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

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by Anohibian, Jun 15, 2021.

  1. Jun 15, 2021 at 1:23 PM
    #1
    Anohibian

    Anohibian [OP] New Member

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    So the a/c in the 2018 stopped blowing cold air this year. It seemed a little premature to need a recharge without having a bigger issue with the system, so I took it in today to get looked at. The service tech check the compressor, a little stiff to turn, but said that could happen if it is low on the wonderful yf1234 coolant. Next he hooked the system up to my truck for a pressure check. Came back as solid, no leaks. BUT ABSOLUTELY ZERO COOLANT. So somehow I have a sealed system but lost all the refrigerant. Next step is to pressurize with refrigerant and use a sniffer to check for a leak. Cost is $1100 to fully recharge the system. $1100 to charge a system and possibility have it leak right back out. No other non dealer car care places around me will touch the new refrigerant. I really want to know how I loose everything in the system but don’t show a leak?
     
  2. Jun 15, 2021 at 1:48 PM
    #2
    HARPER306

    HARPER306 New Member

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    If he's using a little portable ac recover/charge unit to test, those things are junk for pressure testing. If you hook up with some nitrogen and put a charge into the system, there will be a leak somewhere. Like you said, it doesn't disappear on its own.

    If he did use nitrogen to pressure check it, and found nothing, then that is highly strange and I wish you good luck
     
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  3. Jun 15, 2021 at 1:49 PM
    #3
    equin

    equin Texarican Tundra

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    So our Tundras no longer use the R134a freon substitute? Anyway, it does seem odd that there are supposedly no leaks, but it’s completely empty. I’m no a/c expert, though, so I’m no help. Curious to know what you find out, though.

    And yeah, $1100 sounds high to recharge. I think they have to pressurize it and then vacuum it all out, including whatever water vapor may be trapped in the system before the refill, at least that’s what I remember in the past with the R134a stuff.
     
  4. Jun 15, 2021 at 1:56 PM
    #4
    Anohibian

    Anohibian [OP] New Member

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    R134 is being phased out for yf1234. Supposed to be more environmentally friendly, but is 10 to 12 times the cost. Not sure what type of system the hooked it up to. They spent three hours checking the system. They won’t have the refrigerant until the 1st of July, so I’ll update then. They did have a bunch of CPO 2021 Tundras on the lot, maybe just switch out the truck.
     
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  5. Jun 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM
    #5
    mountainpete

    mountainpete Explore more

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    Function before sparkle.
    If there are no leaks, why does it need refrigerant? That doesn't make sense.
     
  6. Jun 15, 2021 at 2:03 PM
    #6
    2mchfun

    2mchfun Yeah it'll pull it, just don't expect to stop!

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    A little refrigerant is actually lost over time but not a short time like your case. Almost can promise you have a leak in the system or a technician who is misleading. Maybe both.
     
  7. Jun 15, 2021 at 2:06 PM
    #7
    Jernik

    Jernik New Member

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    My previous neighbor made his career in HVAC. One of the first things he told me was "If an HVAC guy tells you he just needs to recharge the system, ask him to show you where the leak was and to explain how he fixed the leak. If he can't or won't do that, he's trying to screw you. If your system was working fine, and all of a sudden the solution is you need refrigerant, there's either a leak or he's full of shit."
     
  8. Jun 15, 2021 at 2:06 PM
    #8
    Randy Morton

    Randy Morton Life takes its toll, please have exact change.

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    $1100 sounds like highway robbery. A R-1234yf recharge should cost around $200 in refrigerant, that means you're paying $900 in labor. I'd find a new AC guy.
     
  9. Jun 15, 2021 at 2:07 PM
    #9
    HARPER306

    HARPER306 New Member

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    Yup when my 2015 ram a/c stopped working, there was a shortage of 1234yf as well. Luckily I snuck in under warranty, but they said it would have been about $900
     
  10. Jun 15, 2021 at 2:13 PM
    #10
    Anohibian

    Anohibian [OP] New Member

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    I tried to find a new one. But around me only the dealers work with the new refrigerant.

    There are reports of the new systems loosing refrigerant in cold weather, and here in Alaska we have been known to have a chilly day here or there. My truck lives outside and has done a few weeks these past two years when the warmest temp was -20F. So who knows. Until they pressurize it instead of drawing a vacuum, may not be able to detect the leak. I’m just having a real hard time with the cost. If it wasn’t for my kids I fall back to 3-60 AC.
     
    Randy Morton[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Jun 15, 2021 at 2:20 PM
    #11
    Anohibian

    Anohibian [OP] New Member

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    I agree, the problem is they can’t find a leak. Makes no sense to me. Only thought I have is if it is a leak in a soft connection and putting a vacuum on it pulled it tight, so no leak, but if you put pressure in the system it opens back up. Of if there is a leak in the internals of the compressor that didn’t show if the compressor wasn’t cycling.
     
  12. Jun 15, 2021 at 2:22 PM
    #12
    HARPER306

    HARPER306 New Member

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    My money is on a leak. That being said when my ram was fixed under warranty, all they did was recharge the system, and it worked for the 2 more years I had it until I sold it. You are correct in your thinking of vacuum/no leak, pressure/leak thinking though
     
  13. Jun 15, 2021 at 4:15 PM
    #13
    Rocko9999

    Rocko9999 New Member

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    There is a leak, don't let them tell you otherwise.
     
