any tricks for keeping truck cooler? AC wise.

Hey guys. Summer is here.

My 2015 Tacoma takes about 7 min of ac full blast to finally cool down the truck. Where it will be comfortable.

Does anyone have tips or tricks to help with cooling?

I know ceramic window tint helps. Did anyone do the dynomat and notice a difference in interior temps?

 

Get a good insulating sunshade. Something like this.

$62 Tuningpros SS-335 Custom Fit Car Windshield Sun Shade Protector, Sunshade Visor Silver & Grey 1-pc Set Compatible With 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MVPR6QF


Then crack the rear windows an inch during the day, if it's safe to do so.



That's really the cheapest and best method you can do. If your cabin starts at ambient hot and not at molten lava temperatures, then the AC doesn't have to work as hard to get to a comfortable range.

After that, look into UV tint to reduce the greenhouse further.

 

Do you use the recirculation button when you run the AC?

 

Weak ac? 7 minutes seems excessive. Only a couple of minutes in my '05.

 

Edit, I also start the first 30 seconds of my drive with the windows down. Just enough to cycle hot-hot air for just hot air. Then I roll them up the second I feel cool air starting to emit from the partially melted dashboard.

 

yes. we always have the full fan speed. recirculation on. and just blowing out of the forward facing vents.

@Jonas it works just like it is supposed to....i am just spoiled by our other cars. 2015 accord has great ac. 2013 Infiniti g37 has freezing cold ac....the tacoma is the one that is ehhh. Takes a while.

@Rock Lobster i do have the sunshade and it does help. But i didnt know about the rear window. That is clever. I am going to have to start opening it. Makes sense.

 

I use the sunshade and also have those rain guards that really help keep the hot air flowing out of the vehicle when parked. Since I installed them I have yet rolled my windows all the way up . Leave down about 1/2 inch and no one can see, no rain gets in.

 

Ceramic Tint, sunshade, and get some in-channel vent visors so you can crack all four windows while car is parked. The vent visors obfuscates the cracked windows from the POS of the world that like to take what isn't theirs. I turn off the recirculate air button whenever I'm 10 mins out from the house. It dries up the A/C drain hose so I don't smell stale socks next time I turn on the car.

Outside of that, park in the shade when you can and keep the car clean. As well, service your A/C as needed. Don't be cheap and get the freon in a can; dump/flush the entire system. That is really all you can do...

I will note, it is a larger vehicle so it will take longer to cool down.

 

Drive with all windows down for the 1st mile or 2. That lets the hot air out. Temps here in GA can easily get 180-200 degrees inside a parked vehicle. If you use the recirculate button without letting that air out, it takes a while to cool it down. Even 100 degree outside air is cooler than what is inside. Then run AC on high with recirculate button on.

 

Better to not run in recirc mode when the cabin is stupid hot. Turn recirc off to pull the (relatively) cooler outside air, it's much easier to cool even 100-degree fresh air than 140+ degree cabin air. Way less load on the system and it'll start blowing colder sooner. Ride with the windows open for a couple minutes to dump as much of the excess heat as you can, then when the cabin is roughly equalized with outside air temp, close the windows and flip on recirc if you wish.

Much easier to dump the tons of BTUs through wide open windows at 55mph, than trying to funnel every last one through your blower and already-undersized AC system. And the more overloaded it is, the less efficient it gets, and the quicker you're ordering a new compressor.

 

Are you idling in the driveway? Get up to speed and cruise, more airflow across the condenser and the compressor is spinning faster which moves more refrigerant

 

One thing I didn't see mentioned yet is replace/clean your cabin air filter, if it's dirty you will have reduced airflow which will inhibit cooling efficiency.

 

Well, it's 114 here in Desert. I know my a/c is low on refrigerant when it takes more than 3-5 miles to cool the cabin. I just recharged mine & it's ice cold within a block. I add a can once a year for $39.00 plus the cabin filter. I took it in to try & get it fixed, they told me I needed a leak test, change all the orings, accumulator, compressor, recharge. Price was insane. I'll put a can in once a year until it dies.

 

Yeah I'm in New Orleans where its been 95+ lately, I crack the windows during the day and roll all the windows down when I leave work, when I start driving the fresh air flowing through the windows for two or three minutes really help.
Our tacoma is a 08 but the dang 05 civic whoes ac is way better which is very annoying.

 

Light paint
Ceramic tint
Insulation
window visors to crack windows

recharge service to make sure r134a quantity is correct

clean the condenser

if I worked in a shop with access to a machine I’d probably replace the condenser with new on my truck, as well as compressor, to try and have good working parts I can rely on. Rather than old ones which at this point (knock on wood) really can go out at any time.

 

I think the AC should be good for about 30-40 degree temperature difference. If it’s less than that you probably need a recharge and do a leak test while you’re at it.

 

I have a full weathered setup. My normal routine is try to keep the windows cracked just a bit. I will start my car. Keep the driver door open. Remove all the window shades. Plug in phone and such. Shut door. Hit recirc and go. By then it is cooling down.
Window shades helped a lot. Plus all my windows are tinted.

 

An auxiliary pusher electric radiator fan is another possible option.

 

Mine is icy cold - 2013 -

Try recharging the AC system [R134A]

I have an 2001 car whose AC gets weak about once a year - recharging the system fixes it 90%, good enough and I can do it at home.

 

I used to do the leave the windows cracked open thing. Having a black widow dangle down in front of my face and drop while driving down the freeway with the nearest turnoff far away is not fun.

7 minutes seems excessive.