Recharging a/c

2006 tacoma 2.7 motor base single cab.


How easy I'd it to recharge the a/c ? What parts do I need? I have all the freon and the valve with the gauge.

 

I really don't know much about this other than what I've heard, but what I've heard is that it's best to take it into a shop and have them do it...those DIY recharge kits you get at the local auto parts stores don't work very well and can damage the system. Most shops charge around $50 - $80 for a system recharge that I've seen. Reminds me I need to get mine done before summer hits this year, it's been getting really weak the last couple of years.

 

I would second the shop doing it. They can also pressure check your system to make sure you don’t have any small leaks.

 

Assuming you have fixed any leaks and replaced any worn parts, you will need a manifold refrigerant gauge set, a manifold vaccum pump (usually you can rent both these for free from a local auto parts store). And at least two 12 oz cans of r-134a refrigerant (I reccomend the cans with NO stop leak or any extra crud).

But a vaccum on both sides of the system for a good 30 min or so. Than seal it off. Check for leaks over a good 20 min or so. Than you can start the truck. Max blast ac (windows down, and recirculate) then start charging from the low side only...it should take 2 cans.

https://youtu.be/bSzH_9blVO4

The above link shows an 07 Tacoma and is a pretty good video.

 

Mahalo

 

I've done lots of stuff by eye going off mostly low-side pressure, and gotten pretty good results. Usually, anyway... can't recall ever having something relatively simple like a Tacoma be a PITA about it.

But, after the shop I worked at got a real A/C machine and I did them with a scale, I sure never went back to eyeballing pressures. And I figured out why I should do it with a scale... I'd get stuff blowing ice cubes with anywhere from 25-45psi on the low side, not necessarily the 30-35psi I usually aimed for.

I never damaged anything, but you certainly could doing it the ghetto way. I still do it with the A/C machine even though I don't work there anymore, but that's cuz I can pay in beer. If I had something that needed semi-frequent charging and didn't have that available, I'd probably just use a hose set at home. If it's just once I'd personally just find someone who'd do it for $50 or so labor.

 

How many cans? 2 atleast?

 

Go to Walmart or a parts store and buy this

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Arctic-Freeze-Auto-AC-Recharge-Ultra-Synthetic-R-134a-Kit-22-oz/16930282

Follow directions and DIY. Just make sure you don't overcharge. It has a built in gauge.

I've never needed to use one on my Tacoma, but we have a 2009 Honda that needs a recharge about every other year since it was about 5 years old. Works great, never any issues

 

Nooooooooooo... that crap has sealant in it. Sealant bad, unless you have something leaking that's not worth replacing, like an evaporator in every Chrysler product ever (referring to the tendency to leak, the difficulty to replace, and the vehicle not holding enough value to justify it).

Not to mention you're flying blind with just a low side gauge. It can work (or might not, of you don't know what you're doing) if there's nothing amiss. But the target market is people who don't know what they're doing, fixing a system that has decent odds of having something amiss.

Just grab a couple plain old 12oz'ers if you need it... I used to say screw it and recommend a 30lb when you can grab one for <$100, but now they require an EPA cert.

 

How you know if you overcharge it?

 

What you talking about. How many can to recharge a/c

 

Well there's 12 ounces in a can, my A/C works so I don't know the capacity but it should be on a sticker by the radiator, and I wouldn't assume you'll get all 12 ounces out of each because gases equalize pressure, sooo... 2 or 3. They're, like, $8 each, not a massive investment. The new EPA-mandated cans even have a self-sealing valve so you can keep one for later.

 

Mahalo

 

I've also had my A/C weak for about a year. Tried recharging it from the Walmart stuff, but didn't seem to make a difference, now one year later will try to fix again. What shop name do you guys recommend, also if you have to recharge every so often, doesn't that mean you have a leak?

 

Yes, if you have to recharge, it's leaking *somewhere*. In an ideal world you fix it... I prefer to at least identify where, whether it's economical to fix depends on how often you have to recharge, what's leaking, and how long you're keeping it... Could be anything from a stupid $2 O-ring on one line to a compressor shaft seal (easy to swap, spendy part) to an evaporator core (lots of work, cheap part).

Anywhere you go is gonna be a crapshoot, of whether they have someone good with A/C, and whether that's who you get. Finding leaks isn't usually rocket surgery, but some people just try to fire the parts cannon if they can't find a smoking gun that's leaking serious enough to be obvious.

My dad took my mom's Subaru to a semi-local "A/C specialist" shop to find a leak. They said they couldn't see anything leaking after dying it and charging it, so it's probably the evaporator. I spent 2 minutes with a flashlight and spotted some oily dust on the condenser where one of the lines connects. Gee, wonder if it's leaking there (either a cracked weld or bad O-ring, both pretty common) and attracting dust to the leaked dye/oil...

 

Better to have a shop fix your AC. The AC needs to be pressurized correctly. Plus many of those DIY recharge kits have stop leak in them, which is bad for the system in the long term. If you have stop leak in your system, a garage may no longer be willing to fix your system since they don't want stop leak in their equipment.

 

Probably already been said but AC shouldn't need recharging if there isn't a leak.

 

Wahhh it a 06

 

My Tacoma was a 2008. I think the AC stopped working in 2015. Had it recharged in 2017. Still worked fine summer of 2018. No leaks ever found

 

I guess boiling the moisture out of the system first with a vacuum pump when recharging a system is just an old wives tale ? I don't think it is !