05 Tacoma inside cabin leak

Noticed a leak under dash directly behind AC controls. It’s a clear brown liquid and has been dripping for almost a week now. I’ve placed a white shirt that has been absorbing leak. Any ideas fellas?

 

Rusty water or coolant

 

I believe it’s coolant.

 

if it is coolant, your heater core has failed. do not use radiator stop leak. it needs to be replaced.

 

Sounds like it's the heater core.

Also just a PSA it's not a good idea to have the tacoma letters on top of the passenger airbag like that, if it goes off anyone sitting there is gona have a face full of shrapnel.

 

Thanks fellas I appreciate the reply’s. So I need to uninstall my whole dash basically?

 

do not refill coolant?

 

Need to do this? https://youtube.com/watch?v=3dqoithYqm8&feature=share

 

To replace the heater core yes, if you don't need the heater and you need to use the truck you can take the heater hoses off, buy a hose splice & a couple hose clamps (I believe they are 5/8 in), and connect the heater hoses coming from the engine together to bypass the heater core until you are prepared to replace it.

 

Do you recommend I replace anything else while I’m in here? I have 155k miles on the truck. Thanks again for your help.

 

Make sure the blend doors are in good condition and not broken, you may consider the evaporator but if it isn't dirty or leaking I don't think I'd worry about changing it.

 

Do a clean job with the heater core. Personally, I would test it after install, before replacing the dash. Look around, if nothing's broke, no repairs needed.
155K is just getting going. Make sure the cooling system of the '05 is in tip top shape.

 

Do not use a product like "radiator stop leak"
That stuff is horrible for cooling systems

 

One more thing I forgot to mention. My ac blows cold but every once in a who the AC light blinks and stops cooling whilst driving. I simply press for no AC and once more and she cools again for a good bit before same issue occurs. Is that something I can replace during this process?

 

Thats a separate issue unlikely related to anything behind the dash.
Since it's failing intermittently it may be a real pain to track down as everything will test good when it's working.

The flashing A/C light is when the A/C amplifier does not detect a speed signal from the compressor lock sensor when the MG CLT relay is commanded on.
Possible causes are:
Open or shorted wire(s) in the lock sensor circuit
Bad lock sensor
Internal problem in the compressor
Open or shorted wire(s) to the MG CLT relay
Open in the wire from the MG CLT relay to the compressor
Failed MG CLT relay
Failed compressor clutch
Belt slipping
Failed A/C amplifier

You will need to check your wiring
The MG CLT relay should have power on pins 2 and 5 when the ignition switch is on, the A/C amplifier grounds pin 1 to turn it on.
You can momentarily jump pins 3 and 5 of the relay to see if the clutch engages.
Also check the wiring between the lock sensor and A/C amplifier.
The sensor signal itself can only be effectively checked with an oscilloscope.

 

Do i need to purge AC before removing everything?

 

It should be evacuated yes, and a vacuum should be pulled on the system before recharging it.

 

I have an automotive AC shop nearby. I plan on recharging it myself. Should they vacuum also before I recharge?

 

Or is it done at once during evac?

 

It will need to have a vacuum pulled after you are done because you will have the system open.