A/C work upcoming- what's really the problem?

[dma]

I see that this issue was raised in another thread a couple of years ago but the resolution was never posted. So, I want to know if anyone has had to replace the evap after the A/C quits blowing cold air.

Here's the story- A/C went a little foggy (blowing a bit of fog), then quit blowing cold. I had it charged and that lasted about a month, my mechanic used the dye the first time but didn't see anything. he charged it again and within a few days, it was out again. He then looked it over and said it was the low pressure line leaking. Had to wait a couple of months for the part b/c no one was even making the part. I brought it in, eventually, so he could have another shop build an identical line. It was at this point that he said it was in fact the evap, not the line and that he doesn't do that at his shop b/c it's a labor intensive job and he just doesn't have the man power right now. (His place is always packed!) He gives me the # of another guy and I eventually get an estimate of about $11-$1200.

I'm okay with the estimate. I'm also getting an estimate from my local dealer and so far they estimate the parts to be around $522 w/tax. No labor estimate yet. If it's what I'm guessing, I'll pay about the same at the dealer.

Who wants to play "is it really the evap?" What else might it be? My plan is to bring it to the dealer with enough cash on hand to get it repaired whatever the actual problem. Anyone have any tips on how NOT to get totally screwed in all of this?

 

[asahi4runner]

How mechanical incline are you?

 

[preacher35]

Who wants to play "is it really the evap?" What else might it be? My plan is to bring it to the dealer with enough cash on hand to get it repaired whatever the actual problem. Anyone have any tips on how NOT to get totally screwed in all of this?

First off, what year and how many miles are on your Runner? If it is a 4th gen, and you have around 100k miles, it very well may be your evaporator. I went through a similar obstacle course with three or four mechanics trying to find a leak in my system. I spent a lot of time and money with no results, until FINALLY, I found this little Vietnamese guy who had extensive, exclusive experience on Toyota's. He put my Runner on the lift and examined a little rubber drain pipe coming out of the fire wall that was only accessible from the bottom of the vehicle. He had this little sensor doo-hicky that was able to verify the presence of freon. Sure enough, evaporator. About $1,100.00 later and I was languishing in cool air once again. Two years later and still cold A/C. I suppose I could have done the repair myself (as I do most of my own work), but I was a little nervous about stripping the interior down to the BARE FIREWALL. The little Vietnamese guy said I could come watch, but he said it would probably make me sick to see my truck gutted. He was right. Anyway, he is now the ONLY guy I will ever take my Runner to in the future if it is something that I cannot handle myself.

 

[earthrealm]

am in the same boat, resorted to filling my system, wch turns out to be every 7 to 11wks, will likely try the cliplight seal kit.

this might be a good purchase also...very good ratings on amazon
Amazon.com: Signstek Portable AC Refrigerant Gas Leakage Detector Tester with High Sensitivity: Automotive

 

[Ask10]

First off, what year and how many miles are on your Runner? If it is a 4th gen, and you have around 100k miles, it very well may be your evaporator. I went through a similar obstacle course with three or four mechanics trying to find a leak in my system. I spent a lot of time and money with no results, until FINALLY, I found this little Vietnamese guy who had extensive, exclusive experience on Toyota's. He put my Runner on the lift and examined a little rubber drain pipe coming out of the fire wall that was only accessible from the bottom of the vehicle. He had this little sensor doo-hicky that was able to verify the presence of freon. Sure enough, evaporator. About $1,100.00 later and I was languishing in cool air once again. Two years later and still cold A/C. I suppose I could have done the repair myself (as I do most of my own work), but I was a little nervous about stripping the interior down to the BARE FIREWALL. The little Vietnamese guy said I could come watch, but he said it would probably make me sick to see my truck gutted. He was right. Anyway, he is now the ONLY guy I will ever take my Runner to in the future if it is something that I cannot handle myself.

Those mechanics are the best. They don't mind getting their hands dirty and doing what needs to be done. Honestly, although I do most of the work myself on my vehicles, the guy I go see when I am too busy is also a Vietnamese guy and when my wife's Corolla's A/C went out, he was the first guy (of 3 or 4 shops) that even bothered to open up the car just to diagnose it. Everyone else just said "Ho hum, it might be this, it might be that."

When people ask me for advice and say "Mechanic says it might be this...it might be that..." I tell them walk away. Just pay someone to open the car up and find the problem, saves you so much headache in the long run.


EDIT: Forgot to add, one thing I would do is get someone to definitely find the leak, replace the part but also have them replace the o-rings in the ENTIRE system. O-rings are only like $30, but since the system is open, just save yourself the headache. It's what the Viet guy did and my wife's Corolla's A/C job outlasted the f'ing headgasket all the way up to 240k.

 

[dma]

How mechanical incline are you?

Bwahaha!

Actually, I'm pretty good if I have good instructions and a little guidance.

 

[dma]

First off, what year and how many miles are on your Runner? If it is a 4th gen, and you have around 100k miles, it very well may be your evaporator. I went through a similar obstacle course with three or four mechanics trying to find a leak in my system. I spent a lot of time and money with no results, until FINALLY, I found this little Vietnamese guy who had extensive, exclusive experience on Toyota's. He put my Runner on the lift and examined a little rubber drain pipe coming out of the fire wall that was only accessible from the bottom of the vehicle. He had this little sensor doo-hicky that was able to verify the presence of freon. Sure enough, evaporator. About $1,100.00 later and I was languishing in cool air once again. Two years later and still cold A/C. I suppose I could have done the repair myself (as I do most of my own work), but I was a little nervous about stripping the interior down to the BARE FIREWALL. The little Vietnamese guy said I could come watch, but he said it would probably make me sick to see my truck gutted. He was right. Anyway, he is now the ONLY guy I will ever take my Runner to in the future if it is something that I cannot handle myself.

2006, 142Km

I am almost certain, from your description, that this is exactly what my mechanic did too, and exactly what he found. He just doesn't do work like that in his shop. And, yeah, the guy that does do that kind of work est. me about $1100.