A/C Hot on drivers side!

[preacher35]

Seems like my 2003 4runner is doing it again... Just filled it with freon 2 months ago.

Where is the evaporator drain hose? Can I take a shop vaccuum and suck anything that may be blocking it?
If its the evaporator... it is under the dash? Exactly where under the dash? Sounds like a expensive repair.

[MENTION=95554]longobongo[/MENTION],

The drain hose is located under the vehicle, on the passenger side, coming out of the firewall. It is a rubber hose about the diameter of a permanent marker. Unlikely anything is "blocking" it. The evaporator is located behind the dash, against the firewall. The part runs around $300.00. Mechanic fees vary anywhere from $800.00 to $1,300.00 for labor. HOWEVER, this month, TOYOTA is doing the "ENHANCED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT" for cracked dashboards!!!! This means, that if your '05 has a cracked dash board, they will replace it free of charge. This would be a VERY ADVANTAGEOUS time to have the dealer replace your evaporator as my guess is the labor will be negligible due to the dash ahving to be stripped out anyway. Something to think about. If you have any other questions, PM ME!

 

[preacher35]

update: my ac compressor eventually locked up...guess due to excessive oil loss from the freon leakage, not a drop of oil was found in it when it was removed.

bought new compressor and condenser from rockauto and installed, system was recharged. ac cools now, but still not as cold as i think it shuold be.

bought the leak detector unit off amazon, and stuck it in the drain hose, it detected a leak, but a pal whose evap was replaced cos of leakage, still reistered a leak when i stuck the detection unit on the drain hose..........so it a bit puzzling now.

intend to stick the detector unit on cars with known functional a/cs so i can be sure what is really going on......

[MENTION=78511]earthrealm[/MENTION],

I do not remember if you disclosed your mileage, but if you are over 100k, your evap is probably leaking. Sorry about your friend's evap. After my evap was replaced, my drain hose displayed ZERO traces of freon. Zero... as in NONE. As I stated to the previous poster: If your dash is cracking, you can get it replaced THIS MONTH FREE OF CHARGE at the dealer! You could take advantage of this and have the dealer replace your evaporator while the dash is out and save HUGE $$$ in labor. Something to consider. Good luck!

 

[earthrealm]

used the amazon snifter on the drain hose of my other car with known functional ac, and i still got the freon leak alarm, this lead me to further trouble shoot the leak detector kit, and i think it may be defective.....

i intend to evacuate the system, and see if it will hold vacuum for 45mins, that will also help me eliminate any moisture in the system, and then refill with freon

this is the unit i bought : Amazon.com: Signstek Portable AC Refrigerant Gas Leakage Detector Tester with High Sensitivity: Automotive

 

[07V8]

Add another to the list. Completely out of the blue. Dunno if I should recharge the system or plan to replace the evaporator.

Update:

Recharged the system. Was only at 15#s before charging. Took nearly an entire bottle of AC Pro. Cold air on both sides again....will continue to monitor...

I hope that was it. The system has never been recharged and I'm at 160k.

 

[RunningWithFire]

Adding myself to the list...2005 V6 Sport with 160K miles.

Have only had it for about 10K so I'm not sure if this is the first time it has happened or not. Added freon using a DIY can slowly and carefully and was able to get the air blowing cold again on the drivers side.

Will update if anything changes again. Hoping for the best over here.

 

[abnrml_bmw]

just picked up a 2003 SR5, hot AC on the left... Cool on the right...added a bit of R134A and all is cool again...

 

[bd-wheels]

I had the same problem too. Got AC recharged but the whole AC system is gone.. Evaporator, condenser, compressor... New ac in truck 65 MPH windows down... 1100 to fix...

 

[Gman58]

Just added freon

Thanks for all who have posted about cold air on passenger side warm on driver side issues on the 2005 Toyota 4Runner , if I didn't find or read these fixes I would have paid about $200 to the dealership just to have the problem check and then they may have charged much more.
As I read about what was posted about this problem, I figured by adding freon myself would be the cheapest trial-fix, well, adding freon solved the problem.
It cost me $20 for a can of freon that comes with the gauge you need to check freon pressure and level from Wal Mart. and about 15 minutes of my time. It's really simple to do, and you yourself can add the freon to your vehicle. Me and my family are now driving in a very cold 4Runner.

Thanks for all the post

 

[Deputy]

Add me to the list...in the past week, left side got hot. 2005 Sport v8 4wd 240k miles. Normal maintainence + timing belt kit x2. Been a great vehicle. I've been on standby for my dash so I think I'm just going to have them replace evap when they strip my dash out...I may just just a recharge for time being as others are having good success out of it.

 

[longobongo]

Add me to the list...in the past week, left side got hot. 2005 Sport v8 4wd 240k miles. Normal maintainence + timing belt kit x2. Been a great vehicle. I've been on standby for my dash so I think I'm just going to have them replace evap when they strip my dash out...I may just just a recharge for time being as others are having good success out of it.

Hi I resolved my issue by replacing my Dryer bag and Replacing the High port valve....

I guess there was a leak somehow on the high port valve which was leaking out all the freon i put in.
After that is been cold for almost 3-4 months now.

 

[Deputy]

Hi I resolved my issue by replacing my Dryer bag and Replacing the High port valve....

I guess there was a leak somehow on the high port valve which was leaking out all the freon i put in.
After that is been cold for almost 3-4 months now.

I put 1 can of freon in it and it went right back to normal cold temps. I obviously have a leak somewhere but I'm not going to dump money into it until I go in for my dash service. But I will check the areas you stated also.

