Hope somebody here could help me with the following problem. Many thanks in advance!

I have a 2003 SR5. Lately, the AC hasn't really been working. The AC light keeps flashing instead of being steady, and no cold air comes out. The fan is working fine.

I have always set my temperature controls on auto, and I noticed the AC light used to be steady (not flashing) when it was working. About three weeks ago, however, I noticed the AC light flashing. I tried pressing the AC button, and it seemed to work. Now it no longer works whatever I do. Like today, the outside temperature was 77, my temperature was set at 70, and it was getting pretty toasty inside the car. The AC never worked.

I wonder what is causing this problem. The fuse? low freon?

I'm thinking of sending it to a dealership for service, but I'm also afraid if it's a small problem, such as a blown fuse, they might charge me an outrageous amount for an easy fix, such as replacing the fuse.

Has anybody had similar experiences? Any easy fixes?

Many TIA!