First 80 degree day and........No AC!

So, 2021 Tacoma TRD OR MT6. 35,000 miles. Turned on AC and no cold air
, everything else works, blower, temp settings, air direction, heat.
Found compressor mag clutch isn't engaging, swapped relay, still no go.
Hooked up 12v. power to mag clutch leads and clutch works.
Any guidance on what to check next ?
Thanks in advance, Butch.

 

Have you checked the refrigerant?

 

Welcome to the crappy Tacoma AC club. I’m out $4,000 so far on mine.

 

No experience with AC, so guess I'll learn how to do that today.

 

Oh, no. That’s horrible. I replaced my compressor and clutch 2 years ago. By the grace of God this thing is making sno cones.

 

Best to find your local AC specialist to do refrigerant. They will be cheaper than the tools you need to do it correctly. They will need to do a vacuum test, find the leak, fix that, and then purge it again before adding refrigerant. If you leave air in the system it will kill your more expensive parts.

On the vast majority of cars, Taco included, the AC won't engage if the pressure sensor is not in range. It just happened to my go-cart a few months ago. It cost me all of $300 for my local shop to fix the leak (bad return hose on the compressor) and recharge the system.

 

Thanks for above advice.

 

I had to have mine topped up last summer for $170. Knock on wood, it's working good thus far...

 

Won't be that hot here for another 2 months. I rely on specialty shops to do my a/c and heating needs just like tires to a tire shop.

 

Low system pressure switch will keep the clutch from coming on. Someone needs to do a leak test on your truck. My compressor took a dump at 70,000 miles. Dumped all the freon and the low pressure switch prevented the clutch from engaging. Of course it was August in Georgia and hot AF.

 

If you have installed a front bumper, check the ac condenser hardline coming off the front passenger side of the condenser. Even if you look like it has plenty of clearance, it seems the supports allownit to move around enough it may be making contact on hard bumps.

Just had to have mine replaced. I checked the clutch first, it wasn't getting power, and the '22 model years no longer have a seperate a/c clutch fuse, so that pointed to either a leak or failed mag.clutch. Turned out to be a leak. Found it as soon as they started to charge the system, still charged me for the whole unit of refrigerant. ~$1200 all in for two charges of refrigerant, the line and an hour and a half labor.

 

Had no idea some tacomas had shit AC until recently. Im out $2000cad on my '21 just last week.

 

Busted a AC line when my old CBI T3 bumper damaged a hardline. Was an expensive repair. Won’t let that one happen again. Took the bumper off and cut clearance. Now I have a c4 rock runner bumper.. I cut the same amount of clearance to prevent the same problem.

 

Same. As soon as I got home from the shop had it off and went at it with an angle grinder.

I'm assuming the bamf behind the grille light support and pair of SS5's isn't doing the core support any favors. Roads are absolute trash heading into where I work, and I have to cross bacl forth over railroad tracks on my way in. Need to mount my lights externally asap. Also decided to fab a mount for my winch relay box that ties into the rear support frame of the bumper rather than the core support for the ssme reason.

 

I noticed that There isn't a fuse where it's labeled on the under hood fuse panel too. I'm surprised at the cost for an AC recharge.
I guess I've just been lucky all these years never having had an AC related issue.

 

First question...

Are you the original owner?

Second comment...post#6 is your best bet to get it sorted.

My question of ownership is very important because the previous owner's due diligence is critical in continued functions as originally built.

 

I'm the Original owner. Ordered truck for my retirement, none in my area with a 6 speed manual.
Truck is all stock except for a couple convenience items.
I try to keep it off the road in Wisconsin winters, use it mostly as our travel, camping vehicle.
Previous truck was a 2005 Dodge 5.9 Cummins 6 speed manual QC SB.
Guess I'll be taking it into an AC shop.

 

Good call!

Enjoy your evening.

 

had AC shop check refrigerant level and it was fine. What all else would keep compressor from engaging? Relays are good, compressor engages when jumpered, refrigerant level is good, no flashing light on dash AC button. What other sensors should I be looking at?

 

The AC shop didn’t have any suggestions?