We bought this car yesterday

RCBERENS

MEMBER
2006 TOYOTA COROLLA
107,000 MILES

We bought this car yesterday. We knew that the passenger side heater didn't work. The Firestone inspector said we probably needed a $200 dollar repair of the "diverter" I don't know much of anything about cars. When my daughter frove the car to our home about 25 miles we noticed freezing moisture on all the interior windows. Its about 10 degrees here.
I fear that this may idicate some type in leak in the heater. Am I in for a expensive repair?

3 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

If only the passenger side is not heating up, that would most probably be due to a fault with the air mix actuator.
Is vehicle equipped with manual or automatic HVAC?

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Sunday, December 30th, 2012 AT 12:08 PM

RCBERENS

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I don't know and the car is at my daughters. I'm just trying to figure out if I failed to protect her from an expensive repair.
I am somewhat relieved by your response. My e-mail is rberens1945@gmail. Com. I won't see the car again til after 1 today (Sunday).
Bob Berens

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Sunday, December 30th, 2012 AT 12:37 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Since you have just bought the vehicle, most probably you should have a warranty on it if is is from a dealer so you should let them know about it and get them to resolve it.

When the heater is working correctly except for certain vents, it is not a major problem. The air direction are controlled by vent movements and for the heater, there are air mix actuators moving them from heater to A/C positions. If the actuator fail to work, which are common faults for any makes or models, the heat would not be sufficient as the air is not passing through the heater core when it comes out of the vents.

The repair won't be too expensive nor difficult and might even be a simple job as reattaching a dislodged link or loose wire connector.

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Sunday, December 30th, 2012 AT 5:25 PM