AC recharge

[LittleCaesar]

Thanks Singtoe. AC service, while not that hard to comprehend, is an area of repair/maintenance I really don't have too much experience in. Just have to get my hands dirty.

Toyota was nice with the 4 runner and labeled the cap with H for high and L for low, which the latter located in the passenger side engine bay.

Big fish posted the link to the FSM for properly recharging the AC.

 

[ease]

I just had my system purged and filled by a garage. 80$ and the ac is ice cold.

The machine also takes everything out, and does a vacuum test to make sure the system is going to hold whatever it puts in.

I've never had luck using the DIY cans, and it was friggin hot this week.

 

[GottaBeTRD]

Will someone post some photo as where to look at the sighting window, Do you need the engine to start to do the re-fill. What side should I use (L)side or the (H)side. My (L)side is near the the RAD I think.
My (H) side is near the FW on the passenger side.

Car info:
1998 4runner limited
v.6 4x4

Thanks

X2 all this glass window talk is confusing me lol! i could of sworn i have seen and can name every part in my engine but wow! this one threw me off lol
Ive had my truck for 4 somethin years now and its still blowin cold but i know its bound to go out here eventually.
Is there a way besides the obvious warm temp, and the looks of this window in my engine that you can tell that your freeon is running low?

 

[Singtoe]

Here is a VDO on what your looking at in the sight glass window.



Take not of the accent that Beau has...:guitar3:

 

[Duhockey]

we checked the pressure and its about 110,

its right in the middle of too high,

How do we vent off the extra pressure and hot far do we vent it before we add refrigerant?


Where are the bleeder valves to bleed the pressure??

 

[Singtoe]

we checked the pressure and its about 110,

its right in the middle of too high,

How do we vent off the extra pressure and hot far do we vent it before we add refrigerant?


Where are the bleeder valves to bleed the pressure??

Can you take a picture of your gauges while it running? only seeing one side would be inclusive. Don't vent anything right now

 

[Duhockey]

Can you take a picture of your gauges while it running? only seeing one side would be inclusive. Don't vent anything right now

:thanks:

K, Ill go tomorrow and get a high side pressure gauge from autozone or something... Ill get pics up tomorrow. Along with my new Toyo MT tires...

I think SteezeMcqueen broke the AC though...

It was working all the time up til we went to Moab. Then on Poison spider it quit working here and there but by the end of the day it was out permanently. I tried it a few times, but it didnt work at all til today and it worked for a few minutes then went hot. We checked the pressure and it was about 110 waaay too high, thats about 3/4 of the way in the red zone. Then after I left SteezeMcqueens I took a phone call and it worked for about 2 min on the highway leaving his place.

then it went out and hasnt worked again today..

 

[steezemcqueen]

yep totally my fault :flipoff:


:lol:

 

[Singtoe]

:thanks:

K, Ill go tomorrow and get a high side pressure gauge from autozone or something... Ill get pics up tomorrow. Along with my new Toyo MT tires...

I think SteezeMcqueen broke the AC though...

It was working all the time up til we went to Moab. Then on Poison spider it quit working here and there but by the end of the day it was out permanently. I tried it a few times, but it didnt work at all til today and it worked for a few minutes then went hot. We checked the pressure and it was about 110 waaay too high, thats about 3/4 of the way in the red zone. Then after I left SteezeMcqueens I took a phone call and it worked for about 2 min on the highway leaving his place.

then it went out and hasnt worked again today..

I have some bad news for you. If the pressure is high, (and your AC was working and now it stopped and assuming you didn't add anymore Freon) your compressor is shot. It is not compressing the freon to increase the pressure on the high side and lowering the pressure on the low side.

 

[Duhockey]

I have some bad news for you. If the pressure is high, (and your AC was working and now it stopped and assuming you didn't add anymore Freon) your compressor is shot. It is not compressing the freon to increase the pressure on the high side and lowering the pressure on the low side.

So I get a compressor off a 4runner in the junkyard and hook it up and then fill it up?? simple and cheap right?

lol for some reason I feel like theres a ton more to this and is probably not an easy cheap fix?

 

[Singtoe]

So I get a compressor off a 4runner in the junkyard and hook it up and then fill it up?? simple and cheap right?

lol for some reason I feel like theres a ton more to this and is probably not an easy cheap fix?

In a nut shell. Make sure the Junk yard will warranty the compressor for 30 days, that way, if you get a POS, you can return it and get another.

