Pricey dealer AC repair - thoughts? (1 Viewer)

[Dawnpatrol]

So, the whole AC system just stopped working - fan and all. After 2 days of diagnosis (I didn't pay for it ) the Toyo dealer says I need a whole new controller. Sorry, don't know the exact part # or tech. term - but you know, the control system panel with all of the AC and heat control buttons. Apparently there is a short or something with it.

Apparently this part is about $700 Anyone else have to replace this before? I don't want to get ripped at the (st)ealer but my wife and kids drive the 80 and it is August......gotta have AC!

Last thing....my wife took the truck through an undercarraige wash shortly before the AC system totally stopped working. Coincidence? Could water have gotten in and shorted something?

Any thoughts are appreciated......the part is on back order and won't be in until Friday. If there is something else it could be, I'd sure like to know about it. Thanks!!

Also, if anyone knows the exact description and part number of the climate control panel, pls let me know.

 

[MJ_Oregon]

Buy used parts..

Seems to me you could get that part from an 80 being parted out over in the classifieds here for very little and have someone help you install it for a couple bucks. $700 sounds insane.

 

[alaskacruiser]

dawnpatrol- ask cruiserdan (on this forum) for a discounted price if you want new, or goto cruiserparts.net or similar to get one used.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I'd guess related to the wash and I'd be driving it constantly hoping the circuit that got doused dries out ASAP.

Two days of diagnosis concluding with the controller sounds like a fishing expedition on the dealer's part to me. Personally, I'd bring it to an automotive electric shop and tell them about the water.

DougM

 

[Tentsontop]

Yowza! Give CDan a call. I would'nt be surprised if he has the same part for around 500 clams.

 

[cruiserman]

It's auto climate control, so it probably wouldn't cross over the 80 except for '97 with that option IIRC.

 

[Dawnpatrol]

Thanks, all......it is a '97 - what is IIRC?

 

[cruiserman]

Thanks, all......it is a '97 - what is IIRC?

'97 TLC. If I Recall Correctly

 

[Dawnpatrol]

It's auto climate control, so it probably wouldn't cross over the 80 except for '97 with that option IIRC.

Sorry to be dense....but what do you mean "cross over".....and with what option on the '97? My truck is a '97 LX450.

 

[psfpilot]

The "cross over" referred to above is because with the exception of a few options, the FZJ80 and LX450 are identical vehicles with different badging.

The Land Cruiser '97 Collector's Editions and 40th Anniversary Editions have the "automatic" button on their HVAC control heads, just like the Lexus 450s. This button is missing on regular FZJ80s. Other than the button, both units look the same, so I assume that they are interchangeable. The caveat is that I assume the automatic function wouldn't work on a non-automatic climate control vehicle because the temperature sensor and associated duct that samples the cabin air temperature would be missing.

In other words, since Cruiserdan is a Toyota parts manager, he can probably send you a control unit for a 40th AV Land Cruiser at his 'Mud discounted price and you could install it yourself in your LX450 at a great savings over your dealer's price estimate. Alles Klar?

 

[Bob_Garrett]

I would recommend proceeding with caution on purchasing the controller yourself. Since the auto climate control was installed only on the 97 LCs, Toyota dealers typically do not have a lot of experience with them and may wind up replacing several different parts before resolving the problem. In fact, as I recall, there was someone on the 80sCool list several years ago who had an auto climate control that went haywire and the local Toyota dealer was unable to successfully repair it, even after replacing most of the components.

 

[NorCalDoug]

be very, very, very careful with this one. I had the same thing happen with my wife's LX 450. Took it to the toyota dealership first and they spent a week on a hunting/fishing expedition and played poke-and-hope the entire time.

In the end, they shrugged their shoulders and said, "I dunno...you know these Lexuses have a COMPLETELY different cooling system than the Land Cruisers do...oh, by the way, that'll be $364 )

After quite a bit of debate over whether or not I should pay $364 for an "I dunno" response, I ended up paying only for the R134 recharge...that I never did need.

You problem could be the controller, as they stated or it could be the AC amplifier, or it could be one or more of the relays...IIRC, there are about 7 different things that can cause your A/C to not work. In the case of my wife's LX 450, it was 3 of the 7 that went south.


I'd follow IdahoDoug's suggestion of taking it to an Auto electronics specialist for a thorough diagnosis.

 

[94landcruiser]

Have you checked the fuse? I had this issue, turned out to only be the fuse. (which tested ok)

 

[Dawnpatrol]

Thanks to all for the replies....will have to try a new fuse before they install the new unit. That would be great if it works.....

 

[Dawnpatrol]

You problem could be the controller, as they stated or it could be the AC amplifier, or it could be one or more of the relays...IIRC, there are about 7 different things that can cause your A/C to not work. In the case of my wife's LX 450, it was 3 of the 7 that went south.

Well, my wife took it up there to have the controller put in by the dealer this am - and now they say they need to put an amplifier in there as well (though they will not charge us for it). Hmmmmm...

I did find only one auto electric shop here in my town - will be on the horn with them first thing Monday am. Am hoping it is some other issue that they can find.

NorCalDoug, what were the 3 things that went south on your wife's LX?

 

[NorCalDoug]

Well, my wife took it up there to have the controller put in by the dealer this am - and now they say they need to put an amplifier in there as well (though they will not charge us for it). Hmmmmm...

I did find only one auto electric shop here in my town - will be on the horn with them first thing Monday am. Am hoping it is some other issue that they can find.

NorCalDoug, what were the 3 things that went south on your wife's LX?

I'm looking for that write-up...

I need to finish the thread I posted on it a while back as well.

 

[Dawnpatrol]

Thanks! I appreciate you helping out a noob....

To all - I just found out from my wife today that after she took it through the undercarraige wash, she felt some water on her feet. Minutes after, the AC stopped working. So, I am leaning toward some sort of water damage to the wiring.

What AC/ climate control parts are directly above the gas/ brake pedal area?

 

[97lc_bw]

On the driver side, one of the AC amplifier is on the firewall above your right knee.

 

[Dawnpatrol]

Thanks. BTW, I was poking around just now and noticed that in the fuse box under the hood that my truck is missing both fuses for "CDS Fan". Unless the dealer took them out or something, they were probably not there before the climate control system quit working, so I don't think that is the problem, I still suspect water damage/ electrical problem.....but anyway....

What is the function of "CDS Fan"?

 

[Rich]

Aux fan for ac condenser. You don't have the fuses, wiring, or fan. That setup is for 80s with dual ac, which did not get imported into the US.