A/C Won't Hold Vacuum After Frame Change

Stealership changed my frame in December. Unfortunately, I didn't check out the A/C after getting the truck back (it was 20ºF and snowing when I picked it up). Last week it finally got warm enough that I wanted to kick the A/C on. It didn't blow cold air. I bought a HF air operated vacuum pump and my large compressor could only pull 22 inches of vacuum with it. When I sealed the system it dropped to about 15 inches of vacuum after 15 minutes.

My relationship with the stealership is frosty from the frame experience and it's been 4 months since they swapped the frame out. I don't expect them to accept any responsibility for the A/C since it's been this long. I have R134A with dye on hand. Should I go ahead and put it in? Alternatively, anybody know what exact fittings they disconnected to get the motor (w/ A/C compressor) off the frame and away from the body? Is there a chance they mis-seated one of those connections during re-assembly? Anybody know if they are fool-proof to connect or require some attention to detail that may have been missed? The conspiracy theorist in me is concerned they did something to F with me since they knew it would be months before I tried to use the A/C for cooling or to de-fog windows....

 

It is always possible that one of the seals became compromised during the procedure. When performing a vacuum it is optimal to reach 30in of vacuum for 45mins to pull as much possible moisture from the system. Your issue could be a moisture issue because it did not loose much vacuum after 15 mins. Your best bet is to return to the dealership and have them perform and evac and recharge w/ dye to the system this way they can monitor if there is a leak, how long it too for your a/c to become inop again and where there may be dye leaking from. They should be willing to do the a/c service without charging you because they would not have been able to test the a/c system in the cold temp. The worst that happens is they say no they are not doing it for free so it is worth a shot also do not be afraid to ask if the DSPM would be willing to cover the cost of the a/c service. DSPM are Toyota corp that work with dealerships on issues including customer satisfaction

 

To make you feel better for a moment I doubt the dealership did something on purpose, but when you have some kid (the top technician isn't going to do this) disassemble and reassemble your truck there are many places where things can go wrong. I had several of my vehicles come back from a body shop with improper, sometimes dangerous, assembly. Probably the worst was a loose fuel filler hose! Be prepared for problems and good luck.

 

Thanks guys. I have been going back and forth today on what to do. I don't have a good relationship with the dealership....

 

Given your relationship with the dealer, I'd find an independent repair shop in your area. Ask around. Pay them an hrs. labor for a diagnostic fee. In the end, this may be your best bet.
I'd bet zero $$$ this dealer is going to good-will any analysis.

 

Thanks. I am tempted to just push some dye through the system. If nothing got dorked up in moving things around, the problem should just be a rolled/mis-seated gasket where they disconnected/re-connected fittings.

 

Thanks for the support. I think I am going to stick some UV dye into the system and see where it comes out. They should have only disconnected the system in a couple of places...void of mishandling, those spots should be the problem spots. Thanks all.

 

So you never used your defrost setting all winter ??

Never noticed the defrost was not pulling the moisture out ??

Evac and recharge is part of the frame swap

Then each dealer does things different.

At my dealer the Two techs doing the frame swaps are the best in the shop.

Best of luck

 

No, I didn't use the defrost setting this winter to dry out the air inside the cabin. I never needed to do that. So, no...I never had that indicator that something was awry. My frustration with this situation is that a vacuum pump should have been put on the system long enough to notice there was a leak. It doesn't appear that this happened. I don't know if they vacuumed to 30 inches and immediately filled the system or missed this step completely.

 

I am curious don`t you have a invoice stating just what was done??

Then since your relationship is not all that good with your dealer it might be a moot point .

I have customers that get repaired equipment back put it in storage then cry a year later it does not work.

People get work done make sure it works!!! vehicles even more so before you leave the shop !!

 

So, what was I supposed to feel before I left the snowy parking lot? Please share your checklist.

 

I put eyes on a bunch of stuff that most people wouldn't catch. They didn't top off the front diff after they removed the CVs. They failed to bolt the gas fill downtube to the frame. They busted the clips to the rear harness and left it hangimg there. You certainly come off as busting my balls. The air blew really cold air...and it was well below freezing. What check did I do wrong?

 

It was not meant at you but every one !!

 

So as I said, having some kid take your truck apart and put it together is asking for trouble. If your frame was truly rusted then yes you have to let them change it, but there's a price. The price is that many things will end up broken or wrong and that will cost you and you will have problems with your truck. I'd have a good independent shop do the equivalent of a PPI and see just what you're facing. Armed with this you may (and the emphasis is on may) be able to get the dealer to fix a few things.

 

Thanks for the help. The frame had an 8" hole...thus qualifying as "truly rusted." The "kid" was an army vet that served time in theater fixing heavy vehicles. Obviously, he missed things, but I still have respect for him as a man. Why should I pay for an independent shop to inspect my vehicle when I know the truck better than the Toyota dealership? How is an independent shop that sees every kind of make/model/year going to do any better than Toyota or me? Yes, I missed the A/C in the winter conditions. Fine...my bad. So, I should have took my truck into an independent shop at 20 degrees?...and the would have noticed the air wasn't blowing cold? I don't feel like going into all of the details, but I will just say that the sliders, the TRD S/C (I installed), the ECU override (I installed), the gauges and electronics (I installed), and other things were all matters of discussion between Toyota and me. I can't see an independent dealer getting around the truck with a better perspective.

Good armchair quarterbacking ("So as I said" = +1 post count)....

 

Boy, quite a change from your previous posts. Friday night? Watcha drinkin?

 

Reality.