No AC FAQ ?

[half k cruiser]

I was hoping with summer here and no working AC there might be some info collected somewhere. I haven't been able to find any walk through's on the 100 series system. Pretty sure mine is low on charge, but I haven't jumped the low pressure switch to see what the compressor does. If someone has a link to PN's for the system, or common problem areas, it would be much appreciated. Thank you

 

[Mike6158]

Tagging along on this one. My compressor runs, water drips just like it's cooling, but no cold air from the vents.

 

[gatormark91]

There is really nothing special or specific about the AC system in a 100 vs. almost any other Toyota of any similar vintage. There's plenty of info online, YouTube, etc.

 

[Mike6158]

Maybe not but when the AC evaporator gets cold enough to drip water when I stop and no cold air comes out of the vents that's a bit different. There's nothing special about torsion bars, brakes, lift kits, inlet air filters,, changing spark plugs, changing oil(s), changing coils, swapping stereos, and all of the other things in the FAQ but they are there. I'd rather see this post than "What's the biggest tire that will fit with no lift".

 

[nukegoat]

Water is predicated on condensate. So something is getting cold.

Themoreyouknow

 

[gatormark91]

If your evap core is dripping and no cold air is coming out, you are low on freon. Pick up a cheap set of manifold gauges from Harbor Freight, and check your pressures.

 

[Mike6158]

Water is predicated on condensate. So something is getting cold.

Themoreyouknow

If I was trying to cool the outside that would be helpful The point is that if the evap is cold and the air in the vehicle isn't then ??something isn't moving that causes the air to route across the evap and into the LC?

 

[gatormark91]

If I was trying to cool the outside that would be helpful The point is that if the evap is cold and the air in the vehicle isn't then ??something isn't moving that causes the air to route across the evap and into the LC?

You asked for advice, correct advice is above. Check your pressures, that's the start of every AC check.

 

[flintknapper]

Tagging along on this one. My compressor runs, water drips just like it's cooling, but no cold air from the vents.

Means pretty much nothing except there is enough temperature difference to cause condensate. You probably have dew on your lawn each morning too.

IF your blower motor is working and your compressor runs (or even it doesn't) always start with putting a set of manifold gauges on the system. We need to check both high and low side readings (if your compressor will run)j.... or the 'static pressure' if it will not.

 

[half k cruiser]

There is really nothing special or specific about the AC system in a 100 vs. almost any other Toyota of any similar vintage. There's plenty of info online, YouTube, etc.

Your post is of zero help, why bother even putting it up ? It answers zero of my questions, nothing to do with PN's, no link to something I might have missed during my search, common problems etc. Pretty confident the similar vintage GX I have sitting next to it in the garage doesn't have half the lines and equipment the LX has. It's great to know there is plenty of info online, youtube, etc. Do you have access to it, would you like to be helpful and actually share?

 

[flintknapper]

Your post is of zero help, why bother even putting it up ? It answers zero of my questions, nothing to do with PN's, no link to something I might have missed during my search, common problems etc. Pretty confident the similar vintage GX I have sitting next to it in the garage doesn't have half the lines and equipment the LX has. It's great to know there is plenty of info online, youtube, etc. Do you have access to it, would you like to be helpful and actually share?

The trouble is...you are asking us to print out the FSM for your vehicle (A/C) here.
We can probably help you and most folks here are more than willing, but we need to narrow things down.

IF you suspect you are low on your refrigerant charge then put a set of gauges on it and let us know what you find. That is pretty much going to be the 'starting point' for diagnostic work that isn't related to electrical components or mechanical failure.

We have to start somewhere, not just throw out a bunch of possibilities for you to choose from.

Put some gauges on it, or have someone do it for you and report back.

 

[DirtDawg]

Your post is of zero help, why bother even putting it up ? It answers zero of my questions, nothing to do with PN's, no link to something I might have missed during my search, common problems etc. Pretty confident the similar vintage GX I have sitting next to it in the garage doesn't have half the lines and equipment the LX has. It's great to know there is plenty of info online, youtube, etc. Do you have access to it, would you like to be helpful and actually share?

