Hi - I've searched the forum for this but couldn't find this exact problem. My '07 4Runner has begun to only blow warm (ambient) air. I had the refrigerant recharged hoping to solve the problem but to no avail. The shop wants to charge big bucks to remove the dash to see what the issue is. I'm hoping that there may be an easier solution to fix/diagnose what is wrong... any suggestions?
Sweltering in Florida: AC blow only warm air
- Thread starter bubashep
- Start date
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WXman
New member
That's a tough one. Could be a lot of things.
Do you have any strange noises under the hood? Squealing or clicking or anything that you didn't have before? I hope your compressor hasn't died. That's pretty expensive.
But it could also be a switch, relay, blend motor, etc. Honestly, you'll have to get a qualified shop to inspect it thoroughly to find the issue. It's just gonna' have to happen. Sucks, I know....
Do you have any strange noises under the hood? Squealing or clicking or anything that you didn't have before? I hope your compressor hasn't died. That's pretty expensive.
But it could also be a switch, relay, blend motor, etc. Honestly, you'll have to get a qualified shop to inspect it thoroughly to find the issue. It's just gonna' have to happen. Sucks, I know....
Coveman
Member
Stay cool
My 08 was blowing hot air this spring and it turned out to be a low charge. The compressor will shut down to prevent damage when the system charge is low, I believe mine took a cycle of the a/c switch a couple of times before it started to work again but is now perfect
Hopefully they added freon with lubricant (it comes in cans with and without oil). You can buy a charger for like 40 bucks that gives you the low side pressure reading. (Both under and over charging will result with you getting warm air) I've used this a few times on different vehicles with great results:
Interdynamics QC-1HD R-134a Professional Air Conditioner Charging Gun - Pack of 1 : Amazon.com : Automotive
If you have a leak, you can try a freon with a stop leak additive / fix the leak once you can find it ( the additives are colored to help find leaks)
Most any good mechanic can help you diagnose the problem, beware of big expensive repair estimates that replace components (like compressors) they fail infrequently on a six year old truck...
Hope it's an easy fix!
My 08 was blowing hot air this spring and it turned out to be a low charge. The compressor will shut down to prevent damage when the system charge is low, I believe mine took a cycle of the a/c switch a couple of times before it started to work again but is now perfect
Hopefully they added freon with lubricant (it comes in cans with and without oil). You can buy a charger for like 40 bucks that gives you the low side pressure reading. (Both under and over charging will result with you getting warm air) I've used this a few times on different vehicles with great results:
Interdynamics QC-1HD R-134a Professional Air Conditioner Charging Gun - Pack of 1 : Amazon.com : Automotive
If you have a leak, you can try a freon with a stop leak additive / fix the leak once you can find it ( the additives are colored to help find leaks)
Most any good mechanic can help you diagnose the problem, beware of big expensive repair estimates that replace components (like compressors) they fail infrequently on a six year old truck...
Hope it's an easy fix!
When I bought my 03 Runner, the ac never worked for me. I figured it just needed a recharge. Summer came and I just couldn't bear it anymore...but I didn't want to pay a shop $100-$150 to check and recharge my system.
I was at O'Reilly Auto Parts picking up a couple things and saw an ac recharge kit for like $40. So I said 'why not?!' and bought it. As the instructions say I did the pressure check before recharging and the needle instantly went to the red (meaning I had to take it to a shop). I was pissed. Was my compressor out?? I instantly assumed the worst and called the dealer to find out what the damage ($$$) would be for a new compressor...they said these little bass-turds run anywhere from $600-$1000.. not an option just to have ac imo! I'll roll down my windows and sweat it out.
So in addition to the compressor clutch not kicking on, my ac light in the cab was blinking...wtf?? So I did some research on t4r.org and found an article about how replacing the ac relay switch in the fuse box (located under the hood) fixes the ac light blinking and gets the compressor to work right. Sounds cheaper than a new compressor :thumb3:. I called the dealership and they wanted like $60 for an oem relay. I decided to check O'Reilly's again and they had one for $13 shipped...So I said 'why not?!' and bought it.
Boom! problem solved! :banana:
SO, all that to say, I would check your ac relay before you go to a shop or do anything too expensive...yet.
Moral of the story: Always start with the least expensive possible fix and work your way up from there. Unless you're 100% certain of the fix.
I was at O'Reilly Auto Parts picking up a couple things and saw an ac recharge kit for like $40. So I said 'why not?!' and bought it. As the instructions say I did the pressure check before recharging and the needle instantly went to the red (meaning I had to take it to a shop). I was pissed. Was my compressor out?? I instantly assumed the worst and called the dealer to find out what the damage ($$$) would be for a new compressor...they said these little bass-turds run anywhere from $600-$1000.. not an option just to have ac imo! I'll roll down my windows and sweat it out.
So in addition to the compressor clutch not kicking on, my ac light in the cab was blinking...wtf?? So I did some research on t4r.org and found an article about how replacing the ac relay switch in the fuse box (located under the hood) fixes the ac light blinking and gets the compressor to work right. Sounds cheaper than a new compressor :thumb3:. I called the dealership and they wanted like $60 for an oem relay. I decided to check O'Reilly's again and they had one for $13 shipped...So I said 'why not?!' and bought it.
