AC cycling on and off, hot and cold

[AuSeeker]

Well, got a call from the 2nd shop. Evaporator core IS leaking, so they're replacing it to the tune of $1,100.

Anything else they should do while they're in there to ensure my AC stays frosty? I've got them changing out the expansion valve as well, and checking the desiccant filter up front.

Since they have to remove the dash and everything else behind the dash to access the evaporator and do the job I would highly recommend that you have them also replace the heater core since it's inside the same enclosure, if the old heater core goes bad in the next few years you will have to pay the same price to have it replaced, a new heater core isn't that expensive.

 

[averyislost]

Alrighty, so the 4runner is back and we've had some warm days to test it out. Evaporator core was replaced, heater core replaced, and the expansion valve.

I STILL think it doesn't cool as well as my 3rd gen that has never had any AC work performed. Here's some temps I've taken, same day within 5 minutes of each other:

70 degrees ambient with <10% humidity taken around 5PM:
'99 4Runner: between 41 and 46 degrees as the compressor cycles
'03 4Runner: between 44 and 50 degrees as the compressor cycles

This was taken immediately after the '99 was started up, at a fast idle, hadn't been cranked in a week, and was sitting out in the sun heating up all day. The 2003 had just returned from a trip to the store and back with the AC on max cool the whole time.

Doesn't seem like a huge difference when staring at a gauge, but it just doesn't seem to cool near as well when driving around compared to the old one. I'm having to keep fan speed at max almost the whole time. I'm not sure what else to check at this point, the sight glass is showing no bubbles at 1,500 RPM and bubbles up immediately when you shut it off.

Anyone have any ideas? Condenser looks clean but cleaning it good will be my next step.

 

[Stackman1]

Alrighty, so the 4runner is back and we've had some warm days to test it out. Evaporator core was replaced, heater core replaced, and the expansion valve.

I STILL think it doesn't cool as well as my 3rd gen that has never had any AC work performed. Here's some temps I've taken, same day within 5 minutes of each other:

70 degrees ambient with <10% humidity taken around 5PM:
'99 4Runner: between 41 and 46 degrees as the compressor cycles
'03 4Runner: between 44 and 50 degrees as the compressor cycles

This was taken immediately after the '99 was started up, at a fast idle, hadn't been cranked in a week, and was sitting out in the sun heating up all day. The 2003 had just returned from a trip to the store and back with the AC on max cool the whole time.

Doesn't seem like a huge difference when staring at a gauge, but it just doesn't seem to cool near as well when driving around compared to the old one. I'm having to keep fan speed at max almost the whole time. I'm not sure what else to check at this point, the sight glass is showing no bubbles at 1,500 RPM and bubbles up immediately when you shut it off.

Anyone have any ideas? Condenser looks clean but cleaning it good will be my next step.

Had leaking evaporator replaced last summer in my 2006 and I now have temps almost identical to yours. Mine was leaking when I bought it, so I have no pre-leak temps for reference.

 

[averyislost]

Had leaking evaporator replaced last summer in my 2006 and I now have temps almost identical to yours. Mine was leaking when I bought it, so I have no pre-leak temps for reference.

Huh, well that's good that I'm not the only one! How does yours do in the heat of summer?
If it cools to those temps when it's 95 and swampy humidity down there in SC, I'll be alright. I was just worried those temps didn't seem that cold considering it's only 70 degrees outside right now.

EDIT: Meant to add, mine was also leaking when I bought it so I also have no reference point, other than my '99 4Runner.

 

[Stackman1]

Huh, well that's good that I'm not the only one! How does yours do in the heat of summer?
If it cools to those temps when it's 95 and swampy humidity down there in SC, I'll be alright. I was just worried those temps didn't seem that cold considering it's only 70 degrees outside right now.

EDIT: Meant to add, mine was also leaking when I bought it so I also have no reference point, other than my '99 4Runner.

I said mine was replaced last summer, but actually it was last April. I felt the same as you and was concerned that once we got into summer it wouldn't cool adequately, but it seemed to work just fine last summer.

 

[averyislost]

Well, just to update this thread:

I took it back to the shop that did the evaporator repair, and they had it for almost a full week and couldn't find anything wrong with it after another vacuum and recharge. Their tech measured the AC temp at 52 degrees but I have no clue if that was in the morning or afternoon after it heated up outside.

I still think the AC sucks. Having to run it with the fan speeds maxed out constantly is not what I'm used to with other vehicles. I'm hoping to be out on Fort Fisher this weekend, so I guess we'll see if it can hold up to the heat out on the beach