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

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.

 

What jammed the blower?

 

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

 

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).

 

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.

 

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

 

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

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

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

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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....

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

Thanks!

 

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!

 

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.