AC issues '09 470

[Krazykevin]

Wanted to confirm and see if anyone had similar issues...

Recently purchased '09 GX470 119k miles, and yesterday was the first time I really ran the AC (texas). I did check it when I bought it, but it was 50 degrees outside.

Symptoms:
My AC is ice cold on the passenger side, functioning correctly.
My AC on the drivers side is cool and gets ice cold for a minute or two and then back to cool.
The rear AC is cool all the time, never really cold though.
There are some bubbles in the high pressure inspection window.

Other details:
I have run the AC self check and got either no codes (00) or codes (21,24) which I understand are the solar sensors and those were in my garage. so, this seems like that checks out fine.
I also did the AC self check of the blend doors and fans, and everything seemed to operate correctly. No faults, and no abnormal sounds or grinding.

Right now I am not really interested in just adding a can of Freon, and I plan to take it in to have the system pressure checked and likely evacuated and refilled (+dye) .

Mainly wanted to see if anyone else has had these same issues? I am pretty annoyed at the Lexus dealer for not finding this in their inspection before they sold it to me, but I do understand that it is a 12yo car as well.

 

[SteveH]

Before I bought mine at 166K, I fired up the AC and the compressor sounded like playing cards in bicycle spokes. The dealer agreed that they missed this, and had another shop replace the compressor and recharge. No problems since, and nice cold A/C. I would have a shop put gauges on your current setup and see if it's low on refrigerant or perhaps if the compressor is shot. At least be sure the compressor is quiet and cycling like it should before you take it to a shop. At your mileage, I'd be surprised if your compressor was shot, but it looks like you live in the south, so it may have seen more use than mine.

 

[Krazykevin]

Before I bought mine at 166K, I fired up the AC and the compressor sounded like playing cards in bicycle spokes. The dealer agreed that they missed this, and had another shop replace the compressor and recharge. No problems since, and nice cold A/C. I would have a shop put gauges on your current setup and see if it's low on refrigerant or perhaps if the compressor is shot. At least be sure the compressor is quiet and cycling like it should before you take it to a shop. At your mileage, I'd be surprised if your compressor was shot, but it looks like you live in the south, so it may have seen more use than mine.

It is cycling as it should and the compressor is not loud at all. Clutch is engaging and all. It is pointing me to a small leak/low on freon. I plan to get it looked at next week to get an official diagnosis.

 

[SteveH]

By law, shops must install a dye and evac when they do any charging, so hopefully they can nail it down and you'll be on your way cheaply. It occurred to me that my GX was from Texas, so I'm sure the A/C was on pretty much whenever the truck was running. In Colorado, you rarely see an A/C compressor wear out from use.

 

[Rednexus]

You can also buy a manifold and gauge set at Harbor Freight for around $60 and check the compressor function and freon levels yourself (the gauges are very easy to use). Most likely you have a leak at a O-ring or rubber hose somewhere and lost some freon. If that is the case you can either try a top-off (a can of R134A is around $7) or do a full dye trace, evac, repair of the leaking line/ring, and vacuum test with a refill if the leak is bad enough. Automotive AC is actually easy to work on an troubleshoot, other than the evac which can't really be done at home, AFAIK. I did a complete A/C overhaul on my previous Subaru for around $300 including tools, condenser, rebuilt compressor, rubber lines, drier, and O-rings. It worked perfectly afterwards.

 

[Krazykevin]

Finally got the AC checked out. Evacuated and refilled, it it only had about 50% of what it should have. Also can see the front evaporator is leaking (dark spot in the top left of picture). The rear is fine and no issue, and everything else checked out. So it is getting a new evaporator...