1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

AC cool not cold

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by cwood89, Jul 26, 2021.

  1. Jul 26, 2021 at 1:24 AM
    #1
    cwood89

    cwood89 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    Member:
    #372259
    Messages:
    10
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C
    Vehicle:
    2009 - 2.7L Tacoma
    none
    Problem with AC

    Car off: turned AC clutch with hand no problem

    2 years after replacing my compressor & condenser/drier, my AC is only blowing 70 degree air out the vents. Cool, but not cold. I noticed that the high pressure line coming out of the firewall is extremely hot and the low pressure side coming out of the firewall is extremely cold. I believe both of these lines should be cold, (one a little colder than the other.) I hooked the gauges up, warmed up the truck, then AC full blast with windows down.

    No noticeable leaks, UV lights detected nothing. (PAG oil with UV)

    LP: stayed at 45psi

    HP: stayed at 275psi


    Also, there is a lot of water pouring from the drain line at the bottom of the truck almost as soon as turning on AC. Froze up evaporator coils? My truck also has an expansion valve that I pray is not the issue because getting to it is cray.

    Also, it is 100 degrees/80% humidity

    Compressor did pull in 4 ounces of refrigerant no problem, then I stopped, recorded the numbers above.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2021
  2. Jul 26, 2021 at 2:16 AM
    #2
    Jimmyh

    Jimmyh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2012
    Member:
    #78991
    Messages:
    14,291
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prerunner SR5
    You can get to the Expansion Valve easy from the firewall side of the engine bay.

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...pansion-valve-tvx.600393/page-2#post-20531252


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Not a lot of room but easier than removing the dash and AC System.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Don't forget the inline filter in the High Side tube.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    CurtB, Rick's 2012, outdoorgb and 4 others like this.
  3. Jul 26, 2021 at 4:45 AM
    #3
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2015
    Member:
    #150066
    Messages:
    13,810
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2014 DC OR 6spd 4x4
    Predator tube steps, Ranch Hand grill guard, Magnaflow CatBack exhaust, Toyota tool box & bed mat, 2LO Module by @Up2NoGood, Rearview Compass/Temp Mirror, Tune by @JustDSM.
    Did you have recirculate turned on?
    If you did it sounds like you have a blend door actuator that's not going to full cold or the recirculation door isn't working, also check your cabin air filter.
    On an exspansion valve system the high side line will be hot at the valve and the low side should be cool to cold.
     
    Jimmyh likes this.
  4. Jul 26, 2021 at 6:33 AM
    #4
    b_r_o

    b_r_o Gnar doggy

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2016
    Member:
    #202672
    Messages:
    14,628
    First Name:
    Alex
    WA
    Vehicle:
    2015 DCLB
    The hi side line should be hot to the touch, the low side should be frosty

    Might be a little under-charged. On a 100 deg day the high side should be (could be) up around 300-350 psi
     
    Clearwater Bill likes this.
  5. Jul 26, 2021 at 3:09 PM
    #5
    cwood89

    cwood89 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    Member:
    #372259
    Messages:
    10
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C
    Vehicle:
    2009 - 2.7L Tacoma
    none
    I removed replaced the expansion valve & its associated filter. The filter was pretty bad. Held a good vacuum. Now I am about to try to add refrigerant soon. I hope this is my issue. Regardless that ac filter was gross. I should have changed it 2 years ago but I thought it was way harder to get to. Thank you to Jimmyh

    How can I tell if this expansion valve i just took off (after 170,000 miles) is still any good? Can you clean them? Toyota makes good stuff so i hesitate to toss it.
     
    outdoorgb and Jimmyh like this.
  6. Jul 26, 2021 at 3:11 PM
    #6
    cwood89

    cwood89 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    Member:
    #372259
    Messages:
    10
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C
    Vehicle:
    2009 - 2.7L Tacoma
    none
    The hardest part was the anxiety making sure I didn't drop the bolts in behind the the fire wall area. That would have been no bueno.
     
  7. Jul 26, 2021 at 3:18 PM
    #7
    cwood89

    cwood89 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    Member:
    #372259
    Messages:
    10
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C
    Vehicle:
    2009 - 2.7L Tacoma
    none
    DM93 & b_r_o

    That is weird because Toyota Service Manual says "If the evaporator outlet is considerably warmer than the inlet, the system needs a charge." It goes on to say "Add refigerant to the low side of the system until both the outlet and the evaporator inlet pipe feel about the same temperature"
     
  8. Jul 26, 2021 at 4:01 PM
    #8
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2015
    Member:
    #150066
    Messages:
    13,810
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2014 DC OR 6spd 4x4
    Predator tube steps, Ranch Hand grill guard, Magnaflow CatBack exhaust, Toyota tool box & bed mat, 2LO Module by @Up2NoGood, Rearview Compass/Temp Mirror, Tune by @JustDSM.
    The high side line is always going to be warm to hot up to the expansion device whether it's an expansion valve or orfice tube, not sure where you found that reference.
    This is from the 09 manual, it wants you to check by using the pressures.
    Total charge is 21.6oz
     

    Attached Files:

    cwood89[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  9. Jul 26, 2021 at 4:22 PM
    #9
    Pilotjoe123

