AC not as cold as expected

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machinewars

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I noticed with summer coming around my AC didn't feel very cold on hot days so I tried an AC recharging can from Auto-zone. This ended up making the AC very warm, so I released pressure from the low pressure value an the AC went back to the way is was before.

I then went to precision tune and got the AC package done. This did appear to make the AC colder but on 90+ days I still feel the AC isn't cold enough. It's an 05 limited and if I set the temp to LO and the system to auto the blower never goes below high. Passengers also say the AC isn't very cold.

On days the temp outside is not 90+ the AC seems to be colder.

Any ideas?
 
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machinewars said:
I noticed with summer coming around my AC didn't feel very cold on hot days so I tried an AC recharging can from Auto-zone. This ended up making the AC very warm, so I released pressure from the low pressure value an the AC went back to the way is was before.

I then went to precision tune and got the AC package done. This did appear to make the AC colder but on 90+ days I still feel the AC isn't cold enough. It's an 05 limited and if I set the temp to LO and the system to auto the blower never goes below high. Passengers also say the AC isn't very cold.

On days the temp outside is not 90+ the AC seems to be colder.

Any ideas?
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The A/C output temp varies with the outside temp and humidity. In other words, on hotter days, the A/C will not put out the same level of cold air as it does on cooler days. This is normal for all automotive A/C systems.

You should measure the temperature output at the vents over a couple of days. Check it at 90 degrees and then check it again at 80 and 70. Then you can compare the temperature readings with a chart that shows acceptable A/C output temps.

When you added that refrigerant from Autozone, you probably overcharged the system, which is what caused it to run worse.

As for the AUTO settting--- if the temp is set to LO and you're running in AUTO, I don't think the blower will EVER run anything but full blast. You're basically asking the system for continuous maximum cooling. If you dial the temp up a few degrees, you should notice the fan speed drop (once the interior has cooled down), which is normal operation.
 
On my '07 "lo" WILL run the blower full speed. With the minor changes for '06 I don't know what your '05 is supposed to do.

I agree with Jed on all his points... A/C cools to a differential not a specific vent temp. Below 'x' outside temp (around the high 70's IIRC) the vent temp will hit around 40 but that's it. They don't let it go lower to prevent freezing within the system.
 
Sight glass is a nice aid to troubleshooting and charging a/c, but when using it to charge the system you have to make a big assumption that your system is working perfectly (just low on refrigerant).

As far as the problem above, does the a/c cool better when moving over say 30mph? It's posible that the radiator fan clutch is not working properly (not pulling enough air across the condenser) or possibly your condenser is dirty (leaves, bugs, mud, etc) or damaged (lots of bent fins). This would cause poor heat rejection from the system and poor performance. This would also raise your high side pressures. If your high side pressures were high and you added more refrigerant your high pressure cut out could have been turning the system off.
 
eskimochaos said:
Test drive a UZJ100 and get back to me with what you think is good. Ive been spoiled.
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I don't have to test drive anything to know that the 4Runner's A/C is excellent. Even on the hottest of days, I can't keep the temp setting on LO or I'll freeze. I usually keep it set at 70 degrees and that seems to work okay without making me too cold.

It's been in the 90's all week in my area and even after my 4Runner has been baking in the parking lot all day (no shade, only sunshine), the A/C system has my 4Runner cool in no time at all.

BTW, trying to make a comparison between two different vehicles is a complete waste of time unless you're doing the comparison at the same time. There are so many different factors that affect the A/C performance of ANY vehicle that it is impossible to make any kind of accurate comparison unless both vehicles are in the same place at the same time.
 
Jed said:
I don't have to test drive anything to know that the 4Runner's A/C is excellent. Even on the hottest of days, I can't keep the temp setting on LO or I'll freeze. I usually keep it set at 70 degrees and that seems to work okay without making me too cold.

It's been in the 90's all week in my area and even after my 4Runner has been baking in the parking lot all day (no shade, only sunshine), the A/C system has my 4Runner cool in no time at all.

