A/C light flashing??

[chiefjhf]

:bigok: Mission accomplished, relay saved by Rando, no sparks..flames...just a nice steady A/C light. My $1.00 diode fit nicely without extra wire extensions and it lays covered with shrinkable spagetti along side the heater and MCR relays just as you said. Thank you sir for your fantastic assistance !

 

[RickyCRX]

Well, my '03 4Runner made it to 96k miles before the A/C light started blinking yesterday. I tried to switch the A/C off and back on and it didn't work. I then turned it off for a few minutes, waited, then turned it back on and it worked all afternoon after that. I'm thinking about just swapping the relay with the foglight relay and just run with it. I almost *never* use the useless foglights, so I figure that'll give me another 50-90k miles before I have another relay start to go bad. At that point I can decide if I feel like buying the updated part number or not.

Any thoughts?

I don't really feel like rigging up the diode. Has anybody with the updated part number had the blinking A/C light problem at all? Is that new relay truly a permanent fix?

 

[TechWrench]

Well, my '03 4Runner made it to 96k miles before the A/C light started blinking yesterday. I tried to switch the A/C off and back on and it didn't work. I then turned it off for a few minutes, waited, then turned it back on and it worked all afternoon after that. I'm thinking about just swapping the relay with the foglight relay and just run with it. I almost *never* use the useless foglights, so I figure that'll give me another 50-90k miles before I have another relay start to go bad. At that point I can decide if I feel like buying the updated part number or not.

Any thoughts?

I don't really feel like rigging up the diode. Has anybody with the updated part number had the blinking A/C light problem at all? Is that new relay truly a permanent fix?

I've had mine in for about 10k with no repeat of the problem. Of course, the first relay lasted about 35k before it started to fail, so who knows how long the replacement relay will last?

 

[drmorbius]

Nice detective work. I'm not used to seeing mechanical relays sealed like that, Thats why I thought it might be a SSR. I guess it is to keep them clean given the environment they work in. Though some of the other relays in the box aren't sealed, in any case. Those contacts are, with out a doubt, burnt. I'm hoping the fog light relay holds out until the new relay is available again. I think the original A/C relay lasted 3 years, so I hope we have some time before the next one fries.

I think the sealed relays contain nitrogen to reduce arcing, but with no diode shunt it will fail anyway.

 

[yabedude]

Same issue here. It's been occurring off/on by itself over the last year. Thanks to all that helped identify and especially the one that provided that awesome solution.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Once again T4r.org comes through. The worst part of this entire problem was trying to search for 'blinking AC" when the forum doesn't allow 2 letter search terms. A search for 'blinking button' brought this thread to the top.

I do have one slight addition to the excellent information already posted though...

I did the 12V outlet mod a while back and put the relay in the glove box just in case I ever needed it. Well you guessed it, it was yet the same relay. I plugged it in and cold air is in the house again.

My '03 doesn't have fog lights and in turn it didn't have the relay there for them either. I got to thinking and checked the one in the glove box and got lucky. I figure I have another 60-70k miles to get the diode installed. Hopefully.

Thanks again everyone...

 

[yabedude]

Hudos to Toyota of Dallas as their replacement relay fixed this defect that 1) was out of warranty and 2) isn't covered under the extended warranty and 3) was over $100 cheaper than in my back yard!

Part # 90987-02028 for $45.56. Up here in Ripeoff Country the stealer wanted over $160 bills for the exact same relay!! Canadian Stealers should wave flags that have us fools bent over with them stickin' it to us. Bast.ards! :xnuts:

 

[simple]

I'm having problems with my AC. It only feels like the fan is on vs. the AC. However...the light doesn't blink. I've checked my relay, and...frankly I saw 5 with the 90987-02022 code. Could my AC problem be with the Relay being bad even though it doesn't blink?

 

[yabedude]

I'm having problems with my AC. It only feels like the fan is on vs. the AC. However...the light doesn't blink. I've checked my relay, and...frankly I saw 5 with the 90987-02022 code. Could my AC problem be with the Relay being bad even though it doesn't blink?

