Weird AC problems and water on floor

I know this has been posted before but everything I found was only one of the issues and not multiple.

I’ll start by saying I love this truck but cannot stand the multiple issues and lack of concern and corrective action by Toyota dealers. Bought it in March 2020 and have 32k miles on it so far and have never had a vehicle, Toyota or other to the shop so many times especially without thing being resolved. Not so quick recap: 3 alignments to get it right, 2 visits to calibrate the sensor after windshield replacement, 3 (about to be 4) visits for AC not working, 2 visits for transfer case leak (ended up putting wrong fluid in and I changed after), 2. visits for radio volume not working (still acts up), 3 visits for transmission fluid level only to check it on my own and find out it was almost a quart low which corrected the shuttering, broken center cap during tire rotation and broken wiper arm when they replaced blades without asking. For the most part, multiple issues were looked at during each visit but I am still less than impressed with the results and a few different dealers attitudes about them. Rant over, here is the current issue that hopefully someone can shed some light on.

AC has never been great, I have had multiple Tundras and Rav4s all with ice cold air, Tacoma…not so much. Toyota has looked at the ac system 3 times so far for issues including 70 degree air while in traffic, whistle noise when compressor cycles on, rust/debris flung from compressor pulley and condensation dripping on passenger floor. During 1st visit I was told everything was normal and they could not duplicate the problem. I offered to take the tech for a ride but they would not due to time constraints. 2nd visit I was told the same thing but they warrantied a cabin air filter(found out when I got home they did not even replace it). 3rd visit I was told they evacuated the system and found it had 710 grams of Freon when 500 is the capacity. Could not duplicate the whistle or condensation on floor and that the debris flung from the ac clutch is normal.

I will say the ac is a little colder after the last visit but still climbs to 60 degrees or so in traffic when it is over 80 degrees ambient. The problem is that the whistle is louder and the condensation is out of control, probably due to the system running colder (drives my wife crazy). Scheduled to go back on Tuesday for another look and I am hoping to have some more information before then to help the situation. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you havn't already, find another dealer. Sounds like the Service dept is run by incompetence.

 

Using 2nd dealer now, only real options near where I live. 3rd dealer is almost 30 miles away and have not heard great things about them from friends.

 

3 dealers with in 30 miles? Wow

 

Some of us are just lucky…

 

5 here within 30 miles if you count one in Canada. And this is GM/Ford territory. Imagine like some places in California where toyota is really big.


Edit (6th one is 34.9 miles away. 2 more in Canada that are ~40 miles from my house) insane how many really are around

 

Maybe with that many around they have to actually do decent work. Doesn’t seem like that is the case near me, south shore of Boston.

 

When running the AC, do you ever see condensation dripping out underneath the truck?
If not, I suspect the evap drain tube may be blocked causing condensation buildup inside the hvac case…
You really shouldn’t have ac condensation dripping inside the truck.

 

We got like 8 -

 

I have checked the drain tube and it is clear, can blow through and it drains while ac is running. Condensation looks like it is forming on the blower housing behind the glovebox.

 

Is the blower housing cool to the touch when the condensation shows up there? Also, do all ac modes and recirc seem to work properly?

 

Around PHX that makes sense.

 

It is cool when I have noticed the condensation. All modes and recirc appear to work normal.

If I move temp control up from low to say 65, condensation lessens. Up to 70 and it goes away.

I understand the condensation happening because the duct/housing is cooler that the air but never seen this in any other vehicle. Passenger feet get wet every road trip.

 

That’s what’s weird, the blower housing itself shouldn’t really be cool unless it’s cool outside, or if recirc is on and it’s nice and chilly in the vehicle. I’ve done a lot of AC repairs in the past, and condensation on the blower housing is one I’ve never experienced lol.
I’m just racking my brain trying to think of some obscure thing that could cause that…

 

Also, FWIW, my 2013 Tacoma has the worst performing AC I’ve ever experienced. There’s nothing wrong with it, it just doesn’t seem to be super efficient. My ‘01 blew cooler air.

 

I had that happen once with mine where it started to drip on the passenger floor. It was a REALLY humid day and I was running the AC full blast for a while. I've kept an eye on it and it hasn't happened since.

Same thing happened one time in my old Silverado on a road trip. Driving all day with AC blasting. Hot and humid in Iowa. Started to drip on passenger floor.

I've chalked it up to a humidity thing.

 

I would chalk it up to humidity if it only happened once in a while. This happens every time I run the ac, usually not for the first 15-20 minutes though. Happens on recirc and fresh air settings, much more when the windows are open and ac is running which confirms cabin temp effecting the amount of condensation.

I find it hard to believe that something isn’t “wrong” and that Toyota would design a system that this happens and is normal. MSRP of $47k and passenger’s feet get wet every ride is unreal.

 

It is likely clogged somewhere around the evaporator and that isn't easy to get to without taking apart your dash which is what they are likely trying to avoid. Condensation occurs there and only there. If it isn't going down the drain tube, it finds its way to your floor which is what you see. The whistling is probably from air not flowing through your evaporator properly. The most common reason for this is mold, but you usually get a foul odor with that.

I will say that I am not impressed with the quality of the AC. I have had other Toyotas as well and this one is the worst. I regularly drive around with mine on the highest fan setting which is something I did in my Tundra for only brief times to cool it off.

 

Clogged up drain tube, I know the sell a mold and deodorant spray you can shoot up your drain pipe tube

 

My 2019 has a "Whistle moan" kind of noise when accelerating, dealer said it's from the expansion valve and wont do anything about it. Does it every time the compressor cycles. I've learned to live with it.