BTW, trying to make a comparison between two different vehicles is a complete waste of time unless you're doing the comparison at the same time. There are so many different factors that affect the A/C performance of ANY vehicle that it is impossible to make any kind of accurate comparison unless both vehicles are in the same place at the same time.
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Comparing two vehicles is not hard at all and cold is a relative term. I sleep with the windows open in the winter.
 
eskimochaos said:
Comparing two vehicles is not hard at all and cold is a relative term. I sleep with the windows open in the winter.
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LOL, you just don't get it, do you? You can take the same vehicle on two different days and the A/C outlet temp can be very different. The ambient temp and humidity both affect the temp of the air coming out of the vents.

So yes, it is basically impossible to accurately compare two different vehicles unless you're doing it at the same time and in the same place.
 
Jed said:
LOL, you just don't get it, do you? You can take the same vehicle on two different days and the A/C outlet temp can be very different. The ambient temp and humidity both affect the temp of the air coming out of the vents.

So yes, it is basically impossible to accurately compare two different vehicles unless you're doing it at the same time and in the same place.
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NO LOLZ its not, driving in 100 degree heat my moms LC blows ice out of the vents with the fan setting on the lowest.

My car needs to be at level 3 to do the same thing.

What dont you understand? Its a relative comfort thing not a scientific lets measure the temp at the vents thing.

AC in Land cruiser > 4Runner. Period.
 
eskimochaos said:
What dont you understand? Its a relative comfort thing not a scientific lets measure the temp at the vents thing.

AC in Land cruiser > 4Runner. Period.
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I disagree. Measuring the air temperature at the vent between two vehicles is the only way I'd say one A/C system is "better" than another. Any other way is pure speculation and opinion. I guess I just like to deal in facts rather than opinion. But that's fine if you want to go with your feelings. My girl is the same way.
 
Jed said:
I disagree. Measuring the air temperature at the vent between two vehicles is the only way I'd say one A/C system is "better" than another. Any other way is pure speculation and opinion. I guess I just like to deal in facts rather than opinion. But that's fine if you want to go with your feelings. My girl is the same way.
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You sound like a whiteknight.
 
eskimochaos said:
You sound like a whiteknight.
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You sound like someone who makes claims based upon his "feelings" rather than facts. Fair enough.

Next time you say something is better than something else, you should include a disclaimer that your opinion is based upon nothing but your own warm and fuzzy feelings. So Gay
 
I had a 1994 Ford Ranger 2.3L, I tell you that truck would freeze your butt off! Living here in Tucson, AZ when it was in the 100-110+ temps here, after no more than 5 minutes of driving I had to drop the blower to low otherwise it would freeze me out of the truck. Nothing beats the AC in that little truck of mine. Now I wish I could get my 4 runner to do the same. I drive to work with it on LO and the blower to the max, for it to be "cooled" inside the truck. Even my wife and father-in-law agrees with my statement.

I have the factory tinted glass in the back and real tint on the front, maybe I should have tint installed on the back windows.
 
Small trucks like that are usually VERY good with their A/C. But I think it's mostly due to the fact that you have very little area to cool in the cab of a small truck. I bet if you sealed off behind the front seats of your 4Runner with plastic, it would freeze you out just as quickly as your old Ranger.
 
most but not all of the vec. ive owned, cars & 4x4, over 39 years of driving have had much colder AC than my 06 4r. just my 2c.
 
chaz said:
most but not all of the vec. ive owned, cars & 4x4, over 39 years of driving have had much colder AC than my 06 4r. just my 2c.
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When car makers first started switching over from R12 (Freon) to the newer R134a, a lot of people complained that the newer A/C systems were not nearly as good as the older ones. The reason was simple--Freon is simply a better refrigerant than R134a. But due to environmental concerns, the switch was mandated by the government and Freon was eventually phased out.

Car makers started designing their A/C systems to better cope with the less efficient R134a to make customers happy with their car's A/C system again. But still today there are plenty of people who feel that their old Freon cars were much better than the newer R134a cars.

But like I tried to explain earlier--if you actually measure the air outlet temps at the vents, most newer cars are as good or better than the old Freon cars.
 
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