Two months ago, I took the 2003 4runner to the dealer because it was blowing warm air. They said I needed a new condenser. Paid $700+ for the new condenser. Haven't used the a/c lately as winter has set in. However, decided to try it for some reason the other day. The a/c will only put out cold air if I have the temp setting on "LO". If I move it up so much as one degree (to 65 degrees), immediately the air becomes warm again. I just paid $700 for a condenser!! OK. Took it to the dealer today. Invoice says they "found dye around low-side schreader valve. replaced valve."

I drove the car off the lot. Thought I'd check out the a/c. Less than 2 blocks from the dealership and it's doing the same thing as though I never showed up this morning. Took the vehicle back to the dealership and am waiting while they figure out what's wrong.

What gives? Startin' to wonder if I really needed a new condenser a couple months ago . . . . . Any thoughts anybody? Thanks!

Maybe I'm reading your post wrong, but if the temp is set to low, it SHOULD only be blowing cold air. Nothing wrong with that. Setting the temp to low is the same as the MAX AC selection on other vehicles.

OK. Maybe my post is a bit unclear. What I mean to say is the air comes out warm on any setting other than "LO". "LO" usually puts out like iceberg cold air, but if you push the buttom upward so much as one degree (above freezing), the air instantly turns warm. They just called me from the dealership minutes ago and said they are still trying to figure out what is wrong.

Depends on the outside temperature. Mine does the exact same thing as yours and Im $700 richer.

$700 just for a condenser?

I have seeing same issue as you described when temperature sensor inside of the truck (on lower part of the dash) is unplugged, has bad connection or not functional..
I would check that first.

Yep. $700 alright. And . . . . . the a/c still is not working. That'll be the last they get of my $. Now, they're telling me they're looking into the "blend doors".

Is that @ the dealer? If i pay for a 700-dollar problem, it better be fixed regardless if it were the right part or not. If it were me, i'd go start at the Maintenance Shop Manager and tell him that he needs to fire his advisors and crew and get your A/C working. Then put a bug in the Dealer's ear and tell him/her that your problem is going to BBB and yer lawyer. Hope it stops right here and they get your A/C up and running.

Worst advice right there.


Could be the blend doors actually, sounds about right.

You must have $700 laying around to have the stealership just take away from you and easy to tell you that they'll check the blend doors.

My understanding of the HVAC system is that on the LOW temperature setting it will blow in the outside air temperature with the AC OFF and MAC AC with AC ON. So you're observation is correct, during the winter the air coming out of the vents on the low setting should be cold (outside air temp), the minute you change the temp to 65 it should be warm, because the HVAC system is providing air to raise the cabin to 65 degrees. Unfortunately, I still don't see the malfunction. You need to have a serious confrontation with the service manager IMHO.

But you don't storm into a place telling them to fire people and threaten to sue /report them to the BBB.

No offense, but for $70, i might be nice. But for $700???? And a/c not fixed yet? How could they just troubleshoot a condenser and when replaced, they'll say they'll look into the blend doors? (*scratching my head) Sounds shady to me. They could at least offer something or say something like "if it's the blend doors, we'll check if your original condenser still works (something in nature).

With auto climate control, the temperature setting is just like the thermostat in your house - you set it to the temperature you want the air to be where you're sitting. It is not the temperature of the air coming out of the vents. If it's below 65 inside your truck, then setting the temp on 65 will cause the computer to send heat. The only overrides are LO, which forces air conditioning on, and HI, which forces heat on.

If you system blows plenty of cold air on LO, then it doesn't sound like it has a mechanical problem with the A/C system.

To test things out, try setting the temp to 70 or more and let the computer blow heat long enough to get up to that point. Then, turn it down to 65-66 and see if the cold air comes on.

Thisssssss. I was driving last night and was warm even though it was 25 out. I had it set to 65 and still warm air was coming out so I dropped it to lo temp and lo fan setting.

Your unit is operating normally.