RAV4 heating blowing lukewarm air

Hey, I'm having a weird issue with my 2012 Toyota RAV4 (gasoline engine). The heating isn't working properly – it's blowing out lukewarm air at best. I ran a diagnostic and it's showing an error related to the air distribution flap. I'm thinking it might be a bad connection somewhere because the heating output is way too low. Has anyone dealt with something similar? I'm at 119018 km, and I'm hoping it's not a major dashboard-out job to fix. I tried checking the fuses, but they seem okay. Any thoughts on where to start looking next regarding air circulation or temperature regulation?

4 comment(s)

I had something similar happen with my RAV4. Didn't matter what I set the climate control to, the air just wasn't distributing properly. Check the cable and plug connection to the air distribution flap motor. That's a common weak point. Give them a wiggle and see if anything changes. Could save you a bunch of hassle!

Thanks! Where exactly is that cable/plug located? Is it easy to get to, or am I going to have to dismantle half the dashboard panel to get at it?

It's buried pretty deep, unfortunately. You can try to get to it yourself, but honestly, unless you're really comfortable working in tight spaces, you might be better off taking it to a shop. I ended up doing that, and they sorted it out pretty quickly. Saved me a ton of frustration. They said the same thing, cable or plug connection.

Okay, thanks for the heads-up! I think I'll take your advice and bring it in. I got a quote for about 95€, which seems reasonable considering the hassle. Appreciate the help!

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