Blower (cabin heat) motor issues

[skibum]

I've been living with this, but for quite some time (a couple years, anyway) my heater motor will cut out when I hit a bump. It might come back on in a couple blocks or maybe the next time I start the van. It has variable speeds (at least high and medium). I've seen other threads regarding relays, breakers and motor replacement, but I can't seem to find anything specific to this intermittent operation.

I have smelled "old mouse" in the past, but not for a couple years (this van stays in CA and is typically not driven for half the year). I have had the dash off to replace a wiper motor, so I could get in there and inspect the ducting/blower housing, but I'd just as soon not.

There is a fair amount of rust on the vehicle, so grounding could be suspect.

Does anyone have any ideas? It's always nice to have a target.

Thanks,
Scott

[timsrv]

Sounds like brushes inside the heater motor are toast. Put a meter on the motor leads next time it dies and see if it's got 12vdc. If it has voltage but it's not turning then the motor is shot and needs to be replaced. When you test for voltage make sure to put the meter on the actual wires to the motor (don't use a common ground). Tim

[abracadabra]

Folks=

My front blower motor finally bit the dust. Luckily the worst of winter here in Maine is over, but this is a part of my van that is crucial so its at the top of the list of things to do this spring, after changing out my rack/pinion. Sounds like I have a funs spring, eh?

Anyway, I've found that RockAuto has some cheap reman'ed motors and then at I see Toyota has the motor for $150.

Now, I've read up on this procedure, I understand its a real PITA. But there's a HUGE difference in price here, I'm trying to wrap my brain around spending $100 more on the Toyota motor.....

mark

[llamavan]

Does your van have A/C, or not? The parts, that is ... whether they work or not is immaterial here.

Gwen

[abracadabra]

The is set up for AC, its an 87 LE 4X4.

It never worked, I never looked in to it, its a luxury I've never had!

mark

[timsrv]

Individual results may vary, but I experienced blower motor failure in my van when it hit about 100k. I went the cheap route with the aftermarket motor. At around 130K I was replacing it again . That time I spent the extra $$$ and bought the Toyota motor. The van is now at around 180k miles and the motor is still working fine. Here's a thread regarding replacement: https://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/...36-Heater-woes. Tim

[llamavan]

The is set up for AC, its an 87 LE 4X4.

OK, then it WILL be a PITA. On the non-AC vans, it's fairly easy to remove a piece of ducting and then drop the blower motor. But the interior A/C unit prevents that.

Gwen

[mahleek87]

Hi everyone. Looks like I developed a problem today in my 86 Van. When I try to turn the fan on for heat nothing happens. I tried hitting the fan with a screw driver to see if it has gone bad and nothing happened. I wouldnt suspect it was a bad blower fan because I replaced it with a brandnew one from Toyota probably 5 years ago. When I try to turn on the rear a/c or front a/c no light nothing happens. It seems as if the a/c fuse is blown. However I checked the fuse it was good. I replaced it 3 times with 3 different new ones and no luck. Any chance some relay went bad? I also tried resetting all 3 circuit brakers, nothing.

Other things in my van like radio, headlights etc work and get power so I dont know if it could be the fuse box. Anything else to check?

[timsrv]

Did you use the search feature? I checked and multiple returns. here's a quote from another thread:

When you have a blower problem the 1st thing to do is check the breaker. There are 2 of these (one for the front blower and one for the back). Use a paper clip or something small to stick into the little black hole (see picture below). If the breaker is tripped, you should hear a metallic click and the fan should start working again. You should have your fan set on high to test just in case the resistor is burned out. If that doesn't work, then check for 12vdc at the blower motor leads. Don't use a common ground (put your meter leads directly on the wires going to the motor). Report back what you find and we'll continue on from there (if needed). Tim

[mahleek87]

Did you use the search feature? I checked and multiple returns. here's a quote from another thread:

I tried resetting those already did not get anything the symptoms are consistent with the AC fuse being blown but it isn't blown I replaced it with three different ones still no luck.

[timsrv]

Okay, how about this?

If that doesn't work, then check for 12vdc at the blower motor leads. Don't use a common ground (put your meter leads directly on the wires going to the motor). Report back what you find and we'll continue on from there (if needed). Tim

[mahleek87]

Okay, how about this?

