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Comments
Thanks a ton for posting here. Thanks to Edmunds and moderators for hosting this great forum. Fixing the nut solved the heating problem ... a great and simple solution save my money.
Thanks,
Manoj
thnks.
I'm always wondered about this and my warranty is about to expire so I thought it was time to find out. The service rep at the dealer said he didn't know without seeing how another Highlander operated and I guess he never did check because he never got back to me. We both wondered if maybe it was designed to turn on the A/C to get humidity out of the air. Seems weird though, to have this happen when the weather is below freezing.
When I press the Auto button and have the temperature set at like 80 or 85, hot air flows from the lower vents. The A/C button lights up, but it is still hot air coming out. I think other people were reporting getting the wrong temperature of air coming out. That is not the problem here. I just wondered if the A/C should be running when the car is not in defrost mode.
The thinking, horribly FLAWED thinking IMMHO, on this seems to be to use the A/C to help dehumidfy the cabin atmosphere thereby lowering the potential of windshield fogging and at the same time raising the human comfort level. Seems we are more comfortable with an Rh near 40F
There is a C-best option, 2 actually, that the dealer can set which will allow you to disable the A/C indefinitely by simply turning it off once. The second c-best option unlinks A/C from operating automatically, with no operator indication, in any of the defrost/defog/demist modes.
My '01 F/awd RX300 has had both of these set for many years now. Prior to those C-best options I always simply unplugged the wire to the A/C clutch during the winter months.
http://bit.ly/9zGHkU is the short URL.
If you don't like short URL's here is the original:
http://www.devalcourt.com/2010/03/fixing-2004-toyota-highlander-ac-and-heat-issu- e/
Hope others find this useful.
Just got the Highlander back from dealership - air is cold on both sides now.
Damage = $200.
Would the 2004 Highland "fix" work for my 2009? Or should I print those instructions out and take them with me to the dealership?
Thanks!
I have lost control of my temperature rotary control( I have a "auto" unit)...so like so many others I talked to the dealer who told me the standard deal $1000 buck and you are good as new....so looked on Edmunds and after reading so many posts I called the regional and the 800 numbers and got the same runaround....not enough complaints....So here I am with the front trim piece off the hvac/radio and see 6 bolts for the whole unit plus 4 screws for what looks to be the hvac unit....Those screws are not budging but the 6 10mm bolts are ready to go.....so once the unit is out what next....are there a couple connectors???? Any help would be most appreciated...Joe
Here is the link with excellent images, showing how to fix. The simple fix is to check if the nuts around the shafts for fan and heat control are secure (that was my problem - if the rotary knobs seem to wobble, that is a fair guess). Try tightening these first and if they don't work, go for the whole fix detailed in the attached link. The soldering is supposed to be very fiddly so may need to find an electronic geek friend to do this and check that there is no shorting between tracks
http://www.devalcourt.com/2010/03/fixing-2004-toyota-highlander-ac-and-heat-issu- e/
Cheers
Graham
WRITE Toyota! At some point they will owe a bunch of people alot of money!
They also said that they don't consider all these posts worth their time and effort, they will only act on issues brought up by their dealership service departments. So, if you had the problem, and fixed it without taking it to the dealer, the issue will never be addressed.
I doubt they would issue a recall since A/C and heater controls are not safety issues. Toyota has become no better and no worse than other car companies. They really don't care.
I can immediately "restart" the A/C by pressing the A/C button twice. Once to turn off and once to turn back on. Once on, the green indicator light is steady "on". However, as soon as I slow down again, the light begins flashing and the A/C quits.
If I am traveling at a constant moderate speed, the A/C stays on.
"Restarting" the A/C always seems to work...but it is a nuisance to have to keep doing it...especially in city driving.
Also, the temperature with the A/C on seems to be plenty cool.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
But anyway, I took this posters suggestion of checking the temperature control knob. Was it loose? YEP. Gently remove the knob by pulling the knob away from the panel. OK. Do you see a hex nut on the metal post that the knob attaches too? YES. Is it loose? YEP. Then tighten the nut until it is secure. OK. Re-attach temperature control knob. OK. Test running the a/c by turning on the fan. Is the temperature control accurate? YES!!!!!!
Thank you so much for posting. I was getting ready to take it in to the mechanic. I can only imagine what they would have diagnosed and charged me for!
Lesson to this story: Do your research BEFORE resorting to the repair shop. The internet is a wealth of information. Take the least invasive approach first, and if that doesn't provide the results you seek, then proceed to the next step.
Thanks if there is a genius among us !!
Here's the site.
http://www.devalcourt.com/2010/03/fixing-2004-toyota-highlander-ac-and-heat-issu- e/