A/C Not working

[jmickle11]

2004 4Runner with 89000 miles on it. Right before it went out of warranty years ago my A/C was fixed under warranty and the dealer said some vacuum lines became plugged causing hot air to blow out the left side and slightly chiled air out the right.

I'm not sure how much money I'm willing to spend on this but at the time (2007) the dealer said it was a pain to get to the lines and it would have been over $500 had the warranty been expired.

I understand this is somewhat common issue...anyone have luck fixing this themselves?

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Just because it was a previous problem doesn't mean it's the current problem.

Does the A/C light flash? Have you checked for leaks? Is there enough freon in the system? Is the compressor kicking on? Is the condenser leaking? I'd check all of those before jumping to a conclusion its the lines again.

 

[jmickle11]

Ok, I don't know much about A/C systems. I'm not hearing the compressor kicking on at all although the left side does blow cool air but not what I would consider cold enough for A/C. Nothing coming out of the drain tube at all. I'm going to try to locate it and make sure it's not plugged up. Although I would think the compressor would still kick on.

 

[20034RunnerV84x2]

Ok, I don't know much about A/C systems. I'm not hearing the compressor kicking on at all although the left side does blow cool air but not what I would consider cold enough for A/C. Nothing coming out of the drain tube at all. I'm going to try to locate it and make sure it's not plugged up. Although I would think the compressor would still kick on.

If there isn't enough freon in the system the compressor will
Not kick on to save the clutch in it. Go to the dealer or a trusted mechanic and see why the compressor isn't kicking on.

 

[DC runner]

Yea. You have a high side and a low side in your compressor system. If your pressure is not at a minimum PSI, the system will not kick on. You could simply have a leak somewhere.

The easiest thing to do is to wander over to a autozone or similar and borrow a AC charge gauge. Be nice... and they will let you.

It should tell you which side to take the reading from. I forget. Make sure you get a gauge for R134a and not the old R12.


If your AC charge level is below the minimum threshold, the car is refusing to turn the compressor over to save it. The lubricating oil in physically mixed with the gas... if you are low and the the compressor started up without it; it would burn out quite quickly.