Strange AC issues

[TonyMuller]

Hi guys, I have some strange AC issues that I haven't exactly seen here in my searching.

I recently had the alternator replaced, and when I got it back the windows didn't work right (no auto-up/down and I couldn't control the passenger window at all from the master panel), and the AC both forgets the last settings after a restart and won't blow through the face vents (only feet and windscreen). Back AC seems to be working ok.

I should say that it's done this a couple times prior to the alternator replacement, but it's always corrected itself pretty quickly. I have also had a new battery in the last couple months, but it didn't seem to affect the AC.

I found out how to fix the windows and only mention in case it's relevant to some bigger issue. Windows seem to be a known issue after an alternator replacement.

Hoping I've missed a common issue/fix?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TonyMuller]

Sorry... should have mentioned 2008 GXL

 

[goldwater58]

If you needed your alternator replaced, it was probably doing your battery some harm for awhile. Any time the battery voltage falls below 11.8v or so, irreversible damage to your battery's capacity can occur. I would suggest testing your current battery to see if it needs to be replaced.

 

[bloc]

Auto up/down force limits usually need to be reset after battery disconnect.. the way to do that is hold the down button for 3-5 seconds past when the window is all the way down, then do the same thing for all the way up. This shouldn't explain one window not working though.

AC vent issues immediately make me suspect the recirculate flap behind the glove box.. but far from guaranteed.

The battery suggestion is a good one and could explain all of this.

 

[TonyMuller]

Thanks, I haven't had a chance to test the battery other than checking the voltage monitor that I have in the cab. I'll drop by Battery World

I found this post about the recirculate flap and gave it a try. Seems like a crazy thing to do (probably no crazier than the window thing) but seems to have solved a lot of it!

Pulled the filter and cycled the door a few times and it was working normally. There was a couple small leaves in there but nothing serious. One of the filters tabs wasn't locked though so not quite square. Gave it a quick clean and put it back together, did the crazy recirc on/off thing and it's working as it should. Have restarted a dozen times and it also remembers the settings again, so much progress...!

But while it was nice and quiet for those dozen cycles I had my head in there, got in it today that the system was noisy most of the time but not all the time. I think I can hear the blower whirring, especially on shutdown where there's a rather distinct noise coming from that area. Maybe the blower is dying?

 

[Markuson]

Auto up/down force limits usually need to be reset after battery disconnect.. the way to do that is hold the down button for 3-5 seconds past when the window is all the way down, then do the same thing for all the way up. This shouldn't explain one window not working though.

AC vent issues immediately make me suspect the recirculate flap behind the glove box.. but far from guaranteed.

The battery suggestion is a good one and could explain all of this.

Not really to @bloc …but just thinkin: (So pinging OP @TonyMuller )
—I’ve disconnected my battery probably a couple hundred times over years of electrical mods out tge wazoo…and have never needed to set the window openers due to that.

Still the window thing is weird. One other brain storm re window funkiness…

-Might open the driver door handle/panel and unplug/re-seat the window control connector plug that’s right there. Thy can loosely bounce around…and 14 years in…who knows.

Also, water/moisture can end up inside the door panel with this one little plastic external outside mirror piece, or simply bad window strips where the glass enters the door . Maybe check connector for signs of corrosion…check for a loose, black plastic piece under your outside mirror where it curves toward the door… If its loose/broken/missibg, Toyota charges about $30 as its pretty obscure.

Check your window seal strips against the glass. If crappy… they're super easy to replace…no door panel removal needed. Prob overdue on an ‘08 like his (mine were bad). Full set of strips for all 4 windows, toyota charges about $40 each.

Re AC…Like you, I thought of a broken recirc door re AC…but that should not self recover—unless he just happened to need it in the stuck-state, and so thought it seemed ok…?

One go-to for weird ele trical including bizarre AC triggering… Pull the driver door sill plastic in the door jam and inspect for water at the big wiring harnesses at tge floor under A-pillar. Crazy demon-possessed stuff happens when water pools there…!

Re forgetting settings…
Checking the battery terminal tightness is always a good start. Numerous times, shops forget to tighten fully as you can’t eyeball tightness, and it might start fine for them… … or…possible engine-detail spray fouling (some shop guy did that in mine…what a pain…leading to oily, bad connections).

-Gremlin hunting… What fun…

 

[TonyMuller]

Thanks - yeah it surprised me that I've had the battery out so many times without issue, but when I search the forum the window reset thing for example only seems to be an issue after an alternator replacement.

You're right though, my window rubbers definitely need doing. I've been looking at them for a while but always thought it would be a massive job...I just watched some crappy YouTube video's and it looks like they just pop up if you're game to stick a screwdriver under them?

"I thought of a broken recirc door re AC…but that should not self recover—unless he just happened to need it in the stuck-state, and so thought it seemed ok…?" - you might be right. I rarely need to change between so maybe it was stuck the way I use it. I don't know why it worked fine during that reset process, but I watched it every time I switched it and it worked so

And yeah, I'm sure they disconnected the battery as part of the process. I'll def check the terminals.

 

[krice118]

Hi all my aunt is having an issue where her A/C blower / fan stays on after the car is shut off. This is causing the battery to die. She has had some AC Fan control module replaced and it seemed to fix the issue for a few months but the issue has come up again. Any ideas?

 

[bloc]

Could it have to do with the length of time the battery is disconnected?

I vaguely remember doing the procedure once, but could entirely be getting confused with many of my other vehicles over the years.

 

[TonyMuller]

Could it have to do with the length of time the battery is disconnected?

Yeah, quite possibly... Maybe there's a capacitor that holds charge for a bit.

Only other thing I can think of is that the alternator failure/replacement acts as a kind of jumper to reset the computer in case it was adjusting for low power, as I guess there could have been less power going to things like injectors just before it died.

 

[CharlieS]

Thanks, I haven't had a chance to test the battery other than checking the voltage monitor that I have in the cab. I'll drop by Battery World

I found this post about the recirculate flap and gave it a try. Seems like a crazy thing to do (probably no crazier than the window thing) but seems to have solved a lot of it!

Pulled the filter and cycled the door a few times and it was working normally. There was a couple small leaves in there but nothing serious. One of the filters tabs wasn't locked though so not quite square. Gave it a quick clean and put it back together, did the crazy recirc on/off thing and it's working as it should. Have restarted a dozen times and it also remembers the settings again, so much progress...!

But while it was nice and quiet for those dozen cycles I had my head in there, got in it today that the system was noisy most of the time but not all the time. I think I can hear the blower whirring, especially on shutdown where there's a rather distinct noise coming from that area. Maybe the blower is dying?

I've had small leaves and other items drop down into a squirrel cage blower fan and make noise. You could potentially drop that fan/motor assembly out from the bottom and just verify that you don't have any foreign objects in there. Small stuff like a leaf can make a surprising amount of noise in that area.