peytonkristen
SILVER Star
I usually buy only Toyota parts for my Landcruisers, with some exceptions. July of 2020 found me in an O'Reillys parking lot with antifreeze pouring on the ground from under the hood of my 97 model. After a quick inspection I found the heater control valve had blown up. No problem. I blocked off the heater hose, added antifreeze and got back home. Got on the interweb and tried to find a new part. Well.... and this is where I knew better... I could get a new Toyota part for about $70 and it wouldn't be here for over a week... OR... I could get one for less than $20 from Rockauto in 2 days!! So on the third day I'm installing the new valve, my LC is whole again, and all is right with the world. Until winter sets in and I discover I have.... some heat.. but not like the hellish type of heat I previously had. I pretty much froze through unusually low Temps for the winter. But my A/C worked great. So I'm thinking I have another issue, maybe heater core? Or maybe some kind of heat control issue? Maybe an air pocket? So I start troubleshooting and can't find anything wrong but still only a little heat. So a couple weeks ago I source a new TOYOTA heater control valve. I pull the Rock Auto valve and compare the two. It appears the non-toyota part had the ball valve in backwards so open is almost completely closed and closed is partially open. WOW.... The new valve works perfect now and I have heat. I knew better....