    Pilotjoe123 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2021
    Member:
    #356587
    Messages:
    360
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    Eastern, NC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Pyrite Mica Tacoma Sport
    Trd Supercharger URD 2.8 pulley AFE momentum GT Cam gears DT shorties DT mid pipe Vibrant res Borla Pro XS HPtuners custom dyno Aem 340lph fuel pump agm x2 power 34 battery dynomat sso slimline Icon 2.5 coilovers Icon 2.0 rear RR All Pro 3” expedition leafs flip kit superbumps SPC ucas Whitelines 4.88 nitro gears Detroit Truetrac front/rear Mayhem Prodigy 35/12.50/17 Mickey Thompson Baja Boss M/T
    I hope by adding refrigerant you mean purging the system then adding refrigerant, you can damage your system if you don’t
     
  10. Jul 26, 2021 at 5:26 PM
    #10
    BlkDakDave

    BlkDakDave Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2012
    Member:
    #89422
    Messages:
    1,120
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    David
    CC TX
    Vehicle:
    07 AC PreRunner TRD/Off Road
    I was able to lower the inside temp by 8 degrees just by cleaning the condenser coils. Also cleaned the radiator (best I could) and aux trans fluid cooler at the same time.
     
    Gunshot-6A and steelcity2 like this.
  11. Jul 26, 2021 at 5:58 PM
    #11
    steelcity2

    steelcity2 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2020
    Member:
    #329898
    Messages:
    5,329
    Gender:
    Male
    Pittsburgh Pa
    Vehicle:
    2013 MGM DCSB TRD sport
    Bilsteins 5100's all 4 corners 1 inch rear spacer
    Nice call Dave, did u just use a hose from the radiator side to the front or u use coil cleaner ? Any tips for us ?
     
  12. Jul 26, 2021 at 6:30 PM
    #12
    BlkDakDave

    BlkDakDave Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2012
    Member:
    #89422
    Messages:
    1,120
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    David
    CC TX
    Vehicle:
    07 AC PreRunner TRD/Off Road
    steelcity2 likes this.
  13. Jul 26, 2021 at 7:02 PM
    #13
    cwood89

    cwood89 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    Member:
    #372259
    Messages:
    10
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C
    Vehicle:
    2009 - 2.7L Tacoma
    none
    yea i purged first. I changed the expansion valve and filter. still have the same issue. At least it wasn't all for nothing, the filter was gross

    that broken piece on the bottom was from me after removal

    LP: stays at 45psi (shouldnt this fluctuate????)

    HP: stays at 275psi

    PXL_20210726_222558990.jpg
     
  14. Jul 26, 2021 at 7:08 PM
    #14
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2015
    Member:
    #150066
    Messages:
    13,810
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2014 DC OR 6spd 4x4
    Predator tube steps, Ranch Hand grill guard, Magnaflow CatBack exhaust, Toyota tool box & bed mat, 2LO Module by @Up2NoGood, Rearview Compass/Temp Mirror, Tune by @JustDSM.
    Check your air mix servo and make sure it's going to full cold, if in doubt you can remove it and move the door manually.
    If that's good make sure the air inlet door moves when you turn recirculate on and off.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Jul 26, 2021 at 8:17 PM
    #15
    cwood89

    cwood89 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    Member:
    #372259
    Messages:
    10
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C
    Vehicle:
    2009 - 2.7L Tacoma
    none
    Problem solved! It was the expansion valve, orfice tube, AND the cabin air filter. The cabin air filter was gross and I thought I had just changed it. When I replaced it it made the truck get almost 20 degrees colder!

    43 was the coldest it got. And that is in a 100+ degree in a garage in Houston.

    Thank you to everyone who "sparked" my mind.

    PXL_20210727_024554767.jpg
     
    cmoore, Lord Helmet and Jimmyh like this.
  16. Jul 26, 2021 at 8:19 PM
    #16
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2015
    Member:
    #150066
    Messages:
    13,810
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2014 DC OR 6spd 4x4
    Predator tube steps, Ranch Hand grill guard, Magnaflow CatBack exhaust, Toyota tool box & bed mat, 2LO Module by @Up2NoGood, Rearview Compass/Temp Mirror, Tune by @JustDSM.
    Cabin air filter is often overlooked, many people don't know they have one.
    Glad you got it chilling again.:thumbsup:
     
    Gunshot-6A and cwood89[OP] like this.
  17. Jul 26, 2021 at 8:26 PM
    #17
    Jimmyh

    Jimmyh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2012
    Member:
    #78991
    Messages:
    14,291
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prerunner SR5

    Glad to have been of assistance. :thumbsup:
     
  18. Jul 26, 2021 at 8:29 PM
    #18
    Jimmyh

    Jimmyh Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2012
    Member:
    #78991
    Messages:
    14,291
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prerunner SR5
    Pork! LOL :)
     
    cwood89[OP] likes this.
  19. Jul 26, 2021 at 8:55 PM
    #19
    cwood89

    cwood89 [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2021
    Member:
    #372259
    Messages:
    10
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    C
    Vehicle:
    2009 - 2.7L Tacoma
    none
    Here is the cabin air filter after alot of leaves already fell off. They get dirty quick

    PXL_20210727_035242454.jpg
     
  20. Jul 26, 2021 at 9:04 PM
    #20
    Dm93

    Dm93 Test Don't Guess

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2015
    Member:
    #150066
    Messages:
    13,810
    Gender:
    Male
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2014 DC OR 6spd 4x4
    Predator tube steps, Ranch Hand grill guard, Magnaflow CatBack exhaust, Toyota tool box & bed mat, 2LO Module by @Up2NoGood, Rearview Compass/Temp Mirror, Tune by @JustDSM.
    Yea I have a K&N cabin filter in mine and I clean it every other oil change, it get's pretty dirty even though I use recirculate most of the time.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top