2015 Compressor Seizing?

Hi, any advice or experience greatly appreciated! Sat in line at drive through, 95 degree day, A/C full blast, pulled out, and warm air started blowing? Smelled something funky, it wasn't my burger, and fiddled with A/C dial. NOOO cold air? At least my meal remained heated! Drove straight to my mechanic. When he pulled it in the garage, my beloved truck made a very loud screaming sound? I ran out to see for myself that it was my polished beauty! It was! He shut off the A/C fan, noise stopped. Shut the hood, and said "see you Tuesday, sounds like a compressor replacement!" He's not sure, but I didn't have an appt. and the sound, sounded like me needing a second job, quickly!!!

51k miles, extremely well taken care of, never skipped an oil change, followed all maintenance, solo owner! And the compressor just dies? No warning, no lights? I almost lost my lunch when he told me the est. repair cost

I drive home in shock, and then hear an unusual soft fluttering rattle when I pull into the parking lot. Seemed to rattle more over speed bumps? Then I pulled into my parking spot and it rattled a little more, like something rolling around in the engine, and slowly stopped?

What the Chuck could be happening? I may never afford take-out again, which isn't horrible, but it really was good!

This is my first vehicle that I purchased brand new, accessorized, babied, washed and cleaned, vacuumed weekly! No trash rolling around. Looks brand spanking new! Please help, I'm in complete tears at the cost of, what is supposed to be a super reliable, long lasting, safe vehicle for this lady! Ugh

 

Welcome to TW

 

Oh not good. Not sure what the rattle would be. A mechanic you trust is the best way to go unless you have a mechanically inclined friend who could take a look. And it never hurts to get a second mechanic who works on AC’s opinion and quote to repair. Sorry to hear your trouble shouldn’t happen this early.

 

Don't be too upset Yet. That noise you heard may just be the AC Compressor pulley clutch letting go. They are a weak point, but they can be replaced without even pulling the compressor and it is a hell of a lot cheaper by FAR!

Ask the mechanic to look at the AC compressor clutch. And tell him to make sure it isn't just the rubber melted on it. If he won't verify it's not just the clutch, get a second opinion.

Do a search on the forum many have been down the clutch road before.

Below has good pictures:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ac-clutch-failure-how-to-fix-blinking-light-squealing.448009/


Wishing you the best!

 

From what your describing unfortunately it does sound like the compressor has seized, the clutch has failed, and/or the bearing has failed in the clutch hub.
While it's uncommon for an A/C compressor to go out at that low of mileage it does happen from time to time unfortunately.

 

climate + environs

i rarely run AC...............rarely need to

thats bad on a compressor also

if U live where there has recently been 100+ temps

U habitually run AC....... even when its moderate.................it has many miles on it

many seldom think of the double wide refrigerator at home

runs more than anything on earth...................amazing how long they last

yet that aspect is wide /varied

be certain he puts in a good brand or this is a dance U will 2 step

 

Sorry for the delayed reply, was attempting to address each message individually, with all due respect for your time!

I'm very hopeful for the clutch being the issue! Will take this info to my mechanic, whom I trust immensely, however he works on all makes and models, hence coming here for direct Tacoma advice! He is highly respected, but another set of eyes does not hurt!
I agree, that my mileage is less than 10k a year, which I thought was low!?

Please keep the advice and experiences coming, they are welcome, as we are all continuing to learn from one another! It takes a village, experiential help is fantabulous!

Thank you again,
Jodi with an I ;-)

 

Good luck Jodi with an I!
Please keep us updated when you find out something.

 

@Idoj2Tall I had the exact same symptoms. Loud noise and such.

As @Jimmyh said go read some in that thread he posted, it helped me along the road to fixing it.




It was just the AC clutch and bearing. No need to touch the compressor hopefully for you.


This was probably the smell, that rubber in the AC clutch burning out.



GL!

 

I'll know in a couple of hours, will update and go from there. Praying for good news, for Trinity Truck :-D!

