a/c recharge on 99 4runner

[kennyb3030]

hey guys, got a 99 4runner, v6, 240k, ac seems a little sluggish this yr, blows fine but the air is a lil warm, is this a diy job, or do i need to carry it to a shop ?

 

[01thunder]

unless you have gauges and or an a/c machine, take it to a shop. the machine will tell you whether you have a leak or the gas just evaporated over time. the ac system on these trucks is pretty good.

 

[AZBub]

buy a small recharge kit, follow the instructions in the can. could be all you need


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[SJC4Runner]

Assuming you just need a quick recharge, it's diy. If it's leaking, it can be much more involved and require special tools and equipment. DO NOT USE LEAK SEAL GARBAGE. If you AC system actually requires servicing the leak seal stuff could end up costing you more as it could clog up your system and require more work to get it all out. Just get more r134a with the correct oil and add it. Follow directions for adding refrigerant in other threads. If you still get cooling I would use some dish washing soap and water and spray all the connections, see if you can't find a leak. It will bubble if you find a leak. Check other threads for more information about this.

 

[Drcoffee]

If you can watch youtube and afford a $50 set of gauges from harbor freight, you can recharge your AC. I noticed the 4runner was running warm in AC so heres what I did. Went to autozone and rented a vacuum pump. Purged the system and pulled a vacuum for an hour. Let it sit for 20 minutes to see if it would hold the vacuum. If there is a real leak the vacuum will fade to zero. If it only drops a point or two, I begin recharging with Arctic Freeze which adds oil and 134a and system safe sealer. At this point, if there is a small leak, the whole system is going to need to be replaced. The condenser is oxidized and the seals hardening. The point here is on a 16 year old vehicle you dont want to start chasing small leaks when the whole system is in need of repair.

Arctic freeze will stop the small leaks and relube the compressor. Find out how much 134a is needed and add that much. If your pressures are correct when filled, call it a day. If the pressures are out of spec, then start replacing parts. Its not as scary as some would lead you to believe. I rebuilt the system on my kids rav4. It took a few days to R&R the evap and lines but in the end is a new system for way less than a service shop would charge. Youtube is incredibly helpful.