2014 Double Cab AC

The AC in my SR does not seem to work as well as it should. My wife's Chrysler works much better. I have the basic HVAC not the dual zone model.

 

What's it doing (or not doing as the case may be)?

 

My opinion as well. The 2005 Tundra AC LTD I traded in on the 2014 Tacoma SR5 4x4 blew way colder and cooled down the cabin quicker. In 9 years I never had anything done to the Tundra's AC system.

Here in Phoenix it is pretty noticeable. The cabin size of both trucks would be pretty similar - not like the Tacoma is cooling more space.

 

I have a 2011 DCSB and I think the AC is weak compared to other vehicles I've owned. I really hate that when I turn the controller to full cool the AC comes on by default.
Overall I love the truck bet there are little things like this that piss me off.

 

MY 2014 Double Cab's A/C will "frost the balls off a brass monkey"...

 

What is this "dual zone" HVAC you speak of? I've seen that mentioned in Tacoma specs but as far as I am concerned the only air vents in the truck are up front. Or does that mean the little plastic vents under the seats too?


I got to agree though. HVAC in 2nd gen Tacomas is not the greatest. The older model Tacoma and 4Runner I have driven put out cold air MUCH faster and cooler than current gen models.

I personally think air vent adjustment on the center console vents sucks too since the vent adjustments aren't exactly perfectly vertical or horizontal.

 

My double cab ac system works very well here in Phoenix. Get yours checked out somethings not right.
That said, my truck is white. white vehicles in Phoenix cool easier than dark colors.

 

Noticed a similar a/c situation on my previous (Mazda) truck - best friend had a regular cab, mine was extended cab. Difference was cab volume and extra glass. I'm guessing the Tacoma double cab and access cab have identical HVAC hardware, so there is a difference in cooling load.

 

Same deal with my truck, a little disappointed to say the least, my 94 land cruiser is way colder quicker.

 

Mine is white with wrap around privacy glass from the factory and front windows by the dealer. I'm at about 1500 miles - noticed it right off the lot.

Since this is a personal issue, where we could all be feeling the same thing and just reporting on it from our different perspectives I'm going to take my LED meat thermometer with me on my next drive and stick it in the passenger side center vent and see what readings I get at start up, and at 5-10 minute intervals in my drive. I'll post back this evening.

 

It is no unusual for systems to come with an incorrect charge or something else wrong. My 2002 tacoma was a low charge and my 2006 corolla, the same. In both cases i had to be nearly rude with the dealer to get the situations handled.
May have to be very insistent with the dealer. If you're not getting much condensate (drip) from underneath the vehicle on a hot humid day that's an indicator of a low charge. If teh compressor is turning constantly and not cycling on/off that's also an indicator ( or a quick cycle on/off).
Have the dealer check it out but be insistent.

 

Do you in places like Phoenix get much a/c condensate drip with your low humidity?

 

^^^^^^^
I only really see condensation during Monsoon season, otherwise it's usually to dry out.

 

OP is in Fla. He should have high humidity events which produce nearly a steady stream of icewater from evaporator drain if a/c is cooling properly.

 

I'm really surprised to hear of someone complaining about the A/C system, something must be wrong. These vehicles, as well as all of the other Toyotas that I have owned, had more than adequate A/C. Unlike my old Dodge Durango... WORST A/C system I ever owned!

 

Here is my results with the meat thermometer in the passenger side middle vent.

It was 98 in the shade where my truck is parked. When I started it up, it was right at 100 degrees. I hopped straight on the freeway, it took about 5 minutes for the temp to read out at 47 degrees.

It would get down to 46 degrees on occasion.

As long as I drove, it always stayed around 46 or 47 degrees. If I went to city streets it would land at 48 degrees. Long stoplights it would hit 51 degrees.
*edit - keep in mind this is measuring 5 inches down the vent outlet.

Hopefully more of y'all will post up some numbers so we can see if there is a real issue.

 

Mine too.

Coldest AC I've had in a long time. I keep it closer to the center position on the temp control than full on cold.

My issue is that even on the coldest setting w/ AC off, it's too warm. Even on cool days. Switch on AC and I'm freezing balls and turning the temp control towards warm as described above.

 

HotRod, my 2002 Highlander, 2005 Tundra, and 2007 RX350 were all WAY colder than my 2014 Taco 4.0 DCSB 4x4 and all had more or comparable cabin space.

 

You might want to look into this stuff. It is about 15 degree colder than the regular 134a. It is called envior-safe. I use the 22 in my home unit and it lowers my electric bill because of lower head pressure as well as gets much colder than regular refrigerant. I intend on changing to the automotive stuff in my vehicle soon.

http://www.es-refrigerants.com/products/Default.asp?id=14&t=refrigerant&Trying=ON

http://autorefrigerants.com/Envirotechnical.htm

 

Huh...I just picked up my 2014 double cab a couple weeks ago...500 miles on it now...and the AC is ridiculously weak. Its not even acceptable on an 80 degree day here in New England. I might bring it back to the dealer for a look-see.