2012 AC - Troubleshooting Steps

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-ac-condenser-replacement-tips.495755

 

Already watching this! Just ordered up a spectra that will arrive at Autozone monday.

 

Also you may need some of those plastic snaps that hold down the plastic radiator cover. They get brittle.
I broke 4 of them. I was real careful using two flat head screw drivers and trying to lift them straight up, but they just fell apart.

 

awesome, will try and pick up those at the same time, and if I can't, it sounds like I can get creative to hold the cover down for a day or two.

called my shop, they are evacuating for free and can pull a vacuum and recharge when I'm done for $111. Looks like the whole things should cost me about $300, two hours outside on the truck and some errands. Could be way worse for air conditioning.

 

How much more you reckon you should add?

 

Maybe .2 or .3 lbs over what is already there. So instead of 1.4 it would end up being 1.6 or 1.7

I have seen other systems overcharged with considerably more (like .8 to even 1lb) over what OE calls for and the system still surprisingly works. That being said, I recognize that overcharging a system can affect the compressors ability to cool the interior properly, so I'm not sure if I'd even want to try it. Though since our system doesn't even freakin' work on the inside while at idle or at a stop on a hot day, maybe it might be worth trying out.

 

Try it, let us know the outcome with amount added and system pressures. Have someone hold the accelerator at ~2k rpm and check the pressures as well.

 

I got a nice machine at work. It is insanely easy to top off and the pressure gauges are integrated right onto it as well. I think I will and just check to make sure the pressures aren't through the roof. I'll keep you and anyone else who is curious on it updated in the coming days to week.

 

Get the vent temps as well.

Those machines are cheatin'!!

 

Yo, another AC thread just popped up and was wondering if you got yours fixed?

I'm in NC and it feels pretty damn good here so I dont have to use it. Since I'm out of work and watching my budget I still haven't done anything. I found a good shop that, with the right questions, seem to know their stuff so when i do have a budget for this ill bring it in.

 

I'm working on it today! I'm confident it will solve it. Got the old condenser out at the moment, and the new one is about to go in.

 

My question though, for those that have swapped it, and I need an answer ASAP, is what did you do with your incompatible upper mounts? My spectra side mounts work fine, but the top does not. I'm thinking I might be able to silicone it together, but not sure.... Anybody?

 

Don’t know, my top mounts were made into the condenser and I needed only to transfer the rubber bushings.

 

Update: Ac getting recharged tomorrow. Condenser was an easy install, or should have been. Getting the old one out was a piece of cake by leaning the radiator back. New one is a spectra. All the pictures have mounts, and my old condensers lower mounts work, but the upper do not. Way too loose. I would return and find another one if I wasn't going on a road trip to Utah in two days. For now, I just have the upper mounts filled with higher heat black silicone to pad the movement a bit on the top of the condenser, and have the lower mounts zip tied to the support.

Also I filled the condenser with about 1.4oz of PAG 46. I kinddddd of lost track as I was using a 10ml syringe. So I'm plus or minus 10ml.

Finally, I bought the overly expensive o-ring kit with the metal and rubber gaskets I've read are the ones to get. Used two of about 15 gaskets. They seemed the same on both sides, but was hard to tell. I chose the green ones, with the metal backing, though my truck looks like it had black ones with metal backing.

So the pro move here, which I think we all know, is do your work early, order the right part, use the right tool, and it'll be cheaper, and easiest.

I'll know tomorrow if it holds a vacuum or not. fingers crossed!

 

Update: Had a shop pull a vacuum, recharge, told them the amount of oil I put in. Blows cold now. Only test is to see if it lasts.

Final costs: $180 for Spectrum (spectra?) condenser and seals, $10 dye and oil, $108 AC recharge, $10 High temp sealant to make things fit because of the shitty condenser. Total fix cost: $308. Could've knocked it down another $90 and some hassle had I had time to order the denso condenser.

Learned a bit about my AC, largely how I don't want to break into it ever again, specifically not the evaporator. It's not insanely complicated, saved probably $300-800 bucks. Thanks for your help everyone!