Driver's AC warm...

There is a big difference in the temperature between the drivers and passenger air vents when I have my ac on. The driver's side takes a long time to get cool while the passenger side is cold right away. The driver's side never gets quite as cool as the paryner side. I bumped up the freon but that did not help our any.


2005 Sport V6

 

I'm going to guess a vent is stuck.

 

Which vent? Where might this be?

 

Prolly in the dash where you need to take stuff apart. I'm not sure on the 05 but maybe the fresh air or something letting warm air in on the drivers only.

 

Anyone have a link on how to tear the dash apart?

 

Try a full system purge and recharge. I had the same issue with mine and after I took it to get the a/c changed out it’s all cold again

 

My bet it is your AC compressor needs to be replaced. Have the system checked one time with dye.

I have a 2005 V6 4runner with 144,000 miles. MY AC did what yours is doing. I took to a AC place (back yardian place/off road/but with all the tools to fix) and they did the dye check.
I ordered a Denso AC compressor from Amazon for $190, He installed it for $200, charged the system correctly, and I've been cool for two years.

AC compressors have many many seals so you don't want to rebuild one. Get it new.
,

 

Thanks all. Lots of different ideas here. I wish there was something more definitive.

 

@captsolo my son also has a 2005 4runner limited and the toyota dealership did the dye test but nothing is showing. We had the coolent replaced 2 times now and it blows cold for a few weeks and now is back to hot again.
My question is does the compressor control blowing cold air or just the pressure to make air blow? Trying to learn if we have a leak or bad compressor and what the symptoms represent.
Toyota is saying they need to remove the dash and it will cost around 1500 which seems extreme so looking for another solution here.

 

Have tried looking at the refrigerant level on the front of the radiator. You should see bubbly fluid flowing through when the ac is running. Does this change over the course of the couple of weeks that it goes from working to not working. If you haven't noticed this, I would try refilling the refrigerant with one of those kits you get at the autoparts store and keep track of it.

 

I'm not familiar with the 4th gen but you can see your AC refrigerant?

 

Yes. In front of the radiator in the left side, right next to the high pressure valve. If you want to add refrigerant, you would use the low pressure valve which is on the other side of the radiator. They should be marked with an L and an H.

 

Sorry meant to see the fluid.

I've never seen one yet with a clear viewing glass but guess you learn something new.

 

So googled it because was interested.

I saw some places say fill til no bubbles. Maybe you are just low?

 

That sounds right.

 

The refill kits are $40 to $50 at the auto parts store. They have a gauge that tells when there is enough refrigerant.

 

I'd go for a "new" compressor for $200. They don't last 12 to 20 years. All the freon charging will do nothing but give you a few weeks of cold when a compressor gets old and leaks.

I got that "tear out the dash" scam when my 13 year old compressor went bad.

I bought a new compressor from Amazon for $199, and had my mechanic install it for $200 and I've had good cool for two years now without any recharging in my 2005 4runner.

It is the "old" AC compressor that usually leaks the freon.

$236 Denso 471-1413 New Compressor with Clutch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UC9ITG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

PS.. Let a professional AC guy check your AC. You don't want to "overcharge" it.

BDiv 12: There is the evaporator/core behind the dash in your AC system and if that is where you are losing freon than the dealer is right the dash has to come down to repair and fix. But, according to your writeup above, the dealer did not do a test or mention the condenser? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILjLUareKHU

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=car+ac+behind+the+dash+evaporator+condenser+4runner&qpvt=car+ac+behind+the+dash+evaporator+condenser+4runner&view=detail&mid=61FB7569ABF9B403F90361FB7569ABF9B403F903&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=/videos/search?q=car+ac+behind+the+dash+evaporator+condenser+4runner&qpvt=car+ac+behind+the+dash+evaporator+condenser+4runner&FORM=VDRE

$75 TRQ AC Condenser A/C Air Conditioning w/Receiver Drier Compatible with 4Runner GX470

https://www.amazon.com/Condenser-Co...hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584138860129945&psc=1

https://www.bing.com/images/search?...er&form=IGRE&first=1&scenario=ImageHoverTitle

 

The AC compressor compresses the freon. When there are leaks it needs to be recharged often. A good AC tech/man working 9to5 at an AC shop can tell you what it needs. Evaporators go on 4runners. They are located under front dash board and are a job to replace. Dealer replaced my OEM after 4 years from brand new car I purchased from them. Now, 11 years later the replacement evap core is bad.

Dealers are a rip on this job. Go to a place that has lots of techs, let you order the parts, and get a quote on the labor. $300 to $800 for the evaporator core. Part / denso / is $99 at Amazon.

The place that is going to replace my evap-core came down in labor to $300 recently. I have to supply the part. They see AC jobs all week long.

Part for my AC is $90