Boom! problem solved! :banana:
SO, all that to say, I would check your ac relay before you go to a shop or do anything too expensive...yet.
Moral of the story: Always start with the least expensive possible fix and work your way up from there. Unless you're 100% certain of the fix.
JB.
New member
I recall it can be swapped with something else already in the truck to test, but I don't recall the specifics. Shouldn't be hard to find using "relay" in your search terms.
BlackWorksInc
New member
What engine are we talking here? 1GR-FE (4.0L V6) or 2UZ-FE (4.7L V8)?
Also, we could use some more information as right now all we have is that the shop told you something and you're worried you're going to spend too much time; but we don't know what testing the shop did, what are the symptoms (beside it blows warm) and/or what the shop and/or you have and haven't done yet.
~When was the refrigerent recharged? How was it done? (i.e. rattle can from Part Store or proper machine service?)
~Did this shop do the refrigerent recharging and/or have they checked the pressures again to verify there is no leak?
~Does your A/C Light blink?
~Can you head the compressor kicking in and out?
~Do you hear any abnormal noises in the cabin and/or in the engine bay?
The AC relay should be a blue relay that looks similar to a couple others in the fuse block, swap the relay with another one of those and see if it does anything.
Also, we could use some more information as right now all we have is that the shop told you something and you're worried you're going to spend too much time; but we don't know what testing the shop did, what are the symptoms (beside it blows warm) and/or what the shop and/or you have and haven't done yet.
~When was the refrigerent recharged? How was it done? (i.e. rattle can from Part Store or proper machine service?)
~Did this shop do the refrigerent recharging and/or have they checked the pressures again to verify there is no leak?
~Does your A/C Light blink?
~Can you head the compressor kicking in and out?
~Do you hear any abnormal noises in the cabin and/or in the engine bay?
The AC relay should be a blue relay that looks similar to a couple others in the fuse block, swap the relay with another one of those and see if it does anything.
My 4Runner is the 4.0L V6 - Ideally, i'd like to know what the issue is before I take it to a mechanic that I've never used before. In the past I leased my vehicles and never had to deal with any major mechanical issues, but recently decided it made better financial sense to buy used. I've always taken my vehicles to the dealership for upkeep, but in this case, considering the potential cost involved I took it to a small local mechanic who, after recharging the refrigerant said that he would have to remove the dash to find what the problem was and quoted me over $1,000, he didn't even mention checking any relays/wiring first - i wasn't impressed. So I thought I would educate myself.
Here are the specifics:
~When was the refrigerent recharged? How was it done? (i.e. rattle can from Part Store or proper machine service?) I took it to a local mechanic for the recharge - he said if it wasn't the charge then he would have to remove the dashboard - There is no rattle or other sounds - everything is perfect except for the warm air coming out.
~Did this shop do the refrigerent recharging and/or have they checked the pressures again to verify there is no leak? The guy at the shop said there didn't appear to be any leak. I didn't have the knowledge to ask about pressure.
~Does your A/C Light blink? No
~Can you head the compressor kicking in and out? I believe I can hear the compressor kicking on.
~Do you hear any abnormal noises in the cabin and/or in the engine bay? There is nothing abnormal besides the warm air.
Here are the specifics:
~When was the refrigerent recharged? How was it done? (i.e. rattle can from Part Store or proper machine service?) I took it to a local mechanic for the recharge - he said if it wasn't the charge then he would have to remove the dashboard - There is no rattle or other sounds - everything is perfect except for the warm air coming out.
~Did this shop do the refrigerent recharging and/or have they checked the pressures again to verify there is no leak? The guy at the shop said there didn't appear to be any leak. I didn't have the knowledge to ask about pressure.
~Does your A/C Light blink? No
~Can you head the compressor kicking in and out? I believe I can hear the compressor kicking on.
~Do you hear any abnormal noises in the cabin and/or in the engine bay? There is nothing abnormal besides the warm air.
inscarguy
Member
i have a suggestion that i have used for years and it is a -0- cost procedure.
get a paper clip and open it up to make the ends open. find the receiver/dryer or low pressure switch and unplug the low pressure switch. put the paper clip ends into each tab on the plug end(not the switch end) and turn on the a/c. if the system turns on you have a bad low pressure switch or the system is still not full enough. DO NOT USE THIS AS A PERMANENT FIX!
this procedure led me to fix the low pressure switch in my GMC and the low freon in my stepdaughters Mitsubishi.
if you still do not have A/C you have at least eliminated low freon or a bad switch.
get a paper clip and open it up to make the ends open. find the receiver/dryer or low pressure switch and unplug the low pressure switch. put the paper clip ends into each tab on the plug end(not the switch end) and turn on the a/c. if the system turns on you have a bad low pressure switch or the system is still not full enough. DO NOT USE THIS AS A PERMANENT FIX!
this procedure led me to fix the low pressure switch in my GMC and the low freon in my stepdaughters Mitsubishi.
if you still do not have A/C you have at least eliminated low freon or a bad switch.
