Lackluster AC performance

Coming from a vehicle where I literally had to dial back the temperature control because it got so cold, the performance on the Tacomas is quite disappointing, vent temperature only gets down to 48-50f while driving and can get up to 55f if im stuck in traffic. I've been on a crusade to try to find if there is anything wrong with my ac system in particular. So far this is what I've done:


Checked cabin filter, looked ok but still replaced it.
30psi low side/240-260psi high side. (95f ambient temp), compressor cycles every 10 seconds, which seems kind of odd, so I suspect low refrigerant. Check the usual culprits and find a very slight leak on the low side Schrader valve. Have system evacuated and replaced valve. Perform vacuum and system holds fine for 1 hour. System is charged with 18oz of pure refrigerant and a 3oz can of refrigerant+oil.

Test after repairs/recharge:

35-30psi (compressor cuts off at 30) low side/250-270psi high side (90f ambient temperature). Compressor cycles a lot less often. Vent temperatures are virtually the same while driving, at maybe 2-3f better in traffic. This is all measured with a stick probe into the vent.

Am I missing something? Do the pressures look ok? This is so far the only complaint I have about this truck. The south Texas heat and this truck really has me scratching my head on what else I could try out.

Any input is appreciated.

 

I'm not super thrilled about the Tacoma's A.C. as well. I haven't taken temp measurements, but my A.C. does get pretty cold. It's the fan speed that I wish would blow harder. All of my other vehicles, including 1st and 3rd Gen Tacoma's do better. My observation anyway.

 

I'm sure others will chime in on the charge and pressure numbers, but the AC in these trucks (IMO) is pretty lack luster. The truck only has a clutch fan so at idle sitting in traffic there is a definite lack of airflow over the condenser. My VW and Camry will freeze you out, but those are FWD and use electric fans.

 

I suspect at least part of the issue is the engine mounted fan. Especially in traffic, you’re losing a lot of fan performance with the engine idling whereas an electric fan can run full blast with the vehicle parked.

Wouldn’t call it a defect, just a trade off of the design. That said, I haven’t found the Tacoma’s AC to be that sub par in Louisiana heat. I will offer that a windshield shade to keep the heat off the dash and interior helps a LOT with the truck cooling off faster when parked. Window tint too. Anything that keeps the inside from baking in the sun means the AC works that much quicker to cool the interior.

 

Same observations here. I've never been happy with the a/c on my truck. It'll get pretty cool, but never been what anyone would call cold. My '99 Durango got cold, even with the much larger cabin, and without me getting the optional rear a/c. My '05 Viper is cold even with the top down.

 

I've found mine (2008) to also be just OK. Many cars are better. That said it's always been just good enough even when it's 100+ out.

 

Wouldn't it get cold when I'm driving highway speed then? I could def add some electric fans in front of the condenser, but all i've read is that people dont even notice a difference.

 

Are you sure you leaked 3oz of oil? If you didn't you now have too much oil which leaves less room for freon, among other things.
Simply put, you have reduced the capacity of your AC.

 

Used one of those filter thingies to check for oil saturation on the filter. It showed it was a little bit low. But since I added 22 Oz total of refrigerant and oil, that would put me on the high side of what's recommended by Toyota as far as system capacity. But everything is OK judging by the pressures, unless somebody here tells me if there is anything wrong with the pressures that I might be missing

 

Better to take your truck too a A/C Pro and have them evacuate the whole system and recharge.

 

I'm in the same boat, AZ can be brutal in traffic/running errands. Started taking action last summer. Good quality ceramic IR tint made a world of difference. I also removed the rear hood gasket and made a spacer to lift the rear of the hood 1/4'' to let some hot air out of the top and improve airflow which I believe helped also. Waiting on summer to see if an electric fan install is warranted.

 

Don't know what a filter thingie is, got a link? Total system capacity is 22oz of freon and 5.6oz? of oil? Can't remember the oil capacity off the top of my head. Your LP is a little low for 90f ambient, unless the cab is already good and cold.

 

these thingies. pretty nifty.

and yes, when the cab was hot a fuck the low psi was like at 42. Once it cooled off, it settled at what I reported.

 

Ill have to try those. I really dont want to shell out 300+ in parts for the ac fan install if its not going to make a difference in vent temperature.

 

Hey fellas tint your windows. It helps with the air conditioning

 

I too am not impressed with my A/C just had it evacuated and recharged a few weeks ago. It is cool but not cold, like OP says. I have 2 FJ Cruisers(07, 09) with same engine, and those give me an Ice Cream headache if I leave them on high-recirculation.

 

Yeah it almost makes me consider selling this truck and getting an FJ. I'm a heat prone person as it is, and chilling inside my vehicle while driving and in traffic was a neat thing to enjoy.

 

Sounds like the great minds of TW need to figure out why the FJ is better and if there's a part swap mod that would fix this.

 

From what I've gathered, its pretty much just bad design. The system is undersized in terms of hardware for the truck, hence why people like me can pretty much have a perfect charge, and still feel like its not cooling well, even thought its as best at it will ever be. The most we could probably do is start putting bandaids on the problem, like insulating the whole cab, venting the hood, aux fans etc.

 

I've used my AC a couple times and it's gets this thermometer below the green. I did replace the expansion valve last summer, so I have a fresh charge.

The day I charged the system, it was in the 90s and I remember the high side being over 300.



I used a chart along with a scale... Let me see if I can find it.
Eye'll be Bach...

Post #33.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/not-so-cold-a-c.613682/page-2


Yaaaas a pic of the thermometer would have been nice when posted.