I guess you could swap one of the other relays (fog lights) and give it a try.

 

[simple]

I guess you could swap one of the other relays (fog lights) and give it a try.

Well Hello Captain Obvious. I just read this whole thread and I can't believe I didn't think of that!!!

However, with that being said...isn't that the same relay therefore not fixing the problem? Why does the same part work in all those other relays, but not the magnetic clutch? Anyway, I will definitely try that tomorrow and take my car for a long drive and see how it works. Thanks!

 

[yabedude]

Presumably, the (old model) relay will die a slow death as an AC relay due to the power surge when the AC powers off (or is that on). That level of voltage isn't present in other devices. So if you do swap them and it works, I'd swap the relay back and buy a newer model replacement relay cause you'll eventually destroy the swapped one too.

 

[Coralkillah]

I just had the same problem on my 03 today.

Swapped out the old relay for a new one and viola, No HEAT!!!

The Mechanic said the Horn Relay can be used as a replacement while you go and get the new A/C one. The Horn and A/C relays are apparently the same part.

Just no horning anyone! Yelling does the same trick though

 

[webshot]

NEVERMIND! SOLD!

Thanks...


If anyone needs one of these relays, let me know! I have an extra brand new, never used, sitting on the shelf in my garage. I'll sell it for $20 plus shipping.



Thanks,

webshot

 

[4Runner2003]

You Guys Rock

Mine started Blinking on Friday. I was bummed all weekend as I was expecting to have to shell out some cash to get the A/C fixed. I decided to search, found this, swapped out the Fog Light relay and I have A/C. Going to the dealer tomorrow to get a new one. Guys thanks again!!

 

[snowjay]

Thank goodness for this thread, I thought I was going to have to go to the dealer.

This past winter my light started to flash and since I didn't need the a/c I just turned it off. About a month ago I tried it again and it was working, until today.

Did a quick search here and found the problem was easy to diagnose and even fix. For now I banged the relay against the ground and its working again but I just ordered the newer relay from Partznet so hopefully I'll have the permanent fix soon.

 

[snowjay]

Wow that was fast. New relay just arrived from Partznet.

 

[NCSCOTT]

Thread bump!!!

Hey those with the power, what is the chance of making this a sticky.

This problem will become more frequent as a lot more people with 03-04s get up there in mileage.

Thanks to all that posted on this problem!!!

 

[yabedude]

For $8.21, the fog light relay and the A/C relay in the 2003 model can be found here:
http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/753356-relay-auto-spdt-micro-iso-12vdc-g8h-1c4t-r-dc12.html

 

[climb.on]

Has anybody with the updated part number had the blinking A/C light problem at all? Is that new relay truly a permanent fix? [/B]

I have an '07 with an intermittent blinking light. It happened a few weeks ago, but it quickly started working again. Then it happened again today.

I tried the "pavement banging fix" and it worked. I do have the current relay. I called the dealer and they want a $120 to diagnose the problem because "it could be something else possibly." He said something else could cause the blinking light. Is that true? Maybe...but I doubt it. I'll try a new relay and the diode first.

 

[afterhours]

Autozone has the 02022 replacement for $28

Update...


Went to the dealer Saturday and what do you know! The relay started working again along with my AC. They could not replicate the problem unless they pulled the relay from the fuse box. They had the new relay in stock so I just bought the thing. It was like $60. I threw it in my glove box incase I needed it.

For future reference(TSB EL011-05):

The relay that came with the car and is faulty is part number 90987-02022 and is white in color.

It is supposed to be replaced by the newer relay part number 90987-02028 and is grey in color.

This relay is found in the fuse box under the hood marked as "MG CLT". "MG CLT" is short for Magnetic Clutch.


Thanks

Every once in a while, the Internet redeems itself from all the nonsense and lowest-common-denominator information. This thread is one of those times. 118k on my '03 and today the blinking A/C light starts. Luckily just past the worst of our summers here in NC, but still hot enough to warrant fixing this (before I need the defogger). Sure enough, the MG CLT relay was the fail point. $28 bucks and a few minutes under the hood and she's running fine.