A/C issues

performed recharge, ~600g, 1-2yr ago
performed recharge again to inspect R134a quantity. Removed/recycled 580g, finding no indication of leak.
Inspected engine bay with UV light, not finding leak.

However, A/C performance has dropped off. Not sure if it's not turning on, or not all the way. At least that's how it feels.

Blower resistor has already been done. Didn't see indication of melted wires going to it.

Control head has been updated from 05-11, to 12-15. Seemed to go right in. I'll double check if anything needs changed there.

Anyone know why the A/C isn't as good as it used to be? It seems cold so far, just barely blows out the vents.
I'm kind of tempted to start throwing parts at it...such as:
-replace blower motor (things don't last forever)
-*maybe* replace condenser*
-probably either do compressor pulley, or whole compressor with a good brand. Really don't want that going bad trashing the system with shavings
-maybe receiver drier, if I can find it, if it's separate
-already replaced schrader valves at service ports. If memory serves correct it also had a conical filter somewhere at hardline(s) nut that I also did

year: old
miles: high

so yeah basically curious if anyone else by now has had this happen with their truck

I did look at the compressor before with A/C on to try and see it kick on and feel for temp change at hard lines (one hot one cold). Felt fine.
In fact, at that time, I started checking fuses because it was a hot road trip. And it fixed it. Temporarily...
Not sure if it's a coincidence. Seems the action of remove fuse, inspect, plug back in (abrade away corrosion?) could have done something. Unless a fuse is hidden failed. Only looked with eye.
Could try to go through all the fuses for the system and replace them if I can find one good ones that aren't AliBaba.

Not sure how confident I feel gambling on putting more miles on the original A/C system that's basically for the most part stock.

 

Count down to education…..

 

So you have low airflow or the air isn't cold?

 

confirm proper door flap operation and maybe clean the coils

 

1. it feels cold
2. but it barely comes out the vents, like not strong blowing

even though you can still hear the change turning the fan speed knob
it's just even on max level, it's not blowing max. More like barely at all

Honestly I'm suspecting doors too. It used to be some months ago one actuator started clicking and haven't fixed it yet. Otherwise A/C was fine.
Now it stopped clicking, but barely blows.

 

How's you cabin air filter?

 

I think you just answered your own question.

 

I'm assuming you have checked/changed the cabin air filter?

Check across the fan terminals with a meter while it's running on high and see what the voltage is, it whould be within 0.5v or so of battery voltage.

Blend door actuator operation can be checked behind the glovebox, this won't tell you if a door is broke or not but you can see if the actuators are able to move through their ranges.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-information-diagnostics.784008/#post-28042158

 

Definitely check the air filter. Simply remove it & turn the A/C on. If it works, problem solved.

Being in Florida, I've worked on many A/C units, both auto & home. I am certified in both.

Let us know, knowledge is power. You learn something new everyday. Good luck

 

Thank you will check those. Cabin filter should be good done a year or two ago and has a shield but I think schedule is to do them yearly at most so I’ll take a look.

yep. I’m a mechanic, A/C certified, and have done lots of A/C stuff. Just haven’t found the cause yet and know there’s probably folks on here that have had issues given same truck same miles. I just probably need to dig more into it and do more testing to figure out the problem. More diag = better likelihood to find and repair affected part. than to shotgun as easy as that may sound.

Like when I wrongly assumed my pulleys were good (Amazon) ruled out to blame and replace steering pump. Noise persisted it was not the pump. It was one of the recently replaced “genuine” Amazon pulleys.

a new condenser, blower motor, compressor, at minimum does sound nice though. Shiny parts. And alternator. To not be stranded.

 

Sounds like the issue is air volume, you mentioned it barely blows, it'll never get very cold if the system can't move that colder air into the cab. If it's the flaps there may be a position where it's not restricted, like the if the flaps are keeping it directed mostly to the floor. It would be something to investigate, see if the air volume is more on some of the other positions like defrost or the footwell setting. Your description of the issue is pointing toward that and not a compressor issue. Without checking the flaps and eliminating those you'll just be easter egging since your symptoms don't point at the compressor or the quantity of gas in the system.

 

I had a slow leak around condensor lines that they had a very hard time finding. I ended up having to have the lines and condensor replaced.

 

I'm sure you'll figure it out. As we both know, A/C problems can sometimes be elusive. I wish you luck in your endeavor.

 

Personally, I don't like the restrictive cabin air filters with the active charcoal...blah, blah, blah. They restrict your airflow so much. Just a thought, but I like the cheapest one that will keep crap out of the fan motor.

 

thanks I appreciate it always feels good to get a second opinion if not confirm

yeah refrigerant gas was basically at spec ruling that out.

and I notice even with heat on, fan high, it is very hot, but the air barely blows, pointing to either bad blower motor fan and/or at least one bad blend door actuator since that seems to be a known thing on these trucks. And it def started acting up some months ago with constant audible clicking from what seems like center of dash.

if there’s a door stuck closed preventing air from coming out then it’s not exactly gonna be blowing nice powerful cold which seems like the issue it’s having

 

The clicking is a blend door that's stuck. Time to go into the dash

 

yeah. Shouldn’t be too hard to pull it’s a Toyota. Gonna research see if there’s a way to do it sneaky and fish in and out without pulling first

I’m guessing there’s a main center one gone bad

 

I'm having the same issue, I will be tearing the dash apart to figure it out this weekend, I'll update what I find, if anything

 

Personally I wouldn’t have touched the refrigerant. Your pressures alone tells you a lot. The only time low air flow would be caused by refrigerant issues is when it’s low, but you would have seen that by checking pressures. Im not a mechanic just an hvac tech.

 

removed glovebox
Removed and “rebuilt” actuator easily accessible at left

well that wasn’t it. Nothing changed.

might throw a blower motor and cabin filter at it. Replace any old fuses in engine bay.

don’t know if it needs a compressor or compressor clutch.

gonna look for other actuators. Seems like one high up to the right also accessible behind glovebox.

I hear air. But it’s not blowing hard out the vents.
Air sounds like it’s hitting a closed wall behind the radio.

edit: well. Now I am more confirmed to suspect the blower motor. Apparently it had a shit reputation on these trucks, 4 revisions, and best of all. Is cheap. Probably easy.

maybe I am mis hearing the noise and it’s really coming from blower motor and not radio. Perhaps, it has died and is being dramatic while failing as parts often do.
Plus, on any other vehicle by now in terms of years and miles, a blower motor would be done for.
It certainly doesn’t look pretty inside of it either.

typically, when there is a problem with air flowing, culprit is the blower motor anyway. So yeah time to find it on RockAuto I guess. Best sounding brand I see on there is VDO.