If your Toyota Highlander's automatic climate control seems less “automatic” and more of a guessing game, your climate control may be on the fritz. You may need to reset the HVAC system by replacing a fuse.

The Toyota Highlander is a 7-seater SUV known for its comfortable ride. Once the driver sets their desired temperature, the automatic climate control keeps a consistent temperature and humidity level regardless of the outside conditions.

When this superior level of comfort is disrupted, you will want to get your Toyota’s climate back under control fast, and

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Follow along with this easy

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guide on how to reset your Toyota’s climate control, what to do when a reset doesn’t work, and how to save money on your

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Toyota Highlander climate control reset instructions

If you notice that the temperature in your Toyota Highlander is starting to be a little warmer or cooler than what the temperature setting reads, you may have an electrical problem with your climate control.

Thankfully, resetting the HVAC system is a simple fix, even if you aren’t very mechanically inclined.

Similarly to restarting your computer when it starts acting a little wonky, resetting the HVAC can bring new life to your climate control and get everything back on track. Just follow these five simple steps:

Step 1: Turn the car off. Since you will be touching your vehicle's electrical components, you do not want the power running through the car. Make sure that the engine and all electrical systems, like the radio and hazard lights, are turned off.

Step 2:Locate the fuse box under the hood. The fuse box is under the hood, on the driver’s side of the car, and in front of the white brake reservoir. If you don’t see it, check your owner’s manual for the location and a picture of the fuse box.

Step 3: Find and remove the HVAC fuse. Once you open the fuse box, the inside cover will have spare fuses, a fuse puller, and most importantly, a key grid mapping out which fuses are where. Locate the fuse for climate control.

Step 4: Pull the fuse out, wait 10 seconds, then reconnect it. Be very careful when handling car fuses; they’re delicate! Use the fuse puller to pull and inspect the fuse. If it is burnt, you will need a new one.

Step 5: Start the car—but don’t touch anything! Once the fuse is reinstalled, get back in the Highlander and start it up. Let the car run for a few minutes to give the system time to reset.

After a moment, the climate control should be in working order. However, if the temperature isn’t stable, or you feel cold air on one side of the car and hot air on the other, the fuse wasn’t the issue and you will need to do more troubleshooting.

MORE:

Heating A/C inspection

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Other reasons your Toyota Highlander A/C isn’t working

Aside from electrical trouble, there are several other reasons your Highlander’s A/C may malfunction or at least not perform at its best. Below are a few other issues to consider if the climate control reset fails.

Dirty cabin air filter

A simple air filter change can solve a host of problems! Poor ventilation, weak airflow, moldy smells, and tepid air are signs that it is time to change your cabin air filter.

A cabin filter that fits your Toyota Highlander starts at just $10 and can be swapped out easily with the old one by going through the glove box compartment.

Clogged condenser

The condenser is a large metal heating element that releases heat into the air from the refrigerant. Over time, it gets clogged with dirt and bugs and doesn’t do its job properly.

A quick spray with a power washer on the lowest setting will put everything back in order.

Refrigerant Leak

Your Highlander loses 15% of refrigerant per year and if you skip a maintenance cycle or two, the refrigerant will run low and your car will start blowing warm air.

You can refill the refrigerant yourself. If cool air blows, you are all set. However, if the refrigerant level drops quickly, you may have a leak and need to bring the car to a mechanic for inspection.

Dirty evaporator

If your Highlander’s cabin smells moldy and the airflow from the vents is uneven, a dirty evaporator may be the cause.

While your cabin air filter captures most of the airborne particles, the rest collect on the evaporator, which is a part that isn’t too easy to clean. In this case, a mechanic should check your cooling system and clean the evaporator.

Compressor failure

The compressor is made from several moving parts, and if the air conditioning isn’t turned on for long periods, these parts can stick and will no longer be able to convert the coolant into liquid.

If this is broken, the whole air conditioner needs replacing. If this is the case, expect to pay around $1,400 for parts and repairs.

Blow motor malfunction

Does the airflow feel stifled or reduced? And do you hear funny noises when the air is turned on? If so, a bad blower motor might be the culprit. Sadly, this part must be replaced instead of repaired, costing about $350.

Malfunctioning blend door actuator

If something is amiss with your airflow and temperature and you hear a clicking/ticking noise when turning on the air conditioner, you may have a faulty blend door actuator.

Another part that is too complex for a DIY repair, it will cost just under $1,000 for parts and labor to have a new blend door actuator installed.

How to diagnose a Toyota Highlander climate control malfunction

These are just a few of the common causes of climate control failure. A straightforward way to diagnose the problem yourself is by getting an on-board diagnostics (OBD) scan tool.

For between $40-100, this scanner will interpret the

trouble code

data from your Highlander’s computer, which will help sort out the origin of your troubles.

A mechanic will use the same device on your Toyota if you decide professional help is the way to go.

Make sure any mechanic you select has the proper training and certification in HVAC repairs since working with A/C refrigerant requires unique expertise.

MORE:

Car A/C is not working inspection cost

How to keep Toyota Highlander insurance costs low

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