Maybe if you came to us with an actual problem, and not just a "I want an A/C database" rant, you'd probably get more help. We've offered all the help we can so far, which is to put a set of manifold gauges on and check the current pressures.

 

[gatormark91]

Your post is of zero help, why bother even putting it up ? It answers zero of my questions, nothing to do with PN's, no link to something I might have missed during my search, common problems etc. Pretty confident the similar vintage GX I have sitting next to it in the garage doesn't have half the lines and equipment the LX has. It's great to know there is plenty of info online, youtube, etc. Do you have access to it, would you like to be helpful and actually share?

If you have a specific question, please ask. I know the AC systems of these things inside and out, and if you look at my posting history, you'll see I have no hesitation to help folks with technical questions. However, if you are expecting someone here to teach you how AC works, and how the Toyota parts catalog works, you will be disappointed.

As for your GX, you'd be wrong saying it does not have the same parts. If the GX has rear AC, it has all the same parts as an LC: high pressure side line, low pressure side line, 2 evap cores, condenser, dryer, compressor, 2 expansion valves. That's it, that is all an AC system is, outside of the dash controls and airbox/blowers. The "rear AC" is just an extra evap core and expansion valve.

Generally, questions of 'what is the part number for part X', or 'What is wrong when my truck does (something)?' get answered quickly. As I said, there is NOTHING unusual or specific about the operation of Land Cruiser AC. It is set up exactly the same as almost every other Toyota of similar vintage.

If you want someone to teach you how it all works, I would suggest you enroll in a class at your local automotive technical college.

 

[1972FJ55]

In response to Mike6158:

Kind of sounds like a blend or mode door actuator.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

If you don't have working ac, try this first:

-buy some R134a (you need about 28oz to completely fill the system, or about 2 and 1/3 of a typical 12 oz can). Do not use other refrigerants on your 100 series unless it specifically calls for it (mine has a sticker under the hood that says "R134a use only").
-buy, rent or borrow a vacuum pump and pressure gauges
-run the pump on the low and high pressure side to evacuate the system
-test the vacuum by leaving the gauges on for an hour: If it maintains the same negative pressure on the system, you probably do not have a leak. If it drops down to ambient pressure, you almost certainly do have a leak
-If you don't have a leak, refill with new R134a in the low pressure port only
-If you do have a leak, time to investigate where: buy a R134a dye kit and a black-light flashlight
-Run the R134a dye kit through the low pressure port while running the A/C at full blast
-In a dark garage, investigate all piping and components of the system with your black-light flashlight. This will help you isolate any leaks that you might have. Check the obvious spots first: under the A/C piping near the passenger side wheel well, all the way back to above the spare tire in the rear, check both "H" & "L" ports for potential leaks, check the compressor, and check the condenser. If you still don't see anything remove the glovebox and the evaporator core cover and look for dye leaks in there. Also, if you feel like ripping apart the rear interior panel to check the rear evaporator core, it could be a culprit. Hopefully you will find your leak. Now fix it.

-if one of your lines has a leak, you can replace the component ($$$ and a pain in the *ss) or try to fix it. I've had success with Dorman 5/16" line repair kits, but there are many different sizes that are available.
-if your compressor is leaking, you will probably need to replace it. You may also have to refill the oil with ND oil #8 in this case (sorry, I don't know the oil capacity).

-once you have solved your leak problem, re-run the vacuum for an hour or more to evacuate the system of any air and moisture
-then refill ~28oz of refrigerant through the low pressure port. The cans can take quite a while to fill the system, since the compressor needs to kick in to pull in more refrigerant.
-enjoy

There are many components to the AC system, so you might be stuck in a trial and error game here.

