Air conditioning wouldn't engage on highway.

Interesting issue this weekend, I had been driving for an hour or so into my trip with the windows open a bit when I decided to roll them up and put on the AC.
I'm going about 65 and hit the AC button and it's still blowing warm air. Very unusual, since the last time I used it about 2-3 weeks ago it was cold as normal.
I turned it off and back on, still just warm air. I thought perhaps the compressor wasn't engaging at speed. I let off the gas, stepped on the clutch and let the engine idle (I was coasting). Boom, cold air! Great, so I bring the revs back up and let the clutch out... warm again.
I did this 2 more times before giving up and opening the windows again.
Once I exited the turnpike and came to a stop I tried again... it got cold and stayed cold for the last few miles of local driving. The next day it was cold the entire trip.
Has anyone ever experienced this? I'm hoping it was some sort of strange anomaly, since the AC has been cold ever since.

 

Solar Flare?

 

At approximately 3/4 throttle to WOT, the ac disengages to provide max power. Yours may be set too low. I'm not sure if it's adjustable. Check with the dealer.

 

mine did this about a year ago as well. at highway speeds I couldnt engage the AC. if I started the AC before I got out of town It would work the whole time. idk what the problem was but it fixed itself.

to help your ac blow colder air use the Recirc button.

 

mine did that before i found out the AC was locked...still havent fixed it

 

Yep that's pretty much what was going on. And yes, I always use recirc with AC. It's a waste to continuously condition hot outside air.

I'm glad it cleared up. I'm just hoping it isn't a sign of the electric clutch starting to go or the compressor getting too hard to turn.

I'll just have to decide whether or not I want the AC before I get on the highway in the future.

 

Hm, glad it cleared up. I have an interesting question, when I turn my AC on, I hear...a noise. not a good one, almost like a lurch...or a grind. Its only like half a second long, and at first I just thought it was my imagination. However, I hadn't run my truck in the last 4 days, and I turned it on, and even before I put it in gear to move it, I turned on the A/C cuase it was ridiculous inside the cabin. My windows were down, and when I turned on the AC I heard that same (however WAY louder) sound. Anyone know what I'm talking about? (I actually dont even know, but would love to know what that sound is...) I have a 2009 access cab 4x4 2.7L engine. 34k miles.

 

^ does the AC turn on after that noise? or does it not turn on, and the AC buttons flashes?

 

oh no, it turns on just fine, cold as ever. Its just one of those lurching/grinding noises you hear that makes your spine tingle... (not in a good way haha)

 

I just started having the same problem. Any update on your issue?

 

It hasn't happened again, but the last two times I started the AC before leaving, not after I got on the highway.
Of course I'm afraid to now. If it is the beginning of a failure I'd like to put it off as long as possible, so I will play it's little game for now.

 

Don't laugh, my cell phone died 3 days before the AC issue.

 

Interested in this as well. Not a tacoma but my mom's exploder did the same thing driving out to CA from CO.

Edit: Stealership said it could find nothing wrong and contacted corporate to see if there was an issue but came back with nothing, they don't know what it is

 

Man that sucks
Hope you know i was not laughting at your situation but just his solarflare comment. I would not last a week with out AC.

 

Haha, yes I know. I will update this thread if anything changes. Of course it's almost September so I won't be using the AC much soon.

 

BUMP

Mine was doing this today. I tried to turn on the a/c on the highway, and it wouldn't work. I exited the highway and came to a red light, tried it again and it worked.

Leaving it on, I sped up again to about 55 on another road and it stopped blowing cold air. When I got to my house and slowed down, it was cold again.

This truck is pampered and only has 19,000 miles. What the fuck???