Engine overheating/AC hot when wheeling

'09 Tacoma - 74k miles. When driving consistently 20mph+ my engine temp gauge is at half way and my AC is ice cold. The last few weekends while wheeling in the Texas summer heat, shortly after low speed wheeling begins, my AC goes hot and my temp gauge shoots up. The other Taco's in the group have no problem running AC the whole time and even leaving engine idling while we are BSin' or spotting others on the trail. I have to turn my engine off to keep her cool while we are sitting. If I leave AC off while we are wheeling, temp gauge is at half or little above... Turn AC on, it shoots up to 3/4+ and I immediately turn AC off.

I have read a few other threads on here of similar issues, but never found where the OP reported back a solution.

Awhile back I foolishly plowed into a mud pit (about 4 feet or so of standing water) and totally soaked my whole engine bay and radiator in mucky water. I have since washed it off and the front of my radiator looks clean, however a small patch of fins is bent. Also, I'm not too familiar with our cooling systems, so bare with me on this description here:

If you are standing in front of the truck looking at the engine bay, behind the grill I see my tranny cooler, behind that is what I believe to be my radiator, then behind that is another radiator?? In the small space in between the two radiators I can see some build up in there, tried to garden hose it away, but looks like I would have to remove the front radiator to get to it.. Now I know this sounds crazy, because I doubt those parts are considered "two radiators" so if someone could please clarify what those two big pieces with the fins are that would be great. Could that build up be my issues?

Other possibilities I have gathered from other threads is thermostat, fan clutch or condenser? My radiator fluid is good and I see no obvious issues with any of the radiator hoses. When I checked this evening in my driveway, my fan was running at idle, but I'm not positive if it is running when I am having the issues when wheeling. I assume so because it looks like it is belt driven and runs all the time?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I thought about just replacing the thermostat, but I don't know where it is or how to test it.

 

EEEEk!! Wrong forum.. Mods please move to "2nd Gen Tacomas Discussion"

 

Sounds to me like you're not getting enough air flow. A weak fan clutch or a lot of shit blocking the radiator and condenser. Or both. Just taking a stab at it...

 

shoot a mod a pm

 

Forgot to add.. I have two light force 240s on front bumper.. I thought maybe they were blocking air flow at low speeds.. Took them off on last trip but didn't make a difference. Also, if my current research is correct the "two radiators" reference in my OP I now realize one is condenser, one is radiator?

 

Under the hood: trans cooler front, ac condensor middle, radiator in the rear. Mud is stuck to the rad in between itself and the condensor. Highway speeds still ram enough air through it to keep things cool, but idling on a trail lets heat soak come into play and spike the temp. It's doubtful your t-stat or fan clutch are not working properly and yes, these fans turn constantly (unless they're frozen in place with dried mud at the bottom of a blade- ask me how I know)

 

Ahh I see. Looks like I need to figure a way to clean that radiator. Either get creative with the garden hose angle , or remove the condenser to have straight access to the radiator.

 

Yes indeed.
But removal of the condensor requires discharging and recharging the refrigerant. Unbolt it and just swing it out of the way as much as the hardlines will allow. I think you could sneak the hose in then