PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

What happens when you stick a bunch of sparklers in a water bottle...

 

Blowing up your hard earned money

 

Lol.

 

OP, I don't know the specific details of why your mechanic was recharging and how much was put in so I'm not throwing stones here for sure but would caution against continued additions of refrigerant because you simply don't know how much is there.

This system does not take kindly to overcharge and likes to behave about same way if overcharged or undercharged -- it blows warmer. Also overcharge causes it to run at unacceptable high pressures. I'm just speculating and not saying its either because the only way to properly charge our systems is to completely evacuate it, measure, and fill by weight and weight only per the amount on the sticker underhood on the cowl. There is very little room for error on this system and the max. to minimum amount it holds is only a couple of ounces difference (for comparison the little cans are often 12 oz.). Unlike the old R12 systems ours holds substantially less.

Have you checked for leaks at both service ports under the caps? Its an easy DIY. They also like to leak at the crimp on the big rubber hose. Also at the actual seals of the compressor. The front seal is two pieces of ceramic that rub together as the shaft turns.

Another quick and dirty check is this. Run you system for a while up to what you normally might. Let it idle for a few and pop the hood. Find the two aluminum lines on the RH side coming out of the firewall. You want to check the largest of the two. This is the return line from the evaporator located under the dash back to the compressor.

Observe and feel the line where it comes out of the fire wall. It should feel cool to cold. But if it is frosting up and feels super cold it is likely overcharged because the liquid/gas phase within the evaporator is not being fully completed and the excess liquid is trying to continue to expand in the line itself as it leaves the evaporator back to the compressor. If too much liquid gets back to the compressor it will hydrolock.

 

And this was the mess left behind by the fireworks we set off...

 

My neighbor bought the tanks...

 

I checked this last night...

The line coming out of the firewall is cold and sweaty, but not frosted over. Also, my mechanic added dye to the system in April...

 

Sounds about right.

 

I'm bringing the truck to my mechanic and he's going to check for traces of UV dye. If my A/C system has a leak, I'm going to insist that my mechanic evacuate the system and start from scratch...

 

Good for you. I was going to add that I am sensitive to the AC performance on mine and any changes that occur on mine. I live where it is dry most of the time but can also be wet on occasion. I know that changes in relative humidity can really be felt with mine as it is super cold when dry vs. marginal at times when hot and humid. I have also had many R12 systems and this ain't my daddy's R12 system.

 

I plan on driving my Tacoma until at least 2025! It's got new Michelin tires (October 2017), new front brakes (March 2018), new rear brakes (June 2018), a thoroughly upgraded stereo system (March and April 2018; replaced previous aftermarket system), and full synthetic oil (June 2018)! Less than 85K on the clock and barely broken in!

 

They are addictive aren't they? This forum helps drive the matter. Best to cancel your membership now while you are ahead so you will not eventually go broke from doing mods.

 

If cold air blows out of any vent, cold air is being made. You do any mods in the dash? Check AC vent tubing under the dash. Check the outside air box/fan box behind the dash, is there leaves and junk in there?

Look at the AC lines by the drivers side wheel well, is one really cold and one really hot? Are either icing up? Did you put gauges on it? Maybe blockage and idiot mechanic just keeps over charging the system?

 

Lol, so true, I'll have to do the math, but I bought the truck new for $23,000 in 2006. I am at or close to $100,000 at this point, lol! It's addictive

 

@jboudreaux1965

The stereo was the only "mod." I needed new brakes and new tires...

 

My mechanic balances the system out. 99% sure he's not overcharging it...

 

@Jamesboy2233


June 19th, 2018:

Nags Head, North Carolina

 

Frontier versus...

Well, what do you think they hit...?

 

The Ford Festiva is not a common car these days...

I honestly cannot remember the last time I saw one in person that was in even moderately fair condition!




Nice shot with a 2010 AC SR5 V6 in the background! Note how this car does not have a right side view mirror; This was extra-cost on some vehicles in the late 1980s and early 1990s!




A quick glance through the window revealed that this car has a manual transmission (4-speed or 5-speed; I don't know)!




I just got the side windows and rear slider in my Taco tinted at a cost of almost $170 including tax. I'm guessing the owner of this Festival spent well over $200.



The car also seems to have been lowered, and I could also see that it had a fairly expensive-looking single-DIN head unit. I'd imagine it probably has A/C (the ghetto-rigged Festiva I spotted in the supermarket parking lot earlier this year had A/C).

Make fun of this person and their car all you want, but they're probably laughing all the way to the bank because this thing gets about 40 MPG!