It costs what to recharge your A/C!!!!

This is what they are going to do. They didn’t have any refrigerant to charge the system with. I k ow there is a leak somewhere, I’m just worried where it is at and what the cost will be beyond the $1100 recharge.

 

Do you have an auto parts store where you can buy some refrigerant and try it yourself? Then you can check it for leaks or see if it all disappears again for less than $100.

 

Yes, they are found in pairs throughout the united states. Very prolific little buggers they are.
Wear long pants when in their area as they bite and dig in like tics.

 

I remember when Mercedes (and Dodge) began running out 1234 a few years back - first front end hit I dealt with on a Dart and they told me a recharge was like $1900 I was like WTF?!? I wouldn’t pay that for the car - total it.

Stuff was stupid pricey due to a lack of supply - but now it’s common on new cars - should be available.

I know talking to techs they say it last half as long at best - but 2018 is too soon to need a full replacement. Some loss - sure - but total is a leak.

 

It is more common and better availability now, but still around $100 a pound. Plus since I live in Alaska, and the stuff is considered flammable, hello Hazmat shipping fees. Did some research and it looks like 18’ is when they made the switch from 134a. Checked all the auto parts stores in my area and no one has any in stock. Makes me wish I would have gone with the CPO 2017 that was on the lot when I bought this one. Oh well hindsight is 20/20 and all.

 

Great information. Stupid question-Is it possible to have a system lose freon and not have a leak?

 

No and if it loses the charge there is a leak some place and must be found and fixed to repair it correctly. Some leaks though are incredibly small and hard to find but typically at the crimp connector on the hoses, flare connectors and compressor shaft seal, another spot can be the service ports and kind of like car tire air valve to inflate the tire, the ports on the ac have caps and o-ring and can leak too.

 

And that is my worry. A small leak that isn’t going to be found until at least one recharge. Or the compressor is having issues. I’m wondering how much I’m going to be in for to get this all fixed.

 

I'd just refill it with r134 if it was me after I found the leak. Pull a vacuum and put in new oil.

I'm not sure if there is a difference is between the two refridgerants though. I guess you would have to cross reference some part numbers with an older model truck.

 

Why? I competent shop should be able to detect a leak. It may not be as small as you think.

 

That is logical. Same issue with a Ford Escape I had that consumed coolant. They couldn't find a leak-it wasn't leaking, yet I needed to add 8oz of coolant every 5-7K miles. Dealer said it's just normal. Engines don't consume coolant normally. Turns out it was hairline cracks in the head. Not enough to blow clouds, set check engine light or even run poorly. Many 1.6 ecoboost owners had this. The good dealers would do overnight leak down test and find cracks, replace engine, but most just topped off and sent them on their way until out of warranty.

 

The only shop in my area that will work on it is the Toyota dealer. The next closest one 500 miles away and owned by the same dealership. The other car mechanics in my area don’t do work with the new refrigerant. They spent three hours and said there was no leak. I’m hoping when they pressurize the system the leak shows and it’s an easy fix. I plan on trying to be back in the shop when the run the sniffer over the system. I also want to have them replace the valve core on the fill port and the cap for the port. We will see in a few weeks what happens.

 

Like post# 40 said may not be that small of a leak, and just find a good shop that has. good electronic leak detectors and should be easy to find, and pressurize system with nitrogen to max test pressure if needed to find the leak, evacuate the system to 500 microns after repairing the leak, let it sit for one hour to ensure no rise of more 100 microns, and then recharge it. replacing the cap and seals, as well as the service valve core vales is always a good idea.

Leaks at the compressor seal shaft is common and usually there will be a small amount of oil you can fell under the shaft if the seal is leaking with your finger, as I said before crimp connections on hoses and shaft seal at compressor are most common.

 

I hope that the Toyota dealer has good equipment, as I have said they are my only option. I have a hard time believing it is a large leak if drawing a vacuum on it showed it was a solid system. The more I think about it and read about the refrigerant, in cold weather (i.e. winter in Alaska) it is known that the refrigerant can condense enough that standard atmospheric pressure will overcome the pressure inside the system and enter through the low side service port. My truck lives outside and over the past two winters has seen several weeks where the high was -25. I understand that they have also changed the service cap style. I need to check and see if I have a bad cap.

 

Well got board today and decided to look over the system and check the cap and valve core. Found out the system had pressure it in when I depressed the valve core. Covered it with some spit and tried with soapy water. No leakage through the valve core. If the system had pressure I think they may have checked it with nitrogen. I’ll have to confirm with the services department. What ever escaped didn’t have a smell so I’m inclined to think it wasn’t refrigerant, that abs the dealer said I had none in the system. Now I’m getting worried about what the issue is.

 

Well the dealership said the still couldn’t find a leak after they charged the system. It is at least blowing very cold. After they finished with it, I went to the auto part store and pick up a can of stop leak and put it in. Now just have to sit back and wait to see if it stops working again.

 

I thought 2019 was the first year model for yf-1234 refrigerant in Tundras?

Out of curiosity, does your truck have an ATF cooler (top half of the AC condenser) and yf1234 refrigerant?

One of the speculations for removal of the ATF cooler beginning with 2019 models was the larger condenser was required for the yf1234 systems.

 

Your truck will cycle the AC in any position that uses defrost.

 

Not sure about the compressor? I honestly wouldn’t even know what to look for to confirm if it has an ATF cooler. Is that the transmission cooler? If so yes I do have one.

 

Didn't mention a compressor....

Yes, ATF (automatic transmission fluid) cooler is the transmission cooler. If you peek through the grill, you can see the lines attached on the upper passenger side of the ac condenser. It is a combined unit -- the top third is the transmission cooler, bottom portion is the ac condenser. On my 2019, the window sticker stated that the truck was equipped with a transmission cooler, but that isn't accurate as we have found out.

Is there a sticker on the underside of your hood or top of your grille that states yf1234 refrigerant?

If you have both, you may have a late 2018 production truck.

 

I meant condensor. Yes I have a ATF cooler and the sticker does state 1234yf. Also the low pressure port for 1234yf is larger than the 134 port so you can’t hook up the wrong connector.

 

Well that just thru a monkey wrench in the assumption that yf1234 needed a larger condenser. I guess Toyota removed the transmission cooler on 2019+ trucks for cost savings.

Good luck with your AC -- maybe the stop leak that you added will prevent it from leaking out again. It's a shame that stuff costs so much. I wonder if you could get Toyota involved to cover it? Depends on the dealer or service advisor. The truck is new enough that they might, even if slightly out of warranty coverage.

 

Well cost ended up being 650. They may give miss quoted me to begin with, or didn’t charge me right. Service manger double checked with parts to make sure the billed it out. They said they did and he rang me up before they could say anything else.

 

If a feller is gonna have problems getting his AC serviced... Alaska would be the place. Haha.

Seriously though, are there many experience AC guys in Alaska?

 

Yes, just not a lot dealing with the new refrigerant. That should be changing since all model 21 and newer cars are required to use 1234yf.