 

FWIW, as a general practice. Try to engage the AC when the engine is at idle or low revs. The shock load of engaging a clutch when the engine is turning over 2000+ rpm is tremendous. Imagine, AC compressor is not in motion, engine running 2000+ rpm, engage AC, clutch needs to absorb the difference between 0 rpm (AC compressor) and 2000 rpm (engine). The AC compressor is spun up to speed in just a millisecond or two.

OP, Jodi w/i, I suspect its the clutch. Reason: Loud squealing noise, smell, most vulnerable in the AC system due to engagement loading.

 

Thank you, the only concern with that knowledge, is that the car and A/C were already running simultaneously. I was sitting with cold air blowing, I may have turned it down to communicate with cashier, and with the truck still running, cranked her back up, to hit the road.

Would that do the same thing? Drove about 15 miles prior to the A/C and subtle rattle.

 

Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you.

My meaning is when you initially press the AC button to turn on the AC. Press the button when the engine is at idle or low engine speed (<1100 rpm)

Adjusting the fan speed or temperature setting has little impact on a running AC compressor.

 

No worries, thanks for the clarification! The air is thinner in Colorado, probably a little goofier than most in my understanding! :-D

When I took the truck in, they said very rarely will they ever replace just parts, if it has anything to do with the compressor or clutch, they'll probably replace all of it! Do we know of anybody in Colorado that knows how to replace just the plates if need be?

 

If you have money to throw away, which I assume you don't, just replace the clutch not the compressor and see how the A/C performance/noise is afterwards.

 

Sorry, I can't help you there.

Although, you could consider replacing the clutch yourself. Assuming that is the failed part. There is a How-To write up on the forum to guide this work. In truth, the work isn't complex and fairly straight forward. Not much more complex than changing the engine oil.

Another path is to seek out a friendly mechanic that is open to replace failed parts vs entire assemblies. Yes, I'm sure the mechanic makes more $$$ for a complete system replacement vs a failed part replacement. Replacing the AC compressor is a more complex process.

Good luck finding an amiable solution.

 

Many shops prefer to replace entire assemblies rather than components not nessesarily to sell you a more expensive repair but because there's fewer variables involved and less chance of a comeback or having to warranty a repair.

Say for example your compressor clutch is indeed bad but the compressor isn't locked, a shop puts a clutch on it and it fails again in a short time.
You the customer wouldn't be happy having paid for a clutch only to find out the compressor is on its way out. The shop wouldn't be happy because they would likely be eating the cost of the repair to keep the cutomer happy.
So if you do find someone that will just replace components don't expect that they will want to warranty the repair.

 

DM and Knute,
It was as if you were on the return call! Their words almost to a T! The mechanic said he and his mechanic, both feel that they can hear sound coming from inside the compressor. Meaning there is likely metal in there. They said they could take the clutch off take everything out look and see if there's metal, but that still will be close to a grand for the time it takes to get a look inside the compressor, to see inside and make sure metal isn't present in the wrong places, if I understood correctly, or jammed somewhere inside, that caused the compressor to fail.
They are not comfortable with replacing the clutch alone, for the exact reasons you stated per warranty issues, malfunctions and such in an imperfect world. Unhappy people all around don't make for a positive outcome, and I totally understand, stuff breaks. Just shocked at 51K miles needing such an expensive repair...ugh

Suggested to take it to the dealer, if I want to start with just a clutch. My gut says no to that? If that falls, than I'm in steeper than before. And likely more repairs...
My best case scenario with Bob is... compressor, clutch and magnets and all that that includes, completely replaced $1500, worst case $2300 if the orifice expansion valve needs to be replaced as well. Was told it takes almost 8 hours to get to a $40 expansion valve.... Sick to my stomach.

This is a great place to get great info, I can't thank you all enough!! In shock, processing. Any thoughts before I give the ok after taking a deep breath, to absorb this financial gut punch?

 

I believe the expansion valve can be changed without pulling the dash which im asuming is where the 8 hrs is coming from.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...pansion-valve-tvx.600393/page-2#post-20531252

 

Do not let them charge you 8 hours for the expansion valve. It is easy from under the hood on the firewall. See the link above posted by @Dm93 .