Flashing front button on climate control

[mikeandcasey]

Another issue just cropped up with my 2006 Avalon....

On startup, the front button on the climate control flashes for several seconds. The system will not heat on the left side, but the right will.

Any ideas?

Mike

[mikeandcasey]

More to the story....

Took the car to the dealer. They couldn't duplicate the issue. When I brought the car back for another service, they could duplicate it.

They took a code off the computer for an airflow diverter. They claim 8 hours of labor to get at it and $1200 for the part! (And I thought the oxygen sensor with the new manifold was ridiculous)

Going to call Toyota and raise he!!.....how can they design a climate control system with a part buried 8 hours deep in the dash that costs that kind of money?

Any thoughts?

Mike

[SilenTempest]

I have to agree with you. Some of the dealers a scummy saying they can't recreate the problem. It is like all the problems "magically" go away when you enter the dealership. Had the problem on the lexus rx350 where it would only blow cooled air when the heat was on max. Go to dealer and he says wait in my office and he goes to the car and he tells us there is no problem. Who knows what he could've done in that time period.

[inov8]

You may have misunderstood the quote. $1200 should include both the part and labor to replace it.
I looked up the part. It is called (by Toyota) an "air mix control servomotor" and can be purchased at a dealer for $154.90 or online for $117.33.

According the the factory service manual, changing it involves discharging and recharging the air conditioner, removing the windshield wipers and cowl, disconnecting the heater water hoses, removing the entire dashboard and structural reinforcements, air bags, ducts, and finally the heater/AC assembly.

You might be able to find an independent mechanic with lower overhead costs willing to buy the part and do the job at a more reasonable price.

[mikeandcasey]

I called the dealer back....and they are insistant that the part is $1200 and the labor of 8 hours.

Any other ideas?

Mike

[Mike Murrell]

Ask them to give you the name of the part AND the Toyota part number.

Then...

Go online to one of many online Toyota parts sites. These places are all Toyota dealerships that sell for less as inov8 pointed out.

Two that come to mind are:


http://www.toyotapartszone.com

http://www.toyotapartsbarn.com


You can key in the Toyota part number once inside either of these sites to see what the online cost is.

[inov8]

http://www.trademotion.com/parts/200...iagram=8516085

This is a drawing of all of the under-dash HVAC components, with retail and online prices. The web site is the parts department of a dealer in Texas.
You could nearly purchase one of every part for $1200, but that would be like buying a complete engine when the starter motor needs replacement.

The driver-side air-blend servo is #12 in the drawing. It consists of an electrically-operated vane that controls the mix of warm and cold air delivered to the ducts. It sound like yours is stuck in the cold position . . . perhaps the wiring connector fell off.

If I have a customer uninformed enough to pay $198 for an Avalon oil filter, and I sell him one at that price, then that $5 filter is, by definition, a "$198 part". You need to find a repair shop that doesn't have a yacht payment due.

[boosted-fc3s]

Originally Posted by inov8

You need to find a repair shop that doesn't have a yacht payment due.

Haha... is that a Car Talk reference? They always make wisecracks about mechanics wearing deck shoes, or having boat payments due.

[inov8]

Tom and Ray are two of my favorite guys

[mikeandcasey]

All:

Thanks very much for the replies and the valuable info.....

Went to the dealer today and received the "skinny" on this deal. The parts diagram is identical to the one they gave me. However, box # 1 on the diagram you submitted has the "plenum" or whatever you call it. They claim that this piece has gears and doors etc. which may have to be replaced. The actuator motor (87106V) which is $154.90 fits on this part.

I am guessing that part number 1 includes all the parts in the box and this may be $1200.....funny how the diagram shows part 15 (the whole blower assembly) but number 1 is nowhere to be seen.

I have a call into Toyota Customer Care. They were very receptive to my complaint, but I don't hold out much hope on getting any help here.

More to follow.

Mike

[inov8]

I was able to find drawing item "1" on another parts site (toyotapartsource.com). To complicate matters, the design was changed in February 2006.
Vehicle build date . . . . . List price . . . . . Online price
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Up to 2/2006 . . . . . . . . $875.88 . . . . . . . $744.50
From 2/2006 on . . . . . . $1034.82 . . . . . . . $879.60
I have no idea what would be different that is worth more than $100.

Keep in mind these prices include 2 servo motors and a heater core, which your dealer now claims are not the problem. They will transfer your old ones, return the new ones for credit, keep in stock, or exchange with another dealer. And guess who will be paying for the labor time to swap the good parts.

Evidently, your dealer is saying the servo motor is OK, but the damper is not moving due to broken parts within the HVAC "plenum". Toyotapartsource calls it an "AC and Heater Assembly", which seems equally descriptive to me.

Fortunately, you can perform a simple test that may confirm or refute that diagnosis.

Warm the interior up to 70F to 75F, so it will be possible to set the desired temperature both well above and well below ambient. Next, push the Start button twice with foot off the brake pedal, or turn the ignition key to On. This will power up the heater without running the engine.

Turn the audio volume to minimum or Off.
Set climate control Auto button to On, AC to Off, and use the manual fan switch (lower left) to set fan speed to minimum.

Now, on the side that is working OK, alternately set the temperature to ~65 and ~80 and listen carefully. After each change of desired temperature, you will hear the servo motor run for a few seconds, and the airflow velocity will gradually change slightly as the damper moves (because incoming air is less restricted when bypassing the heater core).
Once you are familiar with the sounds, do the same on the side that is not functioning properly.
If the servo motor rums, but the airflow velocity does not change, the damper is disconnected from the servo motor shaft, perhaps due to broken interior parts.
If the servo motor does not make any sound at all, it is either bad or not receiving the command to move from the climate control computer.
If the servo motor makes a noise unlike the functioning side, and the airflow does not change, the damper may be binding or jammed (but it still could be a malfunctioning servo).