Anyone done the DIY AC recharge?

My 2013 Tacoma is only blowing cold from the driver side vent. It’s been sitting for about 6 months.. haven’t driven it much cause I got a company car now.

wondering if there are any recommendations for this?

R1234yf is what it uses I think.

 

It uses R134a.
- Not 1234yf -

You need a set of gauges at a minimum.
Stay away from the DIY “Fix in a can” stuff.

 

thanks man.. I caught it right before in when to AZ. I need to do that.. got the can crap gauges. Prolly over charged now. Work on it tomorrow

 

I use an r134a machine

 

You have other problems if only one side is blowing cold. Probably some mice building a nest inside your ducts.

 

The common symptom of a low charge is cool on the drivers side and it is warmer as you go towards the passenger side. Then when it gets low enough it stops working at all.

 

oh, I did not know that. Thanks for calling that out specifically.

 

Performing a recharge is a part of diagnosis

 

I agree, fix-in-a-can should be avoided -- I think it's required to contain a leak-sealing compound. Once that's in your system, nobody will want to service it, because it will gum up their recovery equipment.

I used some in a pinch... summer road-trip in 110+ degree temperatures and it stopped blowing cold, on a Sunday so shops were closed. It was actually the compressor failing to cycle, but that may have been due to lack of charge. Bought an all-in-one recharge can and put ... probably 14 ounces in, sitting there in the car-parts-zone parking lot. Started blowing cold again right away.

I then purchased a new compressor (mine had in fact been leaking -- I can see the dye down there), hoses, and condenser... plus a vacuum pump and manifold setup, and refrigerant. But I have yet to actually do the job. In part because nobody will evacuate the system for me, and I don't want to discharge it outside. But mostly because... shit, it still works. And that was several years ago.

I will eventually have to vent it myself and replace all these parts. The risk is that, if the compressor grenades, then I'll also need to replace the evaporator, which is a huge pain in the ass. Doing it preemptively would save me that trouble... but dang, it just keeps working, so I guess I'm okay with that risk.

Edit: Re-reading this, I can see how it can be interpreted as an endorsement of the recharge kits. In a way, it is. But I would recommend proper repair, for the long-term.

 

Had this issue with a previous car. Diagnosis was a leaky high-side schrader valve. Replaced/recharged and problem fiixed.