2017 LC windows fogging up, dealer can't find the problem. *****UPDATE*************

[hankinid]

@Bigwood, glad the issue is fixed. I bought my '13 around 3 years ago and had the same issue while changing the filter. I found the easiest fix here...I set the a/c to recirculate and gently forced the glove box baffle open...very lucky that worked as replacing the linkage looks like a lost weekend.

 

[40Man]

I already have an appointment to take mine to another toyota dealer next week that is not affiliated with the one I bought from and have them evaluate to make sure it was done correctly. I'm assuming that since they were able to fix it on the spot it was just the linkage as bloc suggests.

Just press the fresh recirculate button with the filter door open to confirm proper operation. Could save you a trip.

 

[Yotafan1981]

Just press the fresh recirculate button with the filter door open to confirm proper operation. Could save you a trip.

Yeah you're right. I'm just so wrapped up in my frustration with it being only 3 weeks new, to me, that I want them to foot the bill for anything not right....the story goes deeper as I found out they discovered the problem just before I came along, and opted to not fix. That's a no bueno in my book.

 

[bloc]

I hate dealer service departments enough to turn them down on free maintenance.. and it is precisely because of things like this.

 

[Cruisin911]

For the record.. on some of these the linkage just comes loose, but on many (including mine) the flap itself breaks at the pivot and so far I haven't seen a good way to repair it. Someone (Markuson maybe?) was looking at pulling the blower box but said they'd have to cut a crossmember then find a way to reattach it. I may go this route with mine eventually. For now I just have the flap resting in the fresh air position.

The pin was completed separated on my flap and the pivot point on the bottom was broken. I followed the advice of other members here and used some 5 minute epoxy on where the pin comes through the flap. Within 20 mins I had a working door again. Its been about 4 months now and zero issues. $5 fix seems solid so far and MUCH better than tearing apart the dash. I wasn't about to do that. To fix it, I didn't even pull the glove box out.

 

[Sandroad]

My turn

I got my truck back from the dealer yesterday after the 30,000 mile service. Door to the cabin filter is broken and the recirculate flap doesn't move today. This in spite of the fact I taped 2 large-font notes on the access door about putting the system in recirc.

And, one of the engine air filter box clips was not fastened.

And they installed aftermarket engine filter and cabin filter elements (as well as likely oil filter cartridge), despite making a huge deal in dealer advertisements of the importance of using Toyota OEM parts to make sure my Toyota keeps operating as designed.

And they did not grease the propeller shaft zerks as part of the 30,000 service.

I have no idea why folks think that seeing a record of dealer service every 5000 miles on these trucks is any kind of a "positive" when making a buying decision. For me, I think the less dealer service I see on a maintenance record the better!

Rant over.

 

[Bigwood]

My turn

I got my truck back from the dealer yesterday after the 30,000 mile service. Door to the cabin filter is broken and the recirculate flap doesn't move today. This in spite of the fact I taped 2 large-font notes on the access door about putting the system in recirc.

And, one of the engine air filter box clips was not fastened.

And they installed aftermarket engine filter and cabin filter elements (as well as likely oil filter cartridge), despite making a huge deal in dealer advertisements of the importance of using Toyota OEM parts to make sure my Toyota keeps operating as designed.

And they did not grease the propeller shaft zerks as part of the 30,000 service.

I have no idea why folks think that seeing a record of dealer service every 5000 miles on these trucks is any kind of a "positive" when making a buying decision. For me, I think the less dealer service I see on a maintenance record the better!

Rant over.

So, are they going fix it on their dime?

 

[tirewater]

Heh, some documentation is better than no documentation right? Otherwise how else would I know that the dealer broke the retaining clips off the rear parking brake shoes, or dealers decided to put whatever oil they felt like into the truck (5w-20 to 5w-30).

That said, I do agree with you, but I don't trust non dealers to do the right thing either. I own an early bronco, and on that forum you see all sorts of odd ball things that previous (and current!) owners have done to their trucks.

I have no idea why folks think that seeing a record of dealer service every 5000 miles on these trucks is any kind of a "positive" when making a buying decision. For me, I think the less dealer service I see on a maintenance record the better!
Rant over.

 

[Sandroad]

So, are they going fix it on their dime?

Yes! I’ll make sure of that today.

 

[LALC]

The pin was completed separated on my flap and the pivot point on the bottom was broken. I followed the advice of other members here and used some 5 minute epoxy on where the pin comes through the flap. Within 20 mins I had a working door again. Its been about 4 months now and zero issues. $5 fix seems solid so far and MUCH better than tearing apart the dash. I wasn't about to do that. To fix it, I didn't even pull the glove box out.

So you just used epoxy from inside where the filter is without taking anything apart? When I open my filter door and have the white flap pushed up, the right side is completely loose where the left side is connected solid. I'll take another look this afternoon and see if maybe I can do the same. I've been putting off fixing it due to the thought of taking the glovebox apart for access.

 

[Oakleyguy]

So you just used epoxy from inside where the filter is without taking anything apart? When I open my filter door and have the white flap pushed up, the right side is completely loose where the left side is connected solid. I'll take another look this afternoon and see if maybe I can do the same. I've been putting off fixing it due to the thought of taking the glovebox apart for access.

Well the good news is that it only takes about ten minutes to pull the glove box apart. Bad news for me is that the epoxy job doesn't always stay. I'm working up another fix, but it's slow going as life, kids, dogs, work all step to the front.

For now, my recirc flap is in the "fresh" position all the time.

 

[TonyP]

This stuff (below) is strong and allows you to stick the "needle" in the right spot. Be sure not to glue the arm to your door, it needs to rotate. That said, it blows my mind incompetent Toyota Techs are allowed to work on and screw up, essentially new, $85k vehicles. Perhaps they need to implement something like we have in the Air Force for technical jobs, refereed to as IPIs or In Progress Inspections by a next level tech.

 

[Sandroad]

Update: dealer had the truck all day today and after partial disassembly of the HVAC found the recirc/fresh mechanism had gone off track and was not actually broken when the filter was changed by forcing the flap open. The tech managed to get the arm back on track (whatever that means) and the flap now works. I still hear a buzzing noise at certain RPM, so something may still be loose. I'll poke around this weekend and make sure all is well.

 

[Bigwood]

That is good news! my dealer has had mine for 25 days now. Gdnly knows what is taking so long , they say waiting on parts. In the meantime I am putting tons of miles on their brand new camery hybrid which isn’t a bad car actually.

 

[LALC]

Is there a diagram or anything that shows how the mechanism works?

 

[Accessmark]

My 17 is doing the same thing. Cold weather fog up. Will check the flap.Thanks all. I love how tight the LC community is on this stuff.

 

[bgladd]

My windows were fogging like a champ last night in my 13 LC. Can someone take a video of a fully functional flap? I’m unsure what I’m looking for. Thanks!!!

 

[Oakleyguy]

My 17 is doing the same thing. Cold weather fog up. Will check the flap.Thanks all. I love how tight the LC community is on this stuff.

If your recirc door is broken and not moving when you press the recirc button, PM me.

 

[Oakleyguy]

My windows were fogging like a champ last night in my 13 LC. Can someone take a video of a fully functional flap? I’m unsure what I’m looking for. Thanks!!!

 

[Accessmark]

If your recirc door is broken and not moving when you press the recirc button, PM me.

My flap can be easily moved by hand to both the closed and open positions with zero resistance. The light does change from one to the other but no movement or sound. Here in Colorado, the cold causes pretty bad fogging so I would prefer to lock it in fresh air mode until I can fix it. Fresh Air Mode would be the flap being down correct? 2017 200 LC.