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AC light flickering then dull air

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by ghostface, Jul 24, 2019.

  1. Jul 24, 2019 at 3:27 PM
    #1
    ghostface

    ghostface [OP] Member

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    Whats up folks.

    I have a 13 TRD Sports SB.

    My AC is having issues, basically, it'll work great for a few hours and/or days then it will randomly start blinking and i'll notice stale air coming out. So I push the button off, then back on, and it resets my AC and works fine again, until it doesn't.

    I brought to toyota, luckily my warranty covered a $700 replacement/fix that was suppose to fix my issue. The service rep said if it happened again, its because I have to many accessories running to the battery, which is probably true.

    My questions: has anyone had this issue? If so, is it in fact to many accessories? If so, should I get a second battery for all my other shit? If not, what are your suggestions?

    Thanks in advance people!! :)

    pic for attention2Zd7Lyy4RJatBh8CJmQAbg.jpg
     
  2. Jul 24, 2019 at 3:43 PM
    #2
    Ren

    Ren Well-Known Member

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    Last time I noticed any dash lights flickering, my alternator was dying.
     
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  3. Jul 24, 2019 at 3:53 PM
    #3
    ghostface

    ghostface [OP] Member

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    Thanks for the reply. Is that something that can be tested to see if it's the cause w/o replacing it? I mean, I'm down to go to Toyota and say, hey can you check the alternator or whatever but I've just had 1 too many conversations with Toyota where I suggest a fix, and they talk in circles and basically tell me to fuck off lol.
     
  4. Jul 24, 2019 at 3:57 PM
    #4
    Plain Jane Taco

    Plain Jane Taco Well-Known Member

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    Some people have reported a failing relay. Turning the A/C button off then back on usually fixes it....until next time. At one point someone had posted a link to a relay found at NAPA that was a cheaper alternative to the OEM relay.
     
  5. Jul 24, 2019 at 4:04 PM
    #5
    ghostface

    ghostface [OP] Member

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    The relay is what Toyota replaced for me last week, among other things (supposably)...but sure enough, 3 days later it started to flicker again
     
  6. Jul 24, 2019 at 4:09 PM
    #6
    BillsSR5

    BillsSR5 Looking out for #1

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    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ac-clutch-failure-how-to-fix-blinking-light-squealing.448009/
     
    ghostface[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  7. Jul 24, 2019 at 4:14 PM
    #7
    TomTwo

    TomTwo I love God but I cuss a little

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    If you have a sport model, do you have a towing package? If so then you have the larger alternator. Screw the dealer telling you that you have to many things hooked to the battery. My 2013 DCSB Sport did the same thing as your truck and what was going on with my A/C system was it had a leak and was losing pressure.
     
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  8. Jul 24, 2019 at 4:17 PM
    #8
    BillsSR5

    BillsSR5 Looking out for #1

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  9. Jul 24, 2019 at 4:42 PM
    #9
    TomTwo

    TomTwo I love God but I cuss a little

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    @ghostface let us know the results. Good Luck.
     
  10. Jul 26, 2019 at 9:22 AM
    #10
    ghostface

    ghostface [OP] Member

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    appreciate the replies everyone! I will be doing a few more things to the truck, and will likely add a second battery to power all accessories, but that was the plan even before the AC issue. If AC issues persists after the second battery install, then I'll do more digging on the cause, still have 40K miles left on my warranty, so I got some time.

    Keep you all posted!
     
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  11. Jul 26, 2019 at 9:24 AM
    #11
    Bannerman

    Bannerman Tasteful Thickness

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    OP what kind of box is that on the right side of the bed?
     
  12. Jul 26, 2019 at 9:24 AM
    #12
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    Reserected from the dead.
    Does it start blinking while sitting in traffic? Or does it start blinking when travelling down the road?
     
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  13. Jul 26, 2019 at 9:26 AM
    #13
    ghostface

    ghostface [OP] Member

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    havent paid attention to when it starts, but ive always noticed it while driving down the road.
     
  14. Jul 26, 2019 at 9:29 AM
    #14
    Wattapunk

    Wattapunk Stay lifted my friends !

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    Try to swap the a/c relay with another similar one to confirm if it's a failing relay. I would also check the wiring harness going to the a/c compressor/clutch.
     
  15. Jul 26, 2019 at 9:53 AM
    #15
    hdn4space

    hdn4space Well-Known Member

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    My 13 has been doing that for about 5 or 6 years now. The blinking ac switch is pretty random. Sometimes it wont do it for 6 months or more, sometimes a couple times in a week. Sometimes on the interstate, sometimes sitting at a light. Ive had the freon level checked and switched out the ac relay. Always fine after I turn it off and back on. Not running any accessories.
     
  16. Jul 26, 2019 at 10:48 AM
    #16
    BillsSR5

    BillsSR5 Looking out for #1

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    just maybe the rubber AC hub clutch slipping on the way out, its about a $40 part if u see melted looking black rubber globs around the hub its probably needs a new one real easy to DIY[​IMG]
     
  17. Jul 26, 2019 at 12:32 PM
    #17
    hdn4space

    hdn4space Well-Known Member

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    Interesting, I'll have to take a look at that. I just changed my serpentine belt a couple of weeks ago and I didn't notice anything unusual. Thanks.
     
  18. Jul 26, 2019 at 2:31 PM
    #18
    CurtB

    CurtB Old Timer knowitall

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    Is the AC light flickering, or is it blinking on and off?
     
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  19. Jul 29, 2019 at 8:38 AM
    #19
    hdn4space

    hdn4space Well-Known Member

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    Mine definitely blinking on and off. Not sure about OP, sounds like blinking too.
     
  20. Jul 29, 2019 at 8:44 AM
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    127.0.0.1

    127.0.0.1 AKA ::1

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