Cool box not working

[Markuson]

I have a 2008 with the same issue, which started about 3 years ago. My dealer diagnosed the problem as a bad fan and quoted $900 to fix it. Apparently it's a labor intensive job. So I've been living without the coolbox. It still comes to life now and then, but it seems to be completely random. Did you ever figure out a solution?

Here’s why it’s $900.
I did mine...and this is what it looks like to dig down to the fan—I kid you not! These are actual photos I took during the “dig-down.”

These three photos are before even disassembling the Coolbox itself:

Center console viewed from second row...

It’s as fun as it looks..

Oh...and don’t do this...
This is AFTER I cleaned up the refridgerant that sprayed into the cabin...

$900 might be a bargain... It’s a massive pain.

 

[TailGator]

Here’s why it’s $900.
I did mine...and this is what it looks like to dig down to the fan—I kid you not! These are actual photos I took during the “dig-down.”

These three photos are before even disassembling the Coolbox itself:
View attachment 1935277View attachment 1935278View attachment 1935279

Center console viewed from second row...
View attachment 1935280
It’s as fun as it looks..

Oh...and don’t do this:
View attachment 1935283

$900 might be a bargain... It’s a massive pain.

Holy moly! Thanks for the details and advice. That level of disassembly and risk is way outside of my DIY comfort zone. Bummer.

 

[liv2bike]

Crikies @Markuson! I think I’ll pass if mine ever goes. Plus I always have a cooler with me anyway!

Guy

 

[Ninja Cruiser100]

Wow, just wow.

 

[40Man]

I paid $300 at my dealer including an a/c evac and recharge. Call around. Admittedly it was the first my dealer and the service writer told me he underquoted by about an hour. The part is $50. $900 seems high. $500 would be about right.

 

[Markuson]

I paid $300 at my dealer including an a/c evac and recharge. Call around. Admittedly it was the first my dealer and the service writer told me he underquoted by about an hour. The part is $50. $900 seems high. $500 would be about right.

If thet got it done in $400 worth of hours?
They are crazy fast.

There were no less than 120 screws, washers. clips, adhesive strips, panels, brackets, controllers or fasteners to remove.

To top it all off...after digging down? There was an upward facing screw that was all but impossible to get to. I finally ordered a super-low profile screw driver...and bent it 90 degrees and removed the driver’s seat to gain access.

Maybe they simplified in the refreshes...?...but clearly this thing was not built with servicing access in mind.

$400 is the steal of the century!

 

[40Man]

If thet got it done in $400 worth of hours?
They are crazy fast.

There were no less than 120 screws, washers. clips, adhesive strips, panels, brackets, controllers or fasteners to remove.

To top it all off...after digging down? There was an upward facing screw that was all but impossible to get to. I finally ordered a super-low profile screw driver...and bent it 90 degrees and removed the driver’s seat to gain access.

Maybe they simplified in the refreshes...?...but clearly this thing was not built with servicing access in mind.

$400 is the steal of the century!

I paid $300. Took them 4 hrs once the tech started but they honored the original quote. Mine is an '11, so I assume it is identical to yours. They told me it was a 3 hr. job when I booked the appointment. I stayed at the dealership and worked from my laptop while it was done. They had it all apart in an hour. The service advisor came by and showed me pictures as the job progressed (and to let me know it was taking longer than quoted since I was waiting). Even gave me a free oil change for taking longer than they quoted. Parker Toyota is A+ in my book. Their pricing has always been reasonable for a dealer ($90 for both diffs and transfer drain and refill for example). They are 45 minutes from me, but have earned my business.

 

[DesertRun]

I paid $300. Took them 4 hrs once the tech started but they honored the original quote. Mine is an '11, so I assume it is identical to yours. They told me it was a 3 hr. job when I booked the appointment. I stayed at the dealership and worked from my laptop while it was done. They had it all apart in an hour. The service advisor came by and showed me pictures as the job progressed (and to let me know it was taking longer than quoted since I was waiting). Even gave me a free oil change for taking longer than they quoted. Parker Toyota is A+ in my book. Their pricing has always been reasonable for a dealer ($90 for both diffs and transfer drain and refill for example). They are 45 minutes from me, but have earned my business.

Which dealer in Spokane area? I have recently moved up there part time. Thanks

 

[40Man]

Which dealer in Spokane area? I have recently moved up there part time. Thanks

Parker Toyota. They will even install my parts I buy from Camelback (unfortunately their parts department won't match prices). I have had my coolbox fixed, diffs and tc serviced and 4runner tranny fluid exchanged. Good service every time. I usually take their shuttle to Texas Roadhouse or Cabelas while I wait.

