Is Your Interior "fan" for A/C and Heater Audible?

First, please pardon my spoiled ass as I come from a BMW which is obviously a different kind of animal.

Any of you guys notice a (definitely) audible noise that begins when you turn on your air-con/heater fan?

It's getting cold around here so I'm just starting to use my air-con/heat. While sitting in my driveway, I turned the fan on to the lowest setting. I was not using the A/C compressor, temp was set to mild-heat. I immediately noticed a scratchy fan noise coming from below my glove-box area. Does anyone else have this? I'm thinking, surely they didn't use such a shit fan in that location. Hopefully mine just needs to be replaced. Yeah, I can't really hear it once I'm moving, but c'mon man.. the sound of the little fan far exceeds the sound output by the actual vents.

I don't think it's the main fan, but it could be. I wonder if it's just a cooling fan for something, because that's what it sounds like (small).

Thanks and judge away!

 

I would pull the filter that's located in the glovebox. I am almost certain you will find debris. While its out, put a hand in the fan area to ensure nothing is down there as well. I've had to do that twice and it resolved the issue both times.

Side note, what model BMW do you come from? I still have a X1, but I've had a 323CI and a X3.

 

Only when the radio is off
Jk jk
Yes clean filter worth a shot

 

My fan for climate control is audible

 

Yeah I've hear of some 4runner having a click or something like that. I myself don't hear it, but them again I'm deaf in both ears

 

I don't find the fan noise excessive. There could e something in there like others mentioned.

 

Mine got noisy over time. I change filters every 12 months so chance of debris is pretty slim. Bearing on these fans known to become corroded and loud over time. I ordered new "blower motor/fan assembly" from Partznet.com for $119. https://parts.conicellitoyotaofcons...uZXImeT0yMDEzJnQ9dHJhaWwmZT00LTBsLXY2LWdhcw== Replacement is 10 minute easy : 1)remove under glove box cover (few clips) 2)remove blower motor/fan assembly (few screws) 3)install in reverse.

 

No judging here. Weird noises drive me up the wall. In my 4R, however, I have a hard time hearing anything when my fan is on. I usually have to put my hand in front of a vent to see if it's on or not. Sounds like something's out of whack on your fan...

 

Tell me about it. That 4Runner is making noises I haven't heard since the 90s ... ;-) And I'm not talking about my 80s hits playlist ...

 

Haha thanks guys. I'll check it for debris and if I don't find any I'll have them look at it when I take her in for 5k service. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't being TOO picky

I knew there was a filter in the glove box but didn't even put 2 and 2 together that the fan could be accessible from there. Dang, I have been on some dirt roads with the windows down but I roll them up when the dust becomes noticeable.. didn't think I was getting it that bad in there lol.

 

My brand new 21 Venture has a little noise. Even louder than my 2006 Saturn Vue leftover winter car

 

I had mine replaced under warranty for loud noise.

 

The fans in the 4Runner, Tacoma, and FJ are notoriously shitty. 2nd Gen Tacoma's had a TSB for a while to get them replaced for free. Mine failed after about a year. You can pull the blower motor pretty easily and run it outside off the battery to see if it is really the culprit, or if it needs replacing.

 

I would still lean toward the first, and likely most easy step, and that's checking the filter for debris. I heard sound the second I purchased my 4R from the original owner. I went directly to a auto store, purchased a new filter, pulled out the old and seen this - yes, the receipt was in there too. After that, it was quite as can be. I pulled it again a couple of weeks ago and found more debris that accumulated over the summer/fall. I am curious as to how all of this is getting in from outside. Something must be allowing such large things to come in. Anyway, after cleaning it, it was quite as can be once again.

 

I wish mine was leafs and receipt issue but it was fan motor making noises. There are no bearings since it is direct drive setup. I took 15 minutes to replace and now it is noise free where I hear the air in ducting instead of fan/motor.

 

me too whisper quiet......just like my 4.0 Litre V6........the thing justs purrs. but if I get leaves in there it will make a ticking sound.

 

I pulled mine- looks like there might be an oiler hole under the top screw? What do you guys think? I pulled out the screw that corked the hole- in the photo it's the hole at the one o'clock position.

 

Did you end up putting a few drops of oil in there? If so, did it help?

 

Varmint Cong may have gotten in there.

 

Mine was making a lot of noise. The filter was clear but I dropped the blower motor and there was leaf debris in there. Once that was clear it was all quiet on the western front again.

 

I took the risk and put oil in the suspected oil hole.... clean off all the dust that sticks to the blades, couldn't disassemble since it's sealed... but no squeaks- the bushing I think was flvery very dry.
Now I have a new problem- power to the dash consol that controls fan speed, teat temp and which vents are open will stop all on its own. I figure either I didn't fully connect all the plugs to the fan abd dash when I had everything apart last time or I'm tripping a relay. Will see.

 

I replaced the blower motor a couple of weeks ago on my 19' (as everyone said they are notorious for failing, coworker with a Tacoma has replaced his 3 times on a 08'). The OEM one made slight noise and so does this new aftermarket one. Its only noticeable at low speeds without music playing.

 

I'm starting ro think that wasn't an oil hole under that screw - now the fan fairly regularly stops, I have to press the off button, then turn the fan back on... .medium and high speeds completely random, or I can trigger it by switching from front ent to windshield vent to floor vent fairly quickly with the fan on high, will cause the fan to completely shut off and I will need to push the off button then set the fans speed.

 

Yeah I put a couple drops of 10w30 in that hole but it didn't seem to help at all. I had already decided to buy a new one so why not. It has started rattling the whole dash at this point. Glad my new one should be showing up this week sometime lol.

 

Is there a fan relay? The fan will be o then stop suddenly. I can be driving or in park, it csn be on any speed from low to high and any point in between, and it just stops. I have to push the off button then turn it back on. Some times it will be fine after that, other times it will do it again. Wondering if the relay might be the issue?

 

Did you ever get this issue resolved. Mine was doing the same thing over the course of several months. Really weak air coming out, air flow going up and down, cutting off intermittently, and now everything has stopped working. No a/c, no heat, no defrost. The lights on all the knobs still turn on, but no air will come out.

 

Depending on the age of your vehicle, you would need a new blower motor. A simple 10 minute replacement under the glove box.

And if you have never accessed it, you would be surprised the amount of stuff that can get into it and completely clog it.

 

Ordered a new Blower FAN- went with a Toyota factory oem just because some users claimed the after market ones had a little less power. Problem gone. I can use all speeds and it doesn't shut off from an overload. I recomed Shopping around online, look for the best price you can find. Make sure it's new, not refurbished. Make sure it's actually a toyota brand if that's what you shoot for. Install was fast. Upside down and backwards but easy- youtube for the videos how to swap out the fan.
The fan relay is now inside the sealed fan, and inaccessible- all appart of toyota's "component swap out design"... I assume I will need to do another swap out in 80k miles... seems to be the life span of this design.
Hope this helps