Cabin air control knob broken

[srm73]

Hi all. On my 2009 Yaris, the knob that controls the air into the cabin broke. I always have it set at the fresh air position. A few months ago, it stopped moving from that position to the air circulated option. Than some time ago it was very cold and I tried to force turn the knob thinking that It might get un stuck, but it seems like something broke inside. I could hear something breaking and falling on the bottom. Now the knob is completely free and doesn't seem to be working at all. Not sure what position is it on.

I am wondering if someone could guide me a bit in terms of how to fix it. That includes what portion of the panel to remove and what parts to replace. also how to remove that area.

Thanks in advanced everyone. Cheers.

[NYC-SE]

Some info here:

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30182

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55687

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62207

[srm73]

Thank you NYC-SE for the links. I will go through these and hope I can find my answer.

[srm73]

Ok guys. I searched through some videos on you-tube and following those, I was able to pull the whole panel out. As mentioned before that something broke inside, well it turned out the part which holds the wire, the one that has the little pin thing came out and fall down. It didnt break. It seems like that part is not moving all the way to the circulated air position. I assume that part needs to be replaced? Please see the pic. I went to Toyota and they say the part is $63.00. I didnt place the order for it because I am not sure how to replace it since it has the wires attached to it.

I will still go through all the links for answers but wondering if anyone knows how to replace this part? Thanks in advance.

[WeeYari]

In the first link that NYC-SE posted, several owners have fixed your issue thanks to that thread. Nothing has broken. It just popped apart and can be popped back together again. Same thing had happened to mine once.

[srm73]

Thank you WeeYari (neighbour) for the input. In my case, yes it was disconnected. I put it back in place. So atleast its not loose or disconnected. But the problem is that it only works for the fresh air option. When I try turning it the other way, it seems like it doesn't opens or close anything or whatever it is supposed to do. So in simple words, only the fresh air option works.

[CrankyOldMan]

Take off the glove box and look at the white plastic parts behind it (that's the intake and vent system). There may be something wedged in the flap that's stopping it from moving. I had a chopstick fall back there once and caused the same problem.

[400 dollar yaris]

agreed. This happened to me many times before I was tired of pulling the stereo out and reconnecting. I finally just took the time to make sure there was no pinches or anything getting caught. Haven't had an issue since. You can move that little arm while holding the rest of the assembly while its disconnected to feel any resistance and pinpoint it while you have it apart. Good luck.

[srm73]

Take off the glove box and look at the white plastic parts behind it (that's the intake and vent system). There may be something wedged in the flap that's stopping it from moving. I had a chopstick fall back there once and caused the same problem.

Thank you CrankyOldMan for the info. I will give it a try. I hope removing the glove box is not too complicated.

[komichal]

You just need to open it, push the left and right side towards each othe and it will slide out. No tool is needed.