A/C Runs than Stops

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Joined
Mar 23, 2004
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46
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Location
Lee's Summit, MO (KC)
Hit the searches and found what sounds like the right answer. But it was from the 60/62 forum. I was wondering if any FZJ80 owners have found the same thing.

A/C runs fine for about 4 min, and then it just starts blowing cool moist air. Take a look under the hood and the A/C compressor clutch is not engaged. I can get it to move by hand slightly, but definitely not engaging.

I am thinking that the R134 is low, therefore the lines are freezing up. Any other thought? Do I really have to bend over AGAIN and take it back to the shop? It worked fine before taking it into them to (gulp) have them replace ALL fluids. (WILL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!!!!)
 
If you're not wanting to go to the shop then purchase a gage and check the pressure.
 
Ok, here is another way to look at it. Is there anything that the kids at the Kwik Kar shop could have done to the system to cause it to do this? Is this really a coincidence in timing? I just bent over for these kids and let them have their way with my wallet, and voweled not to let that happen again. If I can suggest that they did this, than I will take it back. Otherwise, I would rather do it myself.

So I would purchase "a guage"? The buddy that helped me install a comopressor in an old 4Runner had made his own. What would I be "guaging" for? Checking pressure?
 
So the compressor IS engaging at first for those 4 mins, then turning off and not reengaging?
If yes then there is some problem that with your a/c system that is turning off the compressor. Problems that would do this are, low refrigerent pressure, to high a pressure, the condensor freezing up (condensor is behind glove box area and is what the air is blown over to cool it for the a/c)
You had mentiond moist air right? This would lend me towards an issue with the drain tube for the condensor being clogged and causing it to not be able to drain the condensation created during a/c operation.
The guages mentioned above are a/c pressure guages. One connects to the service fitting on the high pressure side, the other to the low side. Pressure readings should be taken just before the compressor cycles off, pressures will be at thier highest on the high side and lowest on the low side at this time. This will be where you need to start before any real diognosis of your system can be given.
I would recomend a dealer instead of a kwik kar shop!! Just ask them to test your a/c pressures for you and give a diog of why it don't work!!
 
Keep an eye on your temp gauge when this accurs. The AC in my '97 was doing the same thing...then all of a sudden the check engine light comes on, the heat gauge pegs itself and my return hose explodes.

Turns out my fan clutch is bad, engine gets hot, AC turns itself off to help the engine out.
 
My fan is running. That is for sure. So I don't think that is the problem. I think it is more of a problem with the R134. I am going to take it back to the kids and have them do free diagnostics, since it was working before they got their hands on it.
 
Ok, after watching the A/C cut out after the temp guage climbs. I figure it is a problem with the overheating. And last night, AFTER bringing it home from the kids at the shop who supposidly power flushed the system, I noticed NO antifreeze in the overflow res. No biggie, my 4runner used to run like that. But now I am thinking. So I go and buy some antifreeze and before I can put it in, I find out I don't have to be into work early tomorrow. So guess who is going to get a visit from me......yep, the kids who took me for ..... gulp.....$341.
 
Be VERY careful.

Prelude to headgasket failure is exactly what you are seeing....

check your oil next time you change it.
 
Problem solved. The kids at the local inspection shop, didn't test drive the truck after filling up the radiator. When the thermostat opened up there wasn't enough fluid to keep it cool. And they forgot to fill up the resevoir. So, after filling the resevoir, and it was still running hot. We figured out that it wasn't taking any out of the resevoir due to a air pocket in the rad. After topping off the rad. and having the res filled. It runs fine. Stays cool. And the A/C does not trip off.

THAT WAS ALL I WAS WORRIED ABOUT.....KEEPING MY FAT ARSE FROM SITTING IN A BLACK TEXAS SWEAT BOX!!
 

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