I also find the Wal-mart has the cheapest freon. $8 a can and you only need 2.

Side note: If the compressor had dissentgrated on the inside, you will have to flush all the AC components (condenser, evaporator, and lines) to remove any debris that the compressor sent down stream. Easy to do, just unhook the lines to each component, poor some flush solvent and blow out with compressed air until no more trash is comes out. Don't forget to add a little bit of oil as the flushing process removes all of it.

 

[Duhockey]

In a nut shell. Make sure the Junk yard will warranty the compressor for 30 days, that way, if you get a POS, you can return it and get another.

I also find the Wal-mart has the cheapest freon. $8 a can and you only need 2.

Side note: If the compressor had dissentgrated on the inside, you will have to flush all the AC components (condenser, evaporator, and lines) to remove any debris that the compressor sent down stream. Easy to do, just unhook the lines to each component, poor some flush solvent and blow out with compressed air until no more trash is comes out. Don't forget to add a little bit of oil as the flushing process removes all of it.

anyway to release the pressure before just unscrewing everything from the compressor??

 

[Nunyabiz]

I just did mine 3 days ago, easy to do takes about 10-15 minutes and cost about $34.
I like this particular recharge kit, easy to follow instructions and comes with the inline gauge.

Amazon.com: R134a with SubZero Synthetic A/C Booster, Reusable Recharge Hose and Inline Gauge, 19 oz. (345): Automotive

Forget the sight bubble that is virtually useless, just go by pressure and temp.
Mine is icy cold now.

 

[Singtoe]

anyway to release the pressure before just unscrewing everything from the compressor??

l'd used what ever you used to check the pressure.

Just to make sure of your diagnosis.

You went to add freon and the gauge on the tester said the pressure was too high.

You didn't actually add any more freon and if you did add more freon, how much did you add?

 

[Duhockey]

l'd used what ever you used to check the pressure.

Just to make sure of your diagnosis.

You went to add freon and the gauge on the tester said the pressure was too high.

You didn't actually add any more freon and if you did add more freon, how much did you add?

I have owned this 4runner since 2002 and the AC has never been touched at all.

I checked the pressure on the low side and it was high, I did not add or attempt to add anything.. Im gonna go to a place to use a gauge to check the Hi side pressure.

Then Ill post up and see if we can diagnose this thing.

 

[Singtoe]

I have owned this 4runner since 2002 and the AC has never been touched at all.

I checked the pressure on the low side and it was high, I did not add or attempt to add anything.. Im gonna go to a place to use a gauge to check the Hi side pressure.

Then Ill post up and see if we can diagnose this thing.

And you checked with the AC running?

If yes,then your compressor is bad. You can get a compressor from Autozone or Advance auto and I think they have a lifetime guarantee.

 

[Duhockey]

And you checked with the AC running?

If yes,then your compressor is bad. You can get a compressor from Autozone or Advance auto and I think they have a lifetime guarantee.

Advance is running $230+ for an A/C compressor,

Yoda Jims cost 75$ plus 10$ core fee.

the pull n pay is 35$ with a 5$ core... how can a pick n pull charge a core fee??

I may go over there tomorrow to see if theres one on the 4runner they got in stock.

 

[Duhockey]

Ok, so today I tried the AC out again, it worked great for 5 min then blew hot air.

I got fed up with it cuz it was so hot today and I got stuck in traffic in it... so I dropped the 85$ on an AC Compressor from Jims Yota Yard. I checked the mileage on the truck it came out of and it was 203k, my 4runner is at 214k so Im not super excited about the mileage, hoping this ac compressor will last longer. Jims does have a 30 day money back guarantee.

Just need to get it drained and then put the "new" one in.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Once you flush everything out, and before you put the new 134 in, I'd buy a new AC receiver/dryer for $40 from the dealer. Part # 88471-34010.

Can you hear the clutch engaging?

 

[Art666]

I just did mine 3 days ago, easy to do takes about 10-15 minutes and cost about $34.
I like this particular recharge kit, easy to follow instructions and comes with the inline gauge.

Amazon.com: R134a with SubZero Synthetic A/C Booster, Reusable Recharge Hose and Inline Gauge, 19 oz. (345): Automotive

Forget the sight bubble that is virtually useless, just go by pressure and temp.
Mine is icy cold now.

I got it and connector is way bigger than low pressure side valve, I tried few times and it only discharges system.