 

[half k cruiser]

I probably should have prefaced my first post with I understand how an AC system works and have overhauled them before on the 80 series. I have not done a 100 series which has twice the number of lines and hardware. With the 80 series there is pretty solid information in the FAQ including PN's for needed items like the drier as well as a comprehensive list of how much PAG oil each part requires when replaced in the system. If you don't have an FSM there are links in there with pictures of the appropriate pages.

You will also find helpful data as far as common issues like expansion valves (also including PN's), drier relocation, etc. @flintknapper you said I'm asking you to print out the FSM for me. Negative, but if somebody, like yourself, has posted those pages before then wouldn't it be nice to consolidate them into a FAQ for others to benefit from? Lot's of folks in the other forums have already done this. I get that it might not be your cup of tea, and that's more than fine, but maybe someone who reads this post will have something they want to contribute. For instance @CanadianRockyCruiser gave a pretty good step by step of his process. If somebody had previously posted something like that in a how to thread, that's the kind of stuff I am talking about. Unfortunately a lot of these posts, get filtered down over time and are difficult to search out. Essentially lost in the enormity of the thread count.

 

[white_lx]

8 pages with quite a bit of info: A/C servicing; vacuum, oil and charge system?

 

[half k cruiser]

@gatormark91 you are correct in that I didn't have a specific question about the problem. I was just looking to gather up some resources ahead of time. I obviously did not articulate my meaning well enough with the first post. If I was going to have a specific question it would be: my system has no gas charge, I have checked everything ( or so I thought ) with a black light at night, in the garage, and have found nothing but a missing high side cap. However, I know there are parts of the system I'm not seeing due to being unfamiliar or not having good access to the components.

For instance I found the following apparently a common failure area ( I inspected mine today and it doesn't appear broken). Would you know of any other common areas for leaks to occur? The low side cap did release gas when I removed it.

I have never invested in a good set of gauges and don't know anyone with a vacuum pump. My reasoning has always been that for the handful of times i've ever needed it, I just take it to a local shop and have them charge the system (about $60 times 3 vehicles so far). Along with tire mounting and balancing it is the only thing I'm willing to take my vehicles to somebody else for. The one time this has bit me in the ass is when I took an 80 in with a hole in the liquid line. I think the diagnostic charge on that one was just as much as the charge. It's the reason why now I always try and find obvious leaks and problems before I take them in. I'm just not sure if there's anywhere else I should be looking on this rig.

 

[half k cruiser]

8 pages with quite a bit of info: A/C servicing; vacuum, oil and charge system?

That's exactly what I was after with the original post. Thank you

 

[flintknapper]

@flintknapper you said I'm asking you to print out the FSM for me. Negative, but if somebody, like yourself, has posted those pages before then wouldn't it be nice to consolidate them into a FAQ for others to benefit from? Lot's of folks in the other forums have already done this. I get that it might not be your cup of tea, and that's more than fine, but maybe someone who reads this post will have something they want to contribute. For instance @CanadianRockyCruiser gave a pretty good step by step of his process.

There are simply too many variables involved to create what you seem to be after (A list of common/possible problems and their solutions). A troubleshooting guide is already in the FSM. IF you have specific problems or symptoms...state them and maybe we can help.

I'm sure we can walk you through the process of checking certain items. IF you suspect you have a low refrigerant charge please tell us why and what if anything you've done to come to that conclusion.

You've already been told to put a set of manifold gauges on the high and low side so we can determine IF that might be your problem. So...do you want to FIX your A/C problem or do you want to argue about how nice it would be if someone would generate a FAQ section for A/C issues?

You can glean quite a bit from doing searches. There is no shortage of information...its just not consolidated. If you'd like to create a FAQ....please feel free.

Just be accurate when you do. Some suggestions already posted here....have the 'cart before the horse'.

The link @ white_lx provided has some decent information in it and he is knowledgeable (you can trust his advice). I wrote the majority of the responses there and I'm willing to help you as well. I'm sure others are too. But you need to drop the defensive posture and get about doing what we are telling you.