 

[Dan Higgins]

Just a quick reminder as cold temperatures arrive that the cool box stops working when the outside temps reach somewhere in the mid-30's. We found that instead of keeping cool, warm air was blowing into the cool box. Not a good thing if you have something that needs to keep cool. We just turns ours off and don't use it during the Winter.

 

[Markuson]

Just a quick reminder as cold temperatures arrive that the cool box stops working when the outside temps reach somewhere in the mid-30's. We found that instead of keeping cool, warm air was blowing into the cool box. Not a good thing if you have something that needs to keep cool. We just turns ours off and don't use it during the Winter.

Good reminder for cold weather folks, Dan.

Aside...
FWIW...It does make sense.....since the coolbox relies on the compression and release of refridgerant of the AC...which doesn’t like to cool in sub-freezing weather. The cool box DOES have its own refrigerant decompression tubes (so it’s colder than simply AC system air getting redirected in there) but it doesn’t have its own compressor. If it did, they could call it a “refrigerator.”

 

[Dan Higgins]

Good reminder for cold weather folks, Dan.

Aside...
FWIW...It does make sense.....since the coolbox relies on the compression and release of refridgerant of the AC...which doesn’t like to cool in sub-freezing weather. The cool box DOES have its own refrigerant decompression tubes (so it’s colder than simply AC system air getting redirected in there) but it doesn’t have its own compressor. If it did, they could call it a “refrigerator.”

Yep. Its a "cool box" not a "cold box".

Now I wish they could invent some sort of warning that says, "Hey, you left food in the cool box that will spoil! Too many times I came out in the morning and discovered that I had left something in the box that, well, shouldn't have been left there!

 

[Markuson]

Yep. Its a "cool box" not a "cold box".

Now I wish they could invent some sort of warning that says, "Hey, you left food in the cool box that will spoil! Too many times I came out in the morning and discovered that I had left something in the box that, well, shouldn't have been left there!

Yes!!!
That would have been helpful...

 

[CJ3Flyer]

Yes!!!
That would have been helpful...

Easy... Cam pic on screen of coolbox interior with a third priority. That’s to say upon start-up r3verse cam is priority number one followed by front cam then a 20sec still of coolbox. $$$ is all that’s required

 

[fasteddie2015]

I thought about replacing the shift plate and trim on mine but after seeing the soviet-era looking insides of the console, I'll pass. I pray my cool box doesnt go out. Kind of related, there's a tray that drops in to the top of the cool box that I've found very useful. ebay and amazon have them.

I also found this when I looked in the '15 owners manual. Confirms some of the stuff mentioned in this thread.

 

[screenflicker]

Dang. Wish I saw this thread before my last road trip to Canada (in the winter). I had some lukewarm soda and wanted to cool it while driving. Popped it in the cool box and 10 minutes later when I went to get a drink it was warmer than when I put it in. Thought my truck was busted (fog lights were acting up at the time too). Now I know to find a smaller cooler to put up front for the winter trips.

 

[dlim]

I paid $300 at my dealer including an a/c evac and recharge. Call around. Admittedly it was the first my dealer and the service writer told me he underquoted by about an hour. The part is $50. $900 seems high. $500 would be about right.

what part did they replaced?

 

[40Man]

what part did they replaced?

They replaced the fan. Seems like that is what wears out for most people. $50 part, but a PITA to get to it.

 

[sigmundsauer]

I'd like to reinforce that our 2008 cooler has worked intermittently when temps approach 32 degrees. It may not work very well if ambient temps are in the mid-to-upper 30s. For a couple of years we did not use the cooler because we thought it was broken, only to discover it was working again (albeit in much more temperate weather). It will flat out blow warm air under near freezing conditions.

Tim

 

[radman]

Just a quick reminder as cold temperatures arrive that the cool box stops working when the outside temps reach somewhere in the mid-30's. We found that instead of keeping cool, warm air was blowing into the cool box. Not a good thing if you have something that needs to keep cool. We just turns ours off and don't use it during the Winter.

This just happened to me. Outside temps were ~36, threw a Chick-fil-A wrap in the cool box and sidearm was shoved between the seat and center console. After a few hours, heat was radiating from the seat (thought the seat heater was on), sidearm was HOT, and eventually opened the cool box to get the wrap and noticed hot air blowing.
I was really confused since the AC was on and functioning normally.

I went to some dark places like TC overheating or some random circuit about to catch fire. Glad I found this thread!