 

[swierzy]

I just had this same issue on my 2006 T4R Limited. To rule out the blender door, I simply changed to heat to see if I can have heat come out of one side versus the other running hi temps on driver side first and low on the passenger through the dash vents. The heat blended fine. So, that saved me at least $1000 of pulling apart the dash only to find out from the dealer it was working, or maybe they'd sell me a new blender door what would I know! I bought a $35 can of freon with a guage that sets to outdoor ambient temp. I can reuse the gauge part on other replacement cans. I followed instructions, filled and now it works. My next step is to see for how long to determine if I have a bad leak. I have NOT charged my AC in 10 years and over 154,000 miles so I shouldn't be surprised.

 

[Amanda460]

Yet another one

My 2003 4Runner Sport V8 175K miles lost AC in September 2016. First the dealership found a leak in the compressor so we replaced it. It worked for about 6 weeks then stopped blowing cold on the driver's side. Then they found a leak in the evaporator so we replaced it. Again, about 6 weeks before it stopped blowing cold on the drivers side. Then they replaced the AC relay fuse, just barely outside of a recall. And yet again, about 6 weeks. Most recently we tried taking the system apart, cleaning all the tubes and components and putting it all back together. And AGAIN, 6 weeks.

Since it's still working fine on the passenger side, I'm inclined to go with the servo motor next along with through inspection and cleaning of all the duct work in the dash.

I'd also been hearing a whine in he dash. Kind of sounded like a dying fan. Most likely, that would be the sound of a dying servo.

Any other ideas are appreciated. I'd rather replace any other possible components while the dash is torn apart again. Since I don't have a shop, all the repairs have been done at a dealership and I'm in over $3,500 at this point.

 

[Kevin G.]

Ok gents......

My 2008 Sport V8 2WD just started doing the "driver's side hot....pass. side cool" thing. About 90K miles.

First thing.....looked at the sight-glass. With the A/C on full blast......foam/bubbles in sight-glass. Low freon.

Charged system until the sight-glass was clear, AND the evaporator inlet and outlet pipes felt EQUALLY cool. Used about 8 ounces of R134a.

NOW.......I'll cross my fingers, and see how long it lasts.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

 

[Nobodynoth]

im having a problem with my '99 4Runner - the AC's only blowing mildly cold air. i checked the low press. w one of those EZ 134 refill cans, i noticed that the pressure was in the green so i added some to the blue which only took a couple squeezes. yet when i shut the AC off the compressor stops spinning --as it should, yet the pressure goes up to like 100 in the red when not engaged. Not sure if that is normal #1, or #2 could be the issue. adding freon hasn't changed the AC much at all. I've also noticed (a bit ago actually) that the odor can smell a little funky, not sure if that means it could be a leak in the evaporator under dash. Would a leaky or faulty evaporator cause weak cool air flow? or could it be something simpler?

 

[Kevin G.]

First thing........

....check the cabin air filter. A clogged filter will reduce air flow.

Also check the a/c liquid line sight-glass.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

 

[jbakerpharmD]

Ive searched A/C threads and none seem to have a solution. My A/C blows hot on the drivers side but cold on passenger side. I've tried every combination and still no solution. I looked at the sight glass and all seems well there. Has anyone had this problem and know a solution? Im in Texas and the heat is rising!!!

I have this problem however the dealership told me I have a leak in my condessor. I took it to a local auto shop and they confirmed it. You can get it charged but it depends how big the leak is. Mine lasted at least 2 years but now the shop is saying I have to get it fixed because it is too big. The strange thing is that it still blows cool air on the passenger side so I am starting to think the mechanics are wrong. That blender issue sounds more reasonable.

 

[Salem4runner]

a/c Leak on 2014

I purchased a 2014 4 runner with 149,000 miles right before the summer. I had to recharge the a/c because it was blowing warm on the drivers side. Three weeks later its was blowing warm again on the hottest days of the year. Thankfully my mechanic put the dye in the system when he charged it. He found a tiny and I mean tiny pin hole leak in the smaller line running from the firewall out to the engine near the air cleaner. This line was wrapped with a plastic cover so theres no reason why it should have a hole but I was lucky. I did smell something odd when I turned on the a/c before it started blowing warm My guess it was the freon entering the air cleaner. A $150 repair and its like Alaska in my 4runner now.

 

[ProjectCandace]

Ive searched A/C threads and none seem to have a solution. My A/C blows hot on the drivers side but cold on passenger side. I've tried every combination and still no solution. I looked at the sight glass and all seems well there. Has anyone had this problem and know a solution? Im in Texas and the heat is rising!!!

Ive been having this issue as well except its on both sides. I believe its the blend door actuator because of a sort of whining noise coming from under the glove box. My compressor clutch is engaging via visual and audio inspection, the pressure on my low port is fine but i only get hot air. Have you resolved the issue?

 

[AuSeeker]

Ive been having this issue as well except its on both sides. I believe its the blend door actuator because of a sort of whining noise coming from under the glove box. My compressor clutch is engaging via visual and audio inspection, the pressure on my low port is fine but i only get hot air. Have you resolved the issue?

The member you quoted posted that post 9 years ago and hasn't been back on the forum in 7 years so you will not get a reply from him.

From what you describe I would say you need to replace the blend door actuator....if you're sure your system is charged properly.

You should be able to manually move the actuator arm even of you have to disconnect it and confirm if you get cold air or not.