I got in my truck today and was greeted by a the sound of plastic gears not meshing coming from behind the center section of my dash behind the radio and HVAC controls. Luckily I was planning on bringing it in for an oil change and see if the dealer can find out why my rear end (in my truck) thunks on take-off and other miscellaneous repeating issues.

 

Me too! same sound ,started today, turned radio and air off and still same sound, it quits after a few seconds but does it every time the key is turned on,doesn't have to be running, will stop by dealer tomorrow!

 

Me too. My truck just started doing the same thing 2 weeks ago.. Another forum told me it is the plastic gear in the defroster actuator. Check your defroster setting. I'll bet it doesn't work anymore. Mine doesn't. I need to take it in before the weather starts to cool off. Guy on the other forum says the part is on backorder.

 

Its the motor/actuator for the defrost. Pull the lower glove box out and look to the left, it will have 3 screws holding it in. When it clicks you can feel and see it wobble. I fixed 2 on my on my TRX before I got rid of it.

 

I got a call from the dealership and they say they'll need the truck for a couple of days to "find out what's making the noise behind the dash".

This should bode well for me and my lemon law case.

 

they told me it was the actuator, they are ordering it and will fix it Sept.3 when I am taking it in to get a new inspection sticker, it was my call to wait because inspection expires in Sept.
Sking:
You said you fixed yours, did you replace it or did you repair yours?

 

I repaired it at first until I got the new actuator from the dealer. About a wk later the one in my wifes truck did the same thing. It is a easy repair, pop the tabs loose on the actuator and open it up. Then take the large gear out and turn it 180 deg and put it back in and pop the case back together. When you have it apart you will find 3 or 4 gear teeth laying loose in the grease inside.

 

Thanks Sking
Mine is being fixed under warranty this time(32,000 miles) but if/when it happans again I will fix it myself,
Bboyg
You're right, no defroster

 

Yep, they replaced the actuator. I wonder how long until this one goes out?

I've never had a truck or a car that's had this kind of problem.

 

Mine is also doing the same they ordered the parts but I have no a/c