LOL Do you really think im capable of that? JK Gonna ask a friend to help me with that. I will report back the results

[timsrv]

Another thing you might try (that's more your speed), is to turn the fan to high with the ignition switch in the "run" position, then reach up behind the fuse box and wiggle the wires up there. If the fan intermittently starts running, then the problem is most likely a burned connection on the back of the fuse box. This happened to me a couple years ago. After all was said & done I took a picture of the problem area (below). Tim

[joegri]

the only prob i've ever had was no lower speeds on the fan. after removing the glovebox there was a part i replaced (kinda like a rheostat) i would check for power comming in and going out. thats all i got. i'm finding that as these vans get older the electrical stuff starts to raise its ugly head. but the great thing is atleast we can come here and maybe fix whats ailing our vans. mahleek you can do this...especially if you want a lil heat.lol

[timsrv]

the only prob i've ever had was no lower speeds on the fan. after removing the glovebox there was a part i replaced (kinda like a rheostat).........

Yes, these fan resistors are a commonly failed part. Power is however only routed through the resistor when on the lower speeds. When set to high, this resistor is bypassed. This is the reason I suggested setting the fan to high while testing (just to rule out the resistor). You do bring up a good point though for anybody having a problem with lower fan speeds. Whenever your fan works on high, but not on a lower speed, the problem is almost always that resistor. Tim

[joegri]

nice see ya learn something new everyday. great tip tim

[mahleek87]

Yes, these fan resistors are a commonly failed part. Power is however only routed through the resistor when on the lower speeds. When set to high, this resistor is bypassed. This is the reason I suggested setting the fan to high while testing (just to rule out the resistor). You do bring up a good point though for anybody having a problem with lower fan speeds. Whenever your fan works on high, but not on a lower speed, the problem is almost always that resistor. Tim

What does the resistor look like and is it still available from
toyota? I swapped that silver relay from van to van and it didnt make a difference. Then i let the van sit for days and started it up and put the fan on high and it turned on only on high. So im pretty sure its the resistor. Anyone got a part number?

[timsrv]

it turned on only on high. So im pretty sure its the resistor. Anyone got a part number?

So, when it didn't work on the lower speed, you didn't try it on high? . I guess I take stuff like that for granted as I can't imagine not exploring a problem at least to that small degree initially . Regardless, If the fan works on high but not low, there's a small chance it's a switch problem, but 95% of the time it ends up being the blower resistor. And again, I'm going to point out that this information is already here in the forum. I did a search and read through a few old threads (it only took a few minutes).

I ordered front and rear Four Seasons resistors from rockauto.com. The part numbers for the front is 20227 and rear is 20160...........

Figured I'd post in this thread since I just had to deal with this. I went ahead and just ordered the part off rock auto. Takes 5 minutes to swap out and I have the two low settings again so it's not full blast or nothing! Glad I stumbled upon this thread, I thought it would be more in-depth to fix haha.
Picture of new (Four Seasons) and old (Oem).

If you prefer OEM, it's Toyota part #87138-87009 and it sells for ~$35 at a dealership or ~$25 on one of those discount Toyota parts websites. As to it's location on the van, you'll need to remove the glove box, then drop the relay holder assembly out of the way (just 2 screws). I put an arrow on this picture (from another thread) for you. The resistor is held in by 2 screws. They put it here in the duct because resistors run hot & this is a good place to get cool air flowing across it. Tim

[mahleek87]

So, when it didn't work on the lower speed, you didn't try it on high? . I guess I take stuff like that for granted as I can't imagine not exploring a problem at least to that small degree initially . Regardless, If the fan works on high but not low, there's a small chance it's a switch problem, but 95% of the time it ends up being the blower resistor. And again, I'm going to point out that this information is already here in the forum. I did a search and read through a few old threads (it only took a few minutes).

I did try it on high and it didnt work. After I let my van sit for a few days came back to it and tried it turned on when it was on high. Now it stopped working again all together. Low or high. I am going to get this part replace it and report.

[Rufus]

Today on the way home I noticed that my front blower quit working all together. No blowing at any level. I ran the controls through all the settings, checked the blower resistor for continuity, checked the blower relay for continuity and checked the blower circuit breaker for continuity and to see if it had been tripped. Everything passed inspection. I have no idea what it could be. The blower was working fine this morning.