It is getting warm in SW Louisiana.... please read

I have a 2008 Taco with 210k miles. I recently noticed that while at idle, the AC tends to quit cooling. If I rev the engine, say to 1800 rpms, the cold air returns. If I am driving, it cools great. Toyota dealership added $80 in Freon and as I was leaving, the Serv Advisor says: "If you continue to have issues, it is probably the AC Relay". I was there! It seems they would have checked it.

The parts house, says it could be the resistor, but the blower runs just fine and I understand the resister is tied in with the blower.

Any ideas or suggestions, folks?

Jeff W Waldrop
Westlake, LA

 

If they added $80 worth of Freon then you have a leak. If they didn’t find and fix that leak, then it will leak out again.

 

Agree. What could explain that at idle, the air warms and while under a load, it cools like it should. Right now, I have to assume the freon level is good. Took 14 years and 210,000 miles to loose $80 in Freon. I am assuming they added it, but can't be sure. I only can go off what the SA said. I called them back, btw and for $220 they can change the relay he mentioned as he handed me the keys.

I don't trust, presidential candidates, used car salesmen and mechanics (dealerships). Thanks, SpitDog

 

It may have just leak over time or it could have developed a small leak. To rule out a leak, they should have vacuum the system , held that vacuum for about an hour and the manifold gauges would show if it’s holding.
The relay is under the hood on the drivers side in a plastic box near the battery. It’s a little rectangular looking fuse, I don’t thing it’s more that $10 or so.

I would want to know if they fixed the leak.Dont assume it’s just due for a little recharge.

 

The Tacomas made for Mexico had a fan for the condenser.
That should answer your question.

These trucks are just barley adequate for cooling at 90'.
The closer you get to 100' degrees the less they will cool at low sped and idle.
At idle the condenser just sits there and heat soaks.

@Dm93 installed a condenser fan on his truck. Maybe he can give his opinion on how "good" it works?

 

Need to make sure the fan clutch is working and the radiator & condenser are clean.

Mine never quit cooling it just wasn't great at idle on a hot day, the fan kit helped a bit but for the cost of it it's probably not worth it.

 

If you have a slow leak you might try picking up one of these and doing it yourself. This is probably $300 worth of Freon from the dealer.

Super Tech Premium R-134a Automotive Refrigerant with Reusable Hose and Gauge, 18 oz, Pack of 1, Vehicle Type - Walmart.com

We had an older Honda that needed a bit added every summer. One can lasted me 4-5 years and it was a lot cheaper to add a little every year than get it fixed properly. A distracted driver rear-ended it at a traffic light and totaled the car. I'd have wasted money fixing it right.

 

My 1998 Volvo GLT does this about every 10 years. Summer hot temps come and at idle the performance is marginal one day. The dealer checks and charges it to spec and it's good for another 10 years. That's good enough for me. Automotive systems are not perfect "NASA" engineering but they are robust and engineered to be as close to practical to that standard: especially after the change from R12 to R134. R134 molecules are minuscule compared R12 and much harder to contain.

FWIW, my 2014 is nice and cold at speed, but it drops off a little in 90+ degree temps and heavy traffic. I can live with that on a ten year old system. I blame it on the 1990's era fan clutch and believe if it had a two-speed electric pusher fan like the Volvo, it wouldn't be an issue. I don't believe it has ever been re-charged or worked on.

Drive it for a while as-is and see how it goes before you start replacing parts. The fan resistor has nothing to do with this issue. The relay? Doubt it if its cooling fine after the re-charge. If it happens again in a short time, you likely have a leak that needs to be investigated. If it takes another 5-10 years to come back, count your blessings: you're good.