recirc vent noise

[Sharpeye]

I think my recirc vent door has a problem. I hear a thumping sound from the right side of the dash when I turn the recirc off. When I go back to recirc, no sound. It seems like the vent door motor doesn't stop when the door is closed and goes past it's limit, every 2 seconds theres a thump. So I leave the recirc on.Anyone else have this problem?

[ColonelPanic]

Many have -- give it a quick search. The motor for the door is stripped and must be replaced.

[PopeyeFAFL]

Your problem description is exactly what happens to me, this morning.I stopped at my dealership, they show me that (temporarily) putting the recirculate button "on" make the noise go away.I will get it fix within 7 to 10 days (waiting for next service KM).But since this seem to be a known and somewhat frequent problem, can someone explain me what is the faulty part involve?Dealer mention roughly 45 min job + part, does anyone has an order of magnitude of total price to get this fix (I don't have the time, the skill, the will to fix this by myself).P.S.: I did search with "vent", "vent door", etc. to no avail.

[joatmon]

A few of the related threads arehttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=4456http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=24332http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=29575The problem is that the motor that moves the fresh/recirculate door doesn't ever turn off, it moves the door to one side or the other and keeps pushing it, and this constant pressure eventually causes a gear in the assembly to lose a few teeth. Some people just replace (or pay to have someone else replace) the recirc door motor/actuator, others take it apart and rotate the affected gear to a position where the missing teeth don't matter. So it can cost a few hundred $ for a dealer repair, under a hundred to buy the part and put it in yourself, or just time to take it apart and adjust the gear position.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »The problem is that the motor that moves the fresh/recirculate door doesn't ever turn off, it moves the door to one side or the other and keeps pushing it, and this constant pressure eventually causes a gear in the assembly to lose a few teeth. That is interesting. Wouldn't you think that after all these years Toyota would have corrected this apparent design flaw? I assume this is the same system that is in Corollas and perhaps other Toyotas as well as Scions. Maybe they have to have some weak spots so the dealer service personnel don't sit around like the legendary Maytag repairman.

[deege]

fixed mine today by taking it apart.Took about 1hr to turn the gear and put it back in.Will help to have small hands!

[waveresponder]

not sure if this is the same problem Im having in my vibe but I do have a fast high pitched clicking sound when the fan is on low speed, right below the left of the glovebox less noticeable on higher speeds, scheduling a dealer appt to get it fixed under warranty, hoping the guy who looks at it has good hearing cuz my parents cant hear it but my gf can

[Vibr8tr]

That sounds more like a fan issue than a problem with the Recirc door.I remember when mine did that, and it always does it when you need it, lol. Mine wouldn't defrost the windows (since the intake to the recirc is the vent that defrosts). So I had to struggle through with foggy windows for a few months until I just broke down and took it in.I do find it funny with Car companie's..... when they know there is a problem with a car, and they could change it in the next few model years, but after 5-6 years, the car is still having the same issues? I know it cost money to redesign..... but come one..... it's a motor.....

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by Vibr8tr »That sounds more like a fan issue than a problem with the Recirc door.I remember when mine did that, and it always does it when you need it, lol. Mine wouldn't defrost the windows (since the intake to the recirc is the vent that defrosts). So I had to struggle through with foggy windows for a few months until I just broke down and took it in.I do find it funny with Car companie's..... when they know there is a problem with a car, and they could change it in the next few model years, but after 5-6 years, the car is still having the same issues? I know it cost money to redesign..... but come one..... it's a motor.....It's not even a motor - it is a gear. My theory is that they have to have something that breaks so the dealers can make a little money. And you have to fox it becasue as you say, it has to work to defrost the window. A definite safety issue in the winter.

[joatmon]

tQuote, originally posted by waveresponder »not sure if this is the same problem Im having in my vibe but I do have a fast high pitched clicking sound when the fan is on low speed, right below the left of the glovebox less noticeable on higher speeds, scheduling a dealer appt to get it fixed under warranty, hoping the guy who looks at it has good hearing cuz my parents cant hear it but my gf canthe recirc gear stipped sounds like a definite clunk, once a second, more or less. It doesn't take any high fidelity hearing to notice, so your problem is more likley something to do with the blower motor. Perhaps there is a leaf down in the squirrel cage or something similar.

[Vibr8tr]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »tPerhaps there is a leaf down in the squirrel cage or something similar.or Maybe a Squirrel is stuck down there, lol.

[gunzy]

Seems to be just another defect in the Vibe that occurs after the bumper-to-bumber warranty is expired. My young son and I like just believing it's a ghost in the dashboard that wants to get out. I have solved it by either leaving the recirc button on or when I need defrost and recirc must be off, I just turn on the radio which, since the volume button is stuck (another Vibe defect) is very loud.

[tpollauf]

Quote, originally posted by Vibr8tr »or Maybe a Squirrel is stuck down there, lol. Ahhh the humor found here on GenVibe My 09 is too new to experience any such problems yet BUT recently during certain cold starts, I have had a slight squealing noise coming from the blower and it is present at any & all speeds. Not a big deal (isn't that what the radio is for ) but definitely related to the cold temps