Freon may be low question - 2013 Tacoma 4x4, 6 cyl Access cab

My local Toyota dealer gave me a quote of $329.00 today when I told them my AC cools fine, but I think it may be low on freon because it is taking about 3-5 minutes until I actually get cold normal temperature air flow. The quote was for:

"EVAC & Recharge system, install dye".

I was just asking them to check if I need some freon added or not. Is this the typical for Toyota to do a full charge for this? Anyone have thoughts about this?

 

Why are they going to add dye?
It has dye in it from the factory.
Sounds like a quick $329 charge to fix nothing.

Take a black light and start looking,.

See post 51 and 52 here
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ac-guys-please-help.666954/page-3#post-23403475

 

Toyota (or any other brand) doesn't come with dye in it. In reality dye isn't the best thing as there is various evidence if overused it can tend to clog.

Hourly rates are well over $100 an hour so an hour + materials isn't unheard of. The harsh reality is the tech will have the gauges on, $5 shot of dye in it in 15minutes. At $329 Sounds like an over change or even a "go somewhere else" price, but repair cost (labor) has dis proportionately outpaced crazy parts prices.

THE biggest problem that a creepy dealership (or repair business in general)
often do is exactly what the customer tells them to do,
i.e. "when I told them my AC cools fine, but I think it may be low on freon because it is taking about 3-5 minutes until I actually get cold normal temperature air flow.". So instead of actual asking for a proper diag. of "why does my a/c...?" "What do you say will fix it?" For an actual hour of diagnostic time (and diag on them) they are now liable for proper repair.

Sadly they know there's quicker money elsewhere anyway. Typical for dealerships especially to overcharge and whats even better (safer) "Oh it still doesn't work? But that's the repair you instructed".

I've worked a half dozen dealerships in my past life and sadly this is not uncommon.

 

Toyota is going to evacuate completely so they can put a full charge along with dye.
Under there calculations you probably have a leak, so when you come back in a week and say it’s was colder but not anymore, they can look for that dye and there’s the leak point. And then tell you how much more it will take to fix.

 

Any shop that's gona do a proper A/C diagnosis is gona wana evacuate the system to see if it has a full charge then recharge it so they will likely charge an hour for it plus any refrigerant that is needed.

See if your suction line is cold with the A/C running on high, if it is then your probably fine but if it's barely cool or not cold at all it's likely low.

FWIW mine takes some time when it's hot out to get cold as well, always has. @nd gens don't have the greatest A/C system especially if you have a double cab.

Most 12 and later vehicles have factory dye, my 14 does.

 

The only way to truly tell if a system has the correct amount of freon is to completely empty it and measure what comes out. They're charging for the use of the machine and the technician's time to do the service and look around

I'm at least $250 for the same type of service. $300+ sounds about right for a dealer

 

That's an assumption. Unless it written on the work order don't ever assume the harder longer repair will be done. Most likely in a flat rate environment also.

 

All the input here has been good diy advice. I'm always trying to inform non technical type to never try to "suggest" a repair. Let the repair facilities take on the liability. Ends up a better repair and usually less $. Seen it all the time

 

Doing the add a can from parts stores can make it blow cold again. Notice I didn’t say fix it.

I’ve done it a few times but you’re rolling the dice. Once even though I followed the instructions and used the can with the gauge, I ended up overfilling it. I was hell. The compressor smelled like burnt clutch, seized, threw sparks and chewed the belt. Not pretty.

 

Thanks everyone. Since I do get cold air in just a few minutes I'm going to hold off on doing anything right now until it I notice a definite issue with proper cooling. I didn't notice an issue until it began getting hotter outside here in Virginia. If I do have to take it to my Toyota dealer I will be sure to just ask them to determine what is wrong and what the cost will be to fix it after a diagnostic. I think I'll try the black light check. I'm not a mechanic but am confident when I can and cannot do things for myself. From what has been said here, $329.00 is not too surprising if I go to the dealer. Is there a recommendation on a decent black light of does it really matter. I was thinking why can't they just check for a leak to begin with and if none is found the just add Freon if it is low.