2003 Tundra Gen 1 - 20+ years looks like time for a new compressor

Hello, so looks like I got 20 years out of my compressor before it died. I have manifold gauges, and at 110 degrees, I'm measuring 50 - 60 PSI on the LOW and 175-185 PSI on the HIGH side. I see bubbles in the sight glass. It looks like, after 20 years, I will need a new compressor. I haven't had a shop look at it because the wait is so long right now due to the weather. The truck does get cold. It is when it gets too hot, it stops and then starts up again when it cools down after about 10-15 mins, so I'm going to live with it through what's left of summer. So this is my plan.

Use a cheap sniffer to check for leaks
Take it to a shop and have them confirm it is the compressor
Have them recover all the r134a and apply a vacuum test

Install a new Denso Compressor, Expansion Valve, Drier, and Condenser.
Add 1.5 fl oz (40 cc ) of PAG 46 oil. The compressor is pre-filled.
Apply a vacuum and wait
Take the truck to the shop and have them filled to spec

Let me know if I missed something. I believe that after 20 years, I got the money's worth out of the AC system and should overhaul the entire thing.


Thanks
Eric

 

Your low pressure looks good but high is off. Might just be a bit low on freon.


If the shop can do an evacuate and measure, you may have just lost a few oz of freon over 20 years.

My truck was doing something similar and was just down a few oz of freon. Recharged it a couple years ago and it's been fine since.

 

I thought the low was already too high? I have a can of r134a. How high can the low go?

Eric

 

In a 110 ambient temp thats about where I'd expect to see it. If you bring rpms up to like 1300 or so it'll drop a bit, thats where I like to check pressure at.

If you check it again, do so late at night or early morning and report back pressures.

 

35ish, I don't want to overfill it. At over 100 degrees, how high can I take the low without it blowing up? I'm willing to try it and see if I can get the high over 200.

 

If it's at 35psi at 100+ degrees and 1300 rpms you can probably safely add r134.

When the system/compressor isn't running pressures stabilize around 100+ across both sides.

 

35ish, not at 100 degrees when it is low 80s. I was going to add in some r134a, but I wanted the low not to blow up. At 100 degrees, how high can I go on the low side? I want to try and get the high side to 200ish.

 

At 100f I'd want to see 250b(+/-20) psi high and 40-60 low at 1300 rpms. Give or take a little bit. Ymmv.

 

Ok I’m going to add very little to see if I can get it over 200 psi on the high side but I’m going to do it on a hot as hell day I don’t want to overfill it. Unless I should do it at night?

Eric

 

At night is fine. Just shoot for lower numbers on the high side (approx 2.5x ambient temp).

 

I stopped and didn't add any. It is 85 degrees right now, and at 1500 RPM, it is 20 PSI on the Low Side and 225 PSI on the High Side, with bubbles in the sight glass. I think I have air in the system and need to wait until summer is over. I can detect the leak for now and have it looked at, but it looks like I need to fix the leak, discharge, and recharge. I still feel I should replace all the components since it is 20 years old.

 

Gotcha. Sounds reasonable.

You could have the shop evacuate the system and then hold vacuum to test for leaks. If it doesn't leak vacuum then just recharge.

 

Have to wait the line is so long due to the weather.

Eric