  14. Jun 15, 2021 at 5:03 PM
    #14
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    I wonder if it got so damn cold the O-rings shrank temporarily and it let it out in that subzero weather you have. Just a thought
     
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  15. Jun 15, 2021 at 5:29 PM
    #15
    Anohibian

    Anohibian [OP] New Member

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    That crossed my mind. They say with the new refrigerant you should run your AC at least once a week to keep everything happy. Didn’t know that until after I found out it wasn’t r134 in the system.
     
    15whtrd[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Jun 15, 2021 at 5:48 PM
    #16
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    I figured my truck had the same stuff in it to until I read this thread. I’m pretty good about running it occasionally whether it’s defrost or air-conditioning. I’ll probably try to make sure I’m even better about it. My wife’s 08XB has never been recharged and still blows cold as ice. But I’m unaware what type of refrigerant is in it.
     
  17. Jun 15, 2021 at 5:57 PM
    #17
    Dalandshark

    Dalandshark Infected with 5G

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    It’s not that he’s trying to screw you, it’s that he doesn’t know how or can’t find the leak! It can be very time consuming to find a leak - especially some heat pumps, but that is no excuse to tell a customer there is no leak.
     
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  18. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:01 PM
    #18
    Mad Max

    Mad Max New Member

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    Enviromentalist clowns. I love it when i do AC work be it R12, 134A or this crap vent directly to the atmosphere. fk them
     
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  19. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:03 PM
    #19
    Mad Max

    Mad Max New Member

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    what so hard about finding leak??????? Charge and sniff every connection. No leak, stick detector in AC vents, leak? this isn't rocket science. You going to wrong idiot. sniff AC compressor where lines connect and pulley mounts. Two lines to condenser. What the challenge again????
     
  20. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:05 PM
    #20
    Mad Max

    Mad Max New Member

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    on Lexus I replaced ac compressor, condessor and drier, recharged. total cost $325 using Denso compressor an OEM supplier to Toyota.
     
  21. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:09 PM
    #21
    Dalandshark

    Dalandshark Infected with 5G

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    @Anohibian - as someone else stated, have someone fill the system with nitrogen to find the leak using soapy water (can also recheck next day with gauge- at same temperature). Also, never heard of the compressor being hard to turn due to low on refrigerant. That would be my clue to go somewhere else.
     
  22. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:09 PM
    #22
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    Is there no ultraviolet dye in the system from factory? For leak inspection with a black light.
     
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  23. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:10 PM
    #23
    FrenchToasty

    FrenchToasty The Desert rat, 6 lug enthusiast

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    It’s leaking out of the Schrader cores when the gauges aren’t hooked up; assuming he tried to check for a leak by pressurizing and watching for the needle to drop.
    Sniffers are very helpful to find small leaks, ears and soap bubbles for big leaks.
    The Schrader cores/ caps are almost always the culprit in the one or two systems I’ve looked at.
     
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  24. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:11 PM
    #24
    FrenchToasty

    FrenchToasty The Desert rat, 6 lug enthusiast

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    Is there a Canadian version of “Bingo”
     
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  25. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:14 PM
    #25
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    Hmm. “Bingo, ya hosers, eh”??? :notsure:
     
  26. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:26 PM
    #26
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    I did it the old fashion way when I recharged my 91 work truck. Dab a little spit on the Schrader valve LOL
     
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  27. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:29 PM
    #27
    FrenchToasty

    FrenchToasty The Desert rat, 6 lug enthusiast

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    Haha when it’s to hot out and to far to the van to get bubbles, a lil spit will get you your answer
     
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  28. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:35 PM
    #28
    LuvCRVs

    LuvCRVs New Member

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    Do you have Cat shields? Maybe some thief stopped by to steal your cats, could not, got pissed and stole your freon instead.
     
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  29. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:45 PM
    #29
    Shark Bait

    Shark Bait Not new anymore

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    Most likely not the root of your problem, but this brings up an experience I once had, over 20 years ago. I knew a crooked mechanic one time that told me they’d disconnect an electrical connection or “bleed out” a little refrigerant from vehicles that came in to have service at their dealership regularly. They’d do it in cold, winter months so it wouldn’t be noticed until much later. Then, in the warmer months the customer would bring it in and they could charge to fix the unit. Quick, easy fix with big $$. He told me this because I was having trouble with mine and my regular servicing dealer wanted a lot to repair it. He bet mine was disconnected somewhere (not serviced at their location). We looked together and surely enough we found a plug, unlocked and pulled apart just enough not to work. Plugged it back in and and worked like a charm. I’ve done about all my own servicing since then.
     
  30. Jun 15, 2021 at 6:46 PM
    #30
    CENAIR

    CENAIR New Member

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    I have been in business for 45 years for commercial Hvac and service many aircraft ac systems
    (which are the same as car ac systems), and the most common points for a refrigerant leak is the
    flexible hoses crimp connections, and compressor shaft seal.

    Techs should pressure test the system with refrigerant and nitrogen to max pressure which is published for the system on the nameplate, and use an electronic leak detector to find the leak and repair it.

    After the leak is found and repaired should be evacuated to 500 microns with a vacuum pump, and let sit to ensure no more rise of more than 100 microns, (600 microns) and after this test can be recharged with a digital scale for the proper refrigerant charge.
     
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