AC won't stay on :(

add a star washer and that should give you a cheap test (capt. obvious here). i have the same theory applied to my truck but a different part. wet weather has seemed to validate the diagnosis but i haven't replaced the washer there. it's been an obnoxiously intermittent problem.

 

Just dropped the truck off for a different dealer to look at. Got a look at their labor rate... 188 per hour.

At that price I would be scared to bring in warranty things for fear that it might not be warranty.

 

Little update, after spending most of the day with it, they took my advice and looked at the ground wire on the compressor. They ordered a new compressor, should be in tomorrow so my truck gets to camp out in the shop overnight.

Once I get the truck back i'll need to find a way to make sure that contact stays clean. I might try to seal that part of the wire with some liquid electrical tape.

 

did they at least charge for that?
they always want to charge me before anything when i bring up the word A/C
i don't mind the mid west heat too much (ok maybe a little) but its that nasty af humidity i cannot stand
anyways, in 23 years my taco A/C has only needed one recharge of what crap they use for it lol

 

The second dealer I took it to said it would be $200 diag if it wasnt warranty.

 

200! wow, that is rich!

 

Their labor rate is 188/hr. crazy prices for labor. Im almost scared to bring in my truck for the chance they will find its not warranty and hit me with a $200 bill just to pull it into the shop.

 

Did you ever check the A/C Clutch Relay?

 

MG CLT Relay in this diagram, under the hood.

 

Nope, sent it to the dealer since its under warranty.

Well, let me rephrase that. I checked the area I had been working in for possible issues. Then when I came up with no issues there I went to the dealer.

 

Little update.

New ac compressor is in, ac is blowing ice cold. But something odd that I noticed today, not sure if it’s related. In the gauge cluster it normally has your radio info, well mine were just blank screens since I have a aftermarket radio. I noticed today those screens are gone completely now. So now I don’t have to cycle through 2 blank screens to get to where I’m going.

 

COOL !!

 

I'm having the exact same issue on my 2016 with auto AC. Replacing the compressor seems to have permanently resolved your issue?

Originally, when I would turn on the AC, I was hearing belt squeal when the clutch engaged and then the AC light would go out on it's own and the noise would stop. After the first day, my symptoms are the same as yours. Pressing AC button causes light to come on and then go off a few seconds later (but with no belt squeal). My issue doesn't appear to be intermittent. AC hasn't worked since the first day with the belt squeal.

 

sounds like the compressor locked up if you heard belt squeal.

 

That was my first assumption but I haven't been able to get it to squeal since when I was able to get it to squeal repeatedly every time the AC clutch engaged the first time. I wonder if I've got a bad fuse or relay now that's preventing the clutch from engaging, hence no more squeal?

 

I had this very same issue. After reading through a lot of forums and doing a ton of research I thought it was the compressor pick up sensor. After talking with the Toyota dealership they didn’t want to do anything but replace the compressor at a cost of $3100!! So I took it to my local mechanic and after they had it for 2 days they came to the same conclusion. Compressor pick up sensor part #88346-04020 was not sending a signal back to the CAN and thus killing power to compressor. Sensor sits on top of compressor and they said only way to remove sensor is to remove compressor replace sensor and then reinstall compressor. Sensor sits inside the system so either way the refrigerant needs to be evacuated. $850 later and I have cold air again. Still a kick in the nuts but a lot better than paying the dealership $3100. Hope this helps someone out there!!

 

I am having a similar problem.
Had in the dealer last year and they checked my lock sensor and the wiring. said it was my AC amplifier and wanted a million dollars for a back ordered part.
I sourced a used one and it didn’t solve my problem. I have already paid money for them to solve my problem and I am reluctant to give it back to them for another suggestion not a solution.

Notice on the service receipt it seems they took a resistance reading on the sensor itself and not checking the actual pulse waveform with an oscilloscope.

ohms were deemed ok. But wonder if that’s good enough to determine the sensor is fine

 

Ah, the good old dealer parts cannon was firing. They didnt know the problem so they started with the first module on the list and would of continued until they replaced every single part in there.
I bet you its the wiring on the top of the AC compressor.