Heater box repair

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by cbuspat, Jan 31, 2025 at 2:20 PM.

  1. cbuspat

    cbuspat New Member

    Joined:
    Friday
    1
    1
    0
    Location:
    Columbus, OH
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    XLE
    I took my 2020 Prius XLE to the dealership that i bought it from and where all of the maintenance has been done. My defroster was working. The heater was but i wasn't getting air from the front windshield vents. Also, when the car first started none of the HVAC controls worked...auto, rear defrost, etc. After 2-3 minutes they work again.

    I just got off the phone with the dealer who said the gear in the heater box are not turning and they can't be repaired meaning the box has to be replaced. The estimate was just over $5000! This seems insane to me and I'm spending nearly 20% of what i paid for the car so the defroster works. This dealership has been good to me and I've always trusted them. Folks who know this car...does that sound right? Any ideas on whether I have other options?
     
    #1 cbuspat, Jan 31, 2025 at 2:20 PM
    bisco likes this.
  2. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2005
    3,893
    1,893
    1
    Location:
    Trumbull, CT
    Vehicle:
    2020 Prius
    Model:
    LE AWD-e
    Check with autobeyours.com in southern Indiana if they can supply a salvaged heater box and do the repair.

    JeffD
     
    #2 jdenenberg, Feb 1, 2025 at 11:57 AM
  3. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2021
    2,232
    1,152
    0
    Location:
    SacTown, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Welcome cbuspat
    You have a blend door issue - the dampers in your heater box isn't working correctly. Unfortunately we have plastic gear and small motors that actuate the rotation of those doors. Rather than replace the plastic gears and motors, dealerships tend to swap out entire assembles. In your case the heater box.
    I'd be concerned about why the damper isn't turning. There's been reports of mice chewing their way into the HVAC system of these cars.
    I'd go someplace else for another estimate and check for mice infestation. Depending on where that gear and motor is located, you maybe able to swap that out first, rather than replacing the entire assembly.

    Good Luck....
     
    #3 BiomedO1, Feb 1, 2025 at 12:15 PM
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,788
    50,369
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    It may be a complicated job, but I would surely shop around at that price
     
    #4 bisco, Feb 1, 2025 at 1:53 PM
  5. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    8,931
    5,379
    7
    Location:
    Texas Hill Country
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    It may still be a $2000-$3000 job even if you can get a used part and an independent shop to completely tear the dash apart.

    Dealers go by the Toyota repair manual which probably says replace the larger module. Sometimes smaller shops that specialize in auto ac or at least Toyotas may have workaround access methods and fixes. Unfortunately it is a 2020 and you could be on the leading edge of the problem.
     
    #5 rjparker, Feb 1, 2025 at 2:04 PM
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    57,543
    39,707
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    When you see pictures of the interior with the dash opened up, it always looks like a bomb went off. Well, a very clean bomb.
     
    #6 Mendel Leisk, Feb 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
    bisco likes this.
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,788
    50,369
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    Smart bomb? Or stupid
     
    #7 bisco, Feb 2, 2025 at 1:37 PM
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)