A/C Season 2019 SR5

[sport2004]

This vehicle does not have climate control, just the fan and temperature controls.

In my '04 Sport, same as in other vehicles I've driven, there was a recirculation button. When you turned on the A/C, you had the option to hit the recirculation button to evacuate the heat build-up inside the vehicle. After a while, turn it off.

In this SR5, whenever the A/C is turned on, the recirculation function goes on automatically every time. I looked at the manual online, and it is vague on the issue, with no specific recommendations.

What do you guys in the heat belts do? Let it stay on and never turn it off? I'd be interested in hearing your methods on this. Thanks...

 

[DasRunner]

Yes we keep it at max and let it run on recirculate non stop. We might have it on fresh for a minute or two to purge the really hot air but we just leave it on recirculate and max.

That said here is something to consider.

After doing a little looking at a parts catalog and the front end of my 2020 4Runner and GX460,,I realized the electric condenser fan on the passenger side will bolt on with zero issues. Just three bolts and hook it up to your preferred control system and helps a LOT in the city or stop and go.

On the highway it doesn’t make a difference BUT for stop and go ,, slow city driving or idling it makes a world of difference.

Oddly it’s a $100 cheaper if buy the fan blade, motor, and housing separately rather than one unit.

The fact Toyota puts one on a GX460 which is about the same size is a 4Runner,,,, tells you they know the system needs it.

You can tell a difference idling when you touch the liquid line going from the condenser to the firewall / evap. … the temp goes from being untouchable hot with no fan to just really warm with the fan on and the vent temp inside is a noticeable difference.

If you live down here in Houston or the south it’s worth the $350 for a new one.

Or you can roll the dice and get one used off eBay under $120.

 

[sport2004]

Interesting, thanks much. I always wondered about the A/C habits of drivers in the high heat regions. I'm in the Midwest, get's pretty oppressive at times.

 

[Mrvmax]

Yes we keep it at max and let it run on recirculate non stop. We might have it on fresh for a minute or two to purge the really hot air but we just leave it on recirculate and max.

That said here is something to consider.

After doing a little looking at a parts catalog and the front end of my 2020 4Runner and GX460,,I realized the electric condenser fan on the passenger side will bolt on with zero issues. Just three bolts and hook it up to your preferred control system and helps a LOT in the city or stop and go.

On the highway it doesn’t make a difference BUT for stop and go ,, slow city driving or idling it makes a world of difference.

Oddly it’s a $100 cheaper if buy the fan blade, motor, and housing separately rather than one unit.

The fact Toyota puts one on a GX460 which is about the same size is a 4Runner,,,, tells you they know the system needs it.

You can tell a difference idling when you touch the liquid line going from the condenser to the firewall / evap. … the temp goes from being untouchable hot with no fan to just really warm with the fan on and the vent temp inside is a noticeable difference.

If you live down here in Houston or the south it’s worth the $350 for a new one.

Or you can roll the dice and get one used off eBay under $120.

I’m in Friendswood, fairly close to you, I may have to try that. What did you use for the control of the fan? I suppose it could be a manual on/off switch to turn on when in traffic or driving slow.

 

[gordonp]

After doing a little looking at a parts catalog and the front end of my 2020 4Runner and GX460,,I realized the electric condenser fan on the passenger side will bolt on with zero issues. Just three bolts and hook it up.

Do you have a couple of pictures you can share?
And, some part numbers would be fantastic too!

TIA!

 

[DasRunner]

I’m in Friendswood, fairly close to you, I may have to try that. What did you use for the control of the fan? I suppose it could be a manual on/off switch to turn on when in traffic or driving slow.

I’ll try and get some pics snapped in the next couple days in between the rain.

What I did was swap out the pressure switch on the high side.

The current one is a on / off for if your high side gets too high. But older Toyotas has what’s called a “trinary” switch. It has two switches in it. One for high pressure and one for the fan.

What I did was wire it into a double pole switch and a relay.

So I can have it run off the pressure switch or just run off the relay from the AC compressor switch.

But to install this pressure swirhc I had to recover the system and recharge it. But I do ac and have all those tools.

Most I recommend just use a switch and tie it to the ac relay or just use a switch for stop and go traffic.

 

[DasRunner]

Do you have a couple of pictures you can share?
And, some part numbers would be fantastic too!

TIA!

Here is a good photo of the front end with where you can see how it bolts up with current points.

The fan is for a GX460 so you can find them on rock auto cheap under $200 or if you want genuine Toyota it will be almost $400.

I bit the bullet and just got a brand new Toyota denso so I knew it was quality.

I am trying to attach one photo but having trouble gettijg it to attach.

 

[premise]

Recirc = max cooling + minimal external stink source

Non-Recirc = opposite of above

 

[Ezlife45]

South Louisiana not far from swamps. When I get in a hot car after work, I roll windows down, turn ac on auto, and drive a minute or two with windows down to get the super hot air out. Then roll windows up.

Usually my recirc is always on, if i feel like it I will put it on outside air but usually quickest to roll windows and back window down, drive 1/4 mile to get super hot stuff out, then business as usual. Works great.

Oh and get some good window tint, don't need Limo, 30% is great. Not stupid dark but dark enough to reduce the ability for bubba to see a baseball glove in the back seat.

 

[sport2004]

South Louisiana not far from swamps. When I get in a hot car after work, I roll windows down, turn ac on auto, and drive a minute or two with windows down to get the super hot air out. Then roll windows up.

Usually my recirc is always on, if i feel like it I will put it on outside air but usually quickest to roll windows and back window down, drive 1/4 mile to get super hot stuff out, then business as usual. Works great.

Oh and get some good window tint, don't need Limo, 30% is great. Not stupid dark but dark enough to reduce the ability for bubba to see a baseball glove in the back seat.

I've noticed lately that the recirc doesn't turn on automatically when it's in the 70's, only when the outside is approaching 80+.

Before starting with 4runners, I used to buy VW Passats. One from the 90's had a remote that would pop the trunk, and also a button that would open all windows simultaneously. Loved it.

I find the stock tint for the rear windows plenty dark, can't see anything in the back.

 

[sport2004]

Think I'll go with recirc until further notice, severe layer of smoke.

No sun, looks like fog, smells like a campfire, dropped in from Northwestern Ontario. I was running my fog lights on the way home last night. LOL

 

[DAW89446]

What do you guys in the heat belts do? Let it stay on and never turn it off? I'd be interested in hearing your methods on this. Thanks...

The recirc defaulting to on is a constant source of annoyance to me. My first and only vehicle to ever do this. And I've owned other Toyotas.

Where I live the humidity is seldom above 25%, most often in the teens. High temperatures are in the 100°-105°. With the recirc going the vehicle takes far longer to get cold air out of the registers and cool the cabin. So it's habitual that as soon as I activate it, or resume travel after a stop, is to turn off the recirc. And I leave it off. Unless I'm coming to an area with heavy dust, I'll turn it on then off after I pass through so as draw in as little dust as possible into the cabin.

 

[premise]

RE: Recirc/Non Recirc

1) Recirc ON if you like the air quality in the cabin better than what's outside
2) Recirc OFF if opposite of above

 

[J_runner]

Have a 2019 ofr trd 90k miles. Was off roading yesterday and was engaging 4lo a few times and the rest of off-roading I was in 4hi. I notice AC was no blowing cold. It also wasn’t warm, I didn’t notice until my gf. Once we were done and got back on 2hi. Ac started blowing cold ac again. This is normal?