Intermittent AC issues

Trying to figure out what’s going on with my AC. When it works it’s plenty cold but then it doesn’t work at all. Fan works. Seems like something might be giving out or maybe grounding out?

 

Just went thru exact same thing on my old Subaru Fozzie

Ice cold for 10m then hot
Sometimes goes back to ice cold/sometimes have let vehicle sit and restart and then ice cold ?

good news is I conquered the problem!

1st
I replaced expansion valve, recharged system…..worked for 2months
Then same cold/hot issue
As the taco’s expansion valve is 200% more difficult to get to than the Fozzie
(4 bolts on fire wall as opposed to taking dash/evaporator out to get to the same 4 bolts….might wanna check #2 first

#2
Ac clutch
The most outer (closest to rad) portion has a tolerance between the middle ring of the clutch. You measure with feeler gauges.
Mine was double the recommended tolerance. I took outer portion of clutch off. There are shims present. Per my research, I removed 2of the 3 shims.
This makes outer portion closer to the inner ring. Like moving the clutch disc closer to the pressure plate. Re-installed everything (without a recharge)
I’m golden!

Was 2 weeks ago
Lemme see if I can find pix that I texted friends

 

Found them!

 

Mine was almost double the recommended tolerance ^^^^

removed
And here are the shims you are looking for

 

Subaru tolerance is .3-.6mm

IIRC Toyota has very similar specs

mine was well over 1mm
Took a chance….worked out
GL