Air conditioner fail

I have a 2019 Tacoma with 40k miles. I live in northern NY mountains where we only use the ac for maybe two months a year. Last week we had a freak hot day. I hit the auto button and the ac light comes on and then shuts off in about 5 seconds followed by hot air blowing. Take to dealer today and test showed compressor and clutch failed. Going to cost $1500. Of course the warranty is done. Seems crazy a car with low miles and very low hot weather miles should have this happen. Anybody hear anything like this before? Thanks

 

Sorry to hear about your part failure. I think the owner's manual states that the A/C system is to be run at least 10 minutes every month. The compressor seized due to lack of use. Like the 4x4 system, things got bad when they aren't used at least once a month.

 

Yes.

But to refute this, running the front defroster utilizes the AC. And with the weather they get in upstate NY, defroster must be used from time to time.

 

Sucks

 

I just had to recharge my wife's 2019 CRV. Not a compressor failure just gone freon. 1234yf goes away a lot easier than the old R12.

 

Take it to another shop. If the clutch failed, the compressor will not run whatsoever. Somebody at the dealership is feet in your line of shit

In my area there quite a few shops that just do air-conditioning you might try to find one on Google or whatever.

 

Get a second opinion from an independent neighborhood garage with a good rep. 40k is very early for a compressor failure. The system protects itself with a pressure switch that prevents/protects the compressor from starting when the refrigerant gets low or is completely lost. Also: "compressor" failure and "clutch" failure are two different things. I have 124,000 on my 2014 and the A/C is still ice cold and it has the original Denso compressor.

 

Correct. And the clutch can be replaced w/o even discharging the system.

 

It happens, more likely that the clutch isn't kicking on and they are selling you a compressor and clutch. Do you have a quote with a parts list?

 

Not sure if the 3rd Gen AC compressor is like a second Gen. The second Gen Ac clutch is held on by one measly 8mm bolt.

 

Eff using a dealership out of warranty. Find a shop to go to that isnt going to bend you over.

 

I just had my compressor go at 42k on my 2020.

Cost 200 to diagnose and the shop (not dealer) also wanted 1500

 

if you don't run the a/c system for a long time, it can seize up because it needs to be ran for the oil to move around the system.

 

Did your AC hiss and not blow cold air? Local shop quoted 1400 for replacement my dealer quoted 1500 just for labor and 800 for parts

 

It shouldn't go away at all. You have other issues if it is disappearing.

 

1234yf is a much smaller molecule. It leaks where the old refrigerant does not.

 

Yes and no. The compressor won't even operate below certain temps even though the light may be on.

 

Mine went out at 23k, the compressor and clutch were fine, its the ground wire for the clutch that fails.
Look on the top of your compressor, there is a wire that goes behind the clutch and grounds to the frame of the compressor, im betting yours is nice and green by now as its not covered.

 

I believe it. It still shouldn't be leaking out though.

 

Six months later, cold AC.