Dealer AC repair?

Hi I have an 07 Tacoma and just recently my A/C started to blow less and less cool. I have to go into the dealer to have my replacement leaf springs rechecked and was going to have them also take a look at my ac. I have spoke with a few people and heard mixed results. Does anyone have experience with this? Should I just find a local A/C shop or attempt it on my own using a dye kit and hope it's just an o-ring or bad hose?

 

All dealers and shops will vary on quality of work, its not all dealers are better or all indies and better, if you post your area some people in your area will likely recommend shops they have had good or bad experiance with. Problem with adding dye is you have to evac the system, then add dye, then recharge the system and watch for were it is leaking from. You can't do that without a real shop AC machine, i think some of the top off cans from autozone and other places include dye but i would not recommend that since some also have stop leak that can cause damage and those cans sure as hell are not able to put the spec of refrigerant into the system leaving it under or over charged, and extreme over charged can cause damage to the system. All that said I work at a Ford dealer and every ford off the factory line has dye added, may be toyota is the same?

 

I'll have to get a UV light and take a look. I was hoping just to add some in to see if it's something as simple as a schrader valve.

 

IF you get the glasses to go with the UV light any dye leakage will be even easier to see.

 

IMHO everyone needs a great indie shop. May not be that easy to find, but they exist. And while they may charge the same number of hours for a job the rate is usually at least 30% less, sometimes more.

Unless I already had a personal relationship with a tech or advisor, I'd be reluctant to have a dealer diagnose my AC. Too many variables.

 

Awesome and thanks for the help.

 

It sort of blows cool out the driver side vent yet warm out all the others. I did the blend door a few years back and all vents will have a good flow of air and all settings work such as defrost etc

 

My 2013 A/C Compressor shaft seal failed at 70,000. I was mad as Hell. I called two different Toyota Dealers both of them quoted me a crazy price to fix my system. They wanted to replace just about every part in the system to avoid a warranty issue.
I decided to replace the compressor myself and the Dryer/Condensor. I did not replace the hoses they looked good and my system was not trashed out.
7 months after I made the repairs I had a hose go bad and had to replace it and vacuum and recharge the system.

My point is that it will cost you no matter which way you go with the repairs. Depending how much you replace.
The A/C system repair in a can are a joke and are just a bandaid.

 

Might just get a manifold kit, check my pressure, do a soapy water test and go from there.

 

Just what I was going to say

Post up your pressure readings

 

I heard I might have a fully charged system and just a bad expansion valve. Even though my truck is an 07 with 106k the lines all look good. There is no oil or dirt build up around the fittings, the condenser looks very good no obvious signs of leaks. I'll update my findings. Hopefully I wont have to spend my income tax check fixing this!

 

Is there a reason why it would still blow semi cool out only the driver side vent and warm out the others? I replaced my blend door a while back and it all the settings work and it pushes the same volume of air out each vent.

 

I have a 2013 and one of my ac lines had worn through. Apparently it is a thing with the 2nd gens and the dealer had the part in stock.
It was right around 80k miles if my memory serves me right. I’m at 116 now and no issues.

 

This what my A/C system was doing when the hose failed after my first repair. I never figured out why. But when I fixed my system every vent started blowing cold again. I am curious to what your final repairs and results are.

 

Get high side
Low side
Duct temp
Ambient temp.
Avaoid the suicide cans at all costs. Get a proper evacuate and recharge done with the addition of dye

 

OP,

I had exactly the same symptoms as you Cool on drivers side and progressively warmer as you move towards the passenger side.

Dealer says I have a leak, but they couldn't locate it. Evacuated and recharged with dye, says bring it back when it does it again.

1 Year later exact same indication. Took it to an independent shop. Found both high and low pressure hoses were leaking and they needed to replace the dryer. $1,000 dollars later it is working better than new. The killer was that the Dryer needed to be replaced and it usually runs about 35 - 50 bucks. On the Tacoma it is part of the condenser which drove the cost up considerably.

I would say you have the same issue Low charge due to a leak. It could be a cheap leak or an expensive leak. I hope you have a cheap leak!

 

Why not?

 

What if it only leaks a few ounces a year? Small leaks like that can be tough to find.

 

In that case add the dye, recharge system and come back much later to look for the leak, or say fuck it and have it recharged every few years, co worker had a AC compressor with a small leak, older car not worth doing all the work to replace, recharged the system every other year for about four years till they sold the car.

 

The dye can be your friend.... I have seen Big Rigs go out for two-to three months and not leak, then go run local Florida and the system pukes....

Good luck with finding it and PLEASE "Sift" through all of the "Drama" that TW can bring.

Find a dealer or shop you "Trust" and establish that work scenario.... It will pay dividends in the end....