its a pain. Ok that is alot and we shall see if anyone reads it!!!

    Thanks
     
  5. dogfriend

    dogfriend Human - Animal Hybrid

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    I would check the connector that plugs into the blower motor - it is possible that you have a bad connection and when they replaced the blower motor it temporarily fixed the issue. But now it has worked loose again.

    BTW, I had a similar problem last summer with my GF's motorhome. The blower motor would just stop working randomly, but of course it would be only when you needed it most, with +100°F temps outside. It finally stopped working altogether. I traced it to the blower motor relay which was not working, and verified the relay was bad by swapping with another relay (PCM power, which meant that the engine would not start). Bought a new relay - same problem - no blower. I was stumped at this point - but finally noticed that one of the terminals in the relay block was pushed further in than the others. The root issue: the plastic tab that locks the terminal in the relay block had broken off and allowed the terminal to come apart in the relay block. Temporary fix: Used a wire tie to prevent the terminal from moving backward. Permanent (future) fix: Replace the relay block (hours of labor to remove each terminal and replace into new block without mixing any of them - there are about 80 terminals in the block).
     
  6. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    I like the loose connector theory and its relatives, nicked wiring and faulty fuse block. Since a dealer acknowledged the problem while under warranty, that problem is still under warranty.
     
  7. sdtravelin

    sdtravelin New Member

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    I started a thread a few minutes ago, and then saw yours. Sometimes my a/c doesn't work when I start the car even though the control panel says it working. The unit will come on after 5 to 25 minutes of driving. Did you replace the box you "tapped on". Thanks
     
  8. DrMetal

    DrMetal Junior Member

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    Yeah, that's exactly what was happening with mine. The touch screen panel worked fine, I could even hear a 'clicking' sound when I turned it on. But it would take a while (as you described, 5 to 25 minutes), for the air (either in heat or a/c mode) to come thru the vents.

    This persisted for about 6 months, then it just stopped working alltogether. No air would come thru, even after 5 to 25 minutes of running.

    I took it into a local mechanic. In the process of hooking it up to diagnose, he inadvertently fixed the problem! Started blowing again. And so he couldn't really tell me what was wrong.

    It's working fine now, but I wouldn't be surprised if it went out again.

    I think it's a soft problem, maybe with the blower fan, but I have no idea how to diagnose/fix it.

    Are you out of warranty? If not, take it in, tell us what the dealer tells you.

    It seems like a few of us on this thread have had this problem. Maybe we should write a letter to Toyota (b/c the don't have enough on their plate right now! :)) Maybe they'll give us a sympathy fix, for free, even though we're out of warranty.
     
  9. DrMetal

    DrMetal Junior Member

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    I noticed you're from San Diego. Which dealership did you purchase your Prius from? I got mine from Mossy Pacific Beach, in February 2007.
     
  10. catgic

    catgic Mastr & Commandr Hybrid Guru

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    Re: Air Conditioning/Heating Unit, No Air Coming Thru Vents (2007 Toyota Prius)

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  11. DrMetal

    DrMetal Junior Member

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    Re: Air Conditioning/Heating Unit, No Air Coming Thru Vents (2007 Toyota Prius)

    Thanks! Your post helped a lot. Some questions . . .

    Is there any official report of this? A consumer report, newspaper/magazine article? Would love to have it, am thinking about writing Toyota about it.

    Are those parts easy to put in, if I buy them and take them to my local mechanic? Or do you really need to go to the dealer?
     
  12. catgic

    catgic Mastr & Commandr Hybrid Guru

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    Re: Air Conditioning/Heating Unit, No Air Coming Thru Vents (2007 Toyota Prius)

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  13. catgic

    catgic Mastr & Commandr Hybrid Guru

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  14. seawaterdiver

    seawaterdiver New Member

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    First off, I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has commented on this thread as it helped me out tremendously. I was also willing to purchase a new blower motor ($150 from dealer, $101 from NAPA and $88 from Advanced Auto Parts- here in Fl) but wanted to take the blower motor out and inspect before purchased new...to try and figure out why it quit working. My fan also worked intermittently over the past 2 months and finally stopped completely. I have 53k miles on my 07 Prius. The steps I took were as follows: 1) removed the blower motor assembly (the pictures you posted are great) 2) removed the metal clip that holds the squirrel fan cage on the shaft 3) removed the squirrel cage by pulling up gently on the fan assembly 4) using an air compressor, blew out the open brushes in the fan motor...lots of black junk came out. I have a feeling that over time, even with the air filter installed, the blower motor brushing get coated with dust and crude which inhibits the motor brushes from conducting electricity and the motor stops turning. 5) I left the blower motor on the floor board and plugged in the electrical harness. BAAM, the fan motor came on and worked according to the fan speed on the touchscreen. I then installed the squirrel cage and tried the same exercise....and it worked fine 6) I reinstalled the cleaned fan motor and fan cage and tested it all and it works as normal.
    Bottom line, I do not believe that the blower motor is failing, just that the internal motor brushes get dirty over time with the air flow (since this is not a sealed motor) and this inhibits the motor rotor/brushes from getting the necessary electrical current to make it spin. I think this issue happens at lower mileage in hot humid environment (like here in FL).
    BEFORE you purchase a new blower motor, try this exercise and see if it helps....
     
  15. 2009Prius

    2009Prius A Wimpy DIYer

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    Thanks for the great info! With the 20/20 hindsight, the intermittent nature of the problem does point to the possibility of some electrical contact getting dirty over time, doesn't it? :)
     
  16. kohnen

    kohnen Grumpy, Cranky Senior Member

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    DC motors with brushes become intermittent when the brushes wear out. This is because when they wear down, they get to the point where they aren't being pressed against the commutator by the springs anymore.

    I've seen it happen not only with HVAC motors, but with radiator fan motors as well.

    A slight tap can get the motor going for a SHORT while.

    All the motor needs is a new set of brushes. But, in today's throw-away world, expect to have to replace the motor.
     
  17. GypsyWolf

    GypsyWolf New Member

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    Ok we got the blower assembly out of the car, removed the metal clip holding the squirrel cage on, BUT we cannot just gently remove the squirrel cage. It is stuck. Here is a picture of it. Can someone please tell me how to get this off so I can clean the motor?

    I can't seem to get the picture loaded here but I tried it as an attachment.
     

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  18. DanCole42

    DanCole42 New Member

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    This is the part I'm having trouble with. How exactly do you remove it?

    Thanks!
     
  19. GypsyWolf

    GypsyWolf New Member

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    Dan,
    I have a 2005 Prius and found out that the squirrel cage does not come off for the later models. I'm in the same situation and will be going to AutoZone later to buy a whole new assembly to put in.

    Hope this helps!
     
  20. jaredhartman

    jaredhartman New Member

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    I appreciate the information and pictures provided in this thread. My fan recently quit working and I was able to open up the lower assembly to reveal the bottom of the fan as shown in earlier pictures. To my surprise, a small dead rat was lodged between the assembly and the fan.

    After cleaning my pants and removing the body, the fan worked. The cabin air filter was shredded. So if anyone has a malfunctioning fan and shredded air filter, beware.