Heater issues: heat automatically directed to windshield, no matter selection?!

Maybe start with the dealer and explain the truck is under the warranty as well as the original battery which is under 2 years old. If you don’t get anywhere then call corporate

 

My 21 TRD had a vent/heater issue. I would not divert air to the floor. I bought the truck in May and did not notice it until we had a cold snap in mid-November as I always had the AC blowing out the dash vents here in South TX. But before I cared enough to spend a day at the dealership, I traded the truck.

 

Did you trade it due to this issue? Why trade a new truck so soon?

 

Not at all.

Why did I trade? Understand this was my first real truck (had a Chevy Luv back in the day). Prior to this truck I drove Honda Accords for 30 years. Always wanted a truck. Kids got through college, finances were not an issue, so I bought one..paid cash. Absolutely luv'd driving that TRD Sport down the highway. About 70% of my miles were interstate. But after a year, it frankly just became a chore to own and drive when not on a highway. Parking in crowded lots, rush hour on side streets, parking on our driveway, washing the darn thing (sloped driveway...about broke my neck 3-4 times climbing up to was the roof, etc), concerns about Cat theft, etc. And then my wife's concern about fuel mileage when gas went above $2.50 or so (never bothered me..), family members did not or could not drive it, etc. In the end all that other stuff was more negative than the highway cruising was positive. Traded it in on a new CRV for my wife with all the safety bells and whistles (which was interesting as the negotiations centered around how big of check they were going to give me in addition to the new CRV). I started driving her 2017 CRV. Big picture this has just been better overall for our lifestyle. Still miss the highway cruising in the Tundra, but I have no regrets getting rid of it.

 

Ok so here is a lengthy update.

When I initially took my truck in they advised that the reason my heater was being wonky was because the battery was shot. The service guys told me that for whatever reason with Tacoma's and Tundra's if the HVAC starts to act weird a lot of times it can be the battery. My battery was tested and only had 210 CA instead of over 700 CA. I was then told by the dealership that my battery was not covered under warranty and it would be $350 for a new one. I refused. I went to pick up my truck and was charged $77 for a diagnostic. I argued saying that the truck was under warranty and I am here for a heating issue and you guys "believe" it's the battery which may or may not be the fix. Regardless I paid the $77 and knew I had some digging to do.

I did my research. I read my warranty front to back. I realized that nowhere does it state that a battery is not covered under the warranty. The following day I called back and spoke to the same advisor who shockingly enough had to speak to his manager when I challenged him about the battery being covered. He called me back stating that because I bought the truck there and they want to keep me as a happy customer they are going to do me a favour and replace the battery. I called him out and said don't act like you're doing me a favour, the battery is covered under warranty. I was then told that the reason it's not covered under warranty is because I don't drive my truck enough. He said your truck is a 2020 with 25,000 kms and what they want to see is 30,000-32,000kms for it to be covered under warranty. My jaw basically dropped as I was on the phone with him. My truck does not sit for long periods of time, I just have a short commute to work. I then asked if I'd get my $77 diagnostic back. He said well no because the issue was not covered under warranty (which it was) but he said he would talk to his manager further about it.

So before taking my truck in for them to replace the battery I wanted to make sure this dealership had no leg to stand on. I spoke to friends who work in other dealerships owned by the same parent company. I called another Toyota dealership who confirmed the battery (if failed) is covered under warranty. That dealer recommended I call Toyota Canada who also confirmed the battery is covered under warranty. Nobody was aware of any rule where if there are too few km's on it that it's not covered.

So the following day I take my truck in and as I'm waiting I pulled a Karen and asked to speak to the service manager. He eventually comes out and was a bit of a dick off the hop. I explained the issue and he goes well ya we are replacing the battery for you aren't we? I go yeah because it's covered under the warranty. He replied it's not and started to give me a sob story how he has recently had 8 battery warranty claims denied from Toyota for having too few km's. I told him that seems like a conversation you need to have with Toyota. He says they claim it's a maintenance issue not a defective battery. I explained that I drive my vehicle daily I just have a short commute to work. He continued to try and make me feel bad saying last year he had $20,000 of warranty work denied. I said I don't care man you work for a big dealership,. You shouldn't take your inability to articulate a warranty claim to Toyota out on the customer. I then asked if I'll be getting my $77 back. He confirmed I would.

So basically I wont be going back to that dealership. Also, if your truck is having this issue check your battery. My heater has worked properly ever since.

 

WOW!! Sounds like a dealer to avoid at all costs. Glad you stood your ground and the issue was resolved.

 

I have a 2020 Sport and have the exact same problem. We were -21F this morning and the truck started just fine. I had warm air on the floor when I went to work but not on the way home. Yesterday morning I did not have going to work and it was -19F. No matter what I did it would only come out the side vent and the windshield. I would not have ever noticed but when its this cold I feel the lack of warm air. My commute is 23 miles one way so it get more then enough miles to charge the battery. I just turned over 18000 miles so it would be covered but really hate the stealership that I would have to bring it to...not the one where I bought the truck. The place I purchased my truck is 250 miles away.

 

So I have been testing or at least paying more attention to my heat/display going to and from work. I know there will not be any heat on the floor if the display takes its time to come on. It seems to take around 45 sec. to a minute to light up and I know there will not be any heat to the floor no matter the setting. If I remote start the truck and start it for 2 cycles or 2 10 minute it seems to work OK meaning I can get heat to the floor. The thing I don't get is if it starts twice I feel like I would have less CCA vs when I leave work and it has been driven 23 miles and the temps are warmer and I get in and start the truck once , I know it will not work. My plan was to replace the original battery before next winter but I just don't feel the battery is the problem. Next week is going to be another week of below zero mornings so I will keep testing. Might just have to pull my Interstate battery out of the 4Runner and see if it makes any difference.

 

The heat air always blows thru the dash vents, even when blowing to the floor.
I have to close my dash vents when the heater is on..

I'm guessing you had no flow at all to the floor and only thru the vents.
That's a shame..

 

@Walkem
Is yours still working just fine since the battery swap ?

 

Yep, same issue I've got. I had mine 'fixed' once - was the 'servo damper subassembly.' I can get specific part #'s if you'd like. Local dealerships don't know how to test this w/o talking to the local regional FTS, or whatever it's called.

 

I am not sure if I found a fix but my heat has been perfect all week. This mornings temps were -18 and had heat on the floor still. All I have done was to shut off the Auto button. My truck was set to split between windshield and floor. Just to test today I set it to all floor and it did start pouring heat out on the floor.

 

No it has happened again since. I took my truck to a different dealership and they have ordered new blender doors or whatever. They are on backorder so we will wait.

I had another issue today where I remote started my truck, go to put my daughter in the back and when I opened the door it didn't shut off like a normal Toyota should. I then was inside the truck with the fob and could lock and unlock the truck with the fob from inside (as it's running). I proceeded to put the truck into D and it shut off. I tried to start it up and again and it would not start at all.

I left the house in the wifes vehicle and when I came back it started no issue and I drove it straight to the dealership. They advised they did a hard reset on the truck as they think it's a software issue.

I am starting to think my truck is a lemon and am looking into a 4 runner lol.