A couple weeks ago, I realized that my vent selector switch stopped working. It's stuck on shooting the air out the face and leg vents. There seems to be no physical damage to the switch and it still clicks in all the right spots but no change in the airflow. The vent speed switch and the temp control switch work fine. I'm wondering if there is some vacuum line or electrical switch that may have crapped out.

 

mine has been stuck for months, not really sure what it is.

 

If the system is similar to my 2002 4Runner, you will have an air outlet servo motor that controls where your air blows. Based on which contact receives power (which changes based on where your selector switch is positionned), the motor will go to a set position, and move a damper to re-direct the air. You could have a blown fuse, a bad servo motor, or loose linkages.

 

The limited 4runners have electronically actuated servos to control the vent doors but all others use a simple cable actuated system of either sliding levers (on 96-97 trucks) and rotary knobs (98-02 trucks). The Taco I am not as sure about since it seems to vary. The cable actuated style is very easy to troubleshoot but you'll need to get into the dash to verify the door actuation. Most of the time, it seems to be the electronic servo style that gets stuck.

This will help with dash disassembly:
http://www.deserted1.com/FSM/Repair_...c/hca/remo.pdf
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f127/aftermarket-stereo-installation-3rd-gen-4runner-75275/

If you can verify that they are servo or cable actuated, that will help alot with us being able to help you with diagnosis.

 

You can usually hear the servo move. A friend has a 02 DC and, with the radio off, if you change the setting you can here a small "vrr" servo-type noise from in the dash. I would say if you can't here this or it sounds very odd, then it may be a problem with the servo, wiring, fuse, etc.

 

I'll check that right now. I think I've turned it while silent like you said, but I doubt I'll hear it over the exhaust. I'll see and get back on that.

 

He has (and had) an exhaust and a K&N and we still hear it. It's somewhat high-pitch.

 

I can hear the servo whirr when I move the switch in and out of face/leg and that's it. No change in airflow pattern.

 

Maybe you have a leaf or something blocking the damper. Unfortunately, it sounds like you may have to do some dash work. You may be able to get to it from the center dash area (where the stereo, etc. is).

 

My 02 (non-limited) 4Runner air outlet is controlled by a servo. It is the "badlands" edition 4Runner, though, so that may have something to do with it.

 

You guys won't believe this! I parked my truck at the gym and looked at the vent selector switch in despair, going through the steps in my head of removing the dash to get to the servo, when an act of desperation hit me. I slowly turned the switch through all the selections multiple times and heard a different noise come from my servo. I then turned on the air and VIOLA! it fixed itself!

Thanks for all the tips.

 

Sweet. Not only do these trucks have minimal problems, when they do they fix themselves!! Gotta love them japaneese
Hopefully it fixed itself for good.

 

Definately, I think the Badlands is only made in Canada though?
In any case it appears to have similar trim to the Limiteds, so I stand corrected.

In any case, glad your climate controls are fixed.

 

According to my VIN, it is japanese made. (Maybe they are only manufactured for Canada, though?) Yet another unsolved 4Runner mystery!

 

HAHAHA.....we can solve Stonehenge next!

The badlands version was definately only sold in Canada and even though it looks like a US sport Highlander edition, the features were different for sure. It also sounds like it was only offered in 2002 (someone commented it was a design to help move the remaining inventory of Canadian 3rd gens before the 4th gen came out....not sure how true that is though).

http://autonet.ca/EdmontonDrive/Stor...m?StoryID=4297

 

Good article. Thanks.