Is it me, or is the A/C in the 3rd Gen not so strong??
#1
Is it me, or is the A/C in the 3rd Gen not so strong??
My A/C just seems to not be that cold at first and it seems to take forever (10 mins) to cool the truck off. It just seems this way especially when you first start it up and drive for the first 2-3 minutes. Don't get me wrong, it gets cold, just it takes forever. I have an '02 and it is clean, so there is nothing blocking the air flow to the condensor. I just was asking to see if my is out of the ordinary. Thanks
Last edited by wsudu; 07-19-2006 at 08:09 AM.
#2
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Shouldn't be. It all depends on how hot the truck is before you start the a/c but it normally does pretty well after a few minutes.
My issue is w/ the occassional bad smell...
My issue is w/ the occassional bad smell...
#4
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Originally Posted by ebelen1
Shouldn't be. It all depends on how hot the truck is before you start the a/c but it normally does pretty well after a few minutes.
My issue is w/ the occassional bad smell...
My issue is w/ the occassional bad smell...
I get the mildew smell in the 4runner AC too, not sure how to cure that.
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Well, I somewhat agree. My AC isn't that strong, but it kicks in pretty quick. The AC in other vehicles I've driven seems to be a lot stronger, I always assumed it was because the runner is 10 years old. Also, that friggen smell, sometimes like dead animals, but more recently smells like dead fish. I do go to college, so it could be a sick joke by one of my friends
Good to know i'm not the only one with smelly AC!
Good to know i'm not the only one with smelly AC!
#6
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mine doesnt seem to be that cold either. on my parents vehicles i can be freezing within minutes, but it never seems to get that way with my car...it gets cold just not real cold.....kinda like the refridgeration in mexico...has anyone tried recharging their ac?
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The AC on my '00 isn't as strong as the one was on my '90. It meets spec, but does take longer to cool the truck down, like you said. It's noticeably worse at idle or very low speed when the engine can't tach up to run the compressor more effeciently. Other than window shades, I don't think there's much we can do.
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#8
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Originally Posted by MTL_4runner
Ditto.....the AC in the 4runner is way colder than my Honda Civic, but the heat in the Civic is better.
I get the mildew smell in the 4runner AC too, not sure how to cure that.
I get the mildew smell in the 4runner AC too, not sure how to cure that.
#10
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In a slight threadjack... I've cleaned my fan. It blows a wee bit stronger now, but I figure it needs to be recharged anyway. I'm pushing 10yrs without having anything done to the AC system. Probably because I don't use it as often as I should. (Sorta like 4WD, I guess -- use it or loose it?)
#11
my ac works very well, has been wel into the 90s lately in Boston and my truck has been very comfortable, though most often I opt for opening all the windows, moon roof and rear window,,,
#13
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You can help the A/C by first rolling down a few windows and relieving the hot air while having the A/C full blast. Make sure the evaporator isn't being covered by paper or a dash mat or any other junk on the passenger side dash. Clean the between the condensor and radiator of any debris either by compressed air or a garden hose. As far as the moldy smell, you will need to take it to a shop and there is a procedure to clean these as to both clean and kill the mold as well as putting in a small blower fan to prevent mold from growing again later.
#15
Originally Posted by Rick F.
It's noticeably worse at idle or very low speed when the engine can't tach up to run the compressor more effeciently.
#17
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Originally Posted by 86SR522REEFI
At work we just get a refresher can and spray it into the intake. Go to the dealer and ask for A/C Intake Refresher.
#18
Hi guys, I'm new to the forum as a poster, but a lurker for a few years. I worked in a Toyota dealer here in western Canada as a Service Advisor for 11 years and am now at another import dealer as a Service Manager for the past 5 years. I am a huge 4runner fan, having previously owned a gen 1, gen2, and now a 2000 3.4 5spd. Anyway, the musty a/c smell mentioned above is often caused by mould in the evaporator. If you start the vehicle, and put the a/c on fresh air intake(not recirc), fan on high, windows down, and spray Lysol aerosol spray into the fresh air intake at the base of the windshield, it will usually kill the smell causing mould until the it develops again down the road. There are many a/c cleaning kits that are a lot more expensive of a fix, but this, I have found, is effective. Just roll the windows down while you're doing this to let the Lysol smell out. One can would do a couple of dozen vehicles. Hope this helps someone!
Last edited by third4runner; 07-19-2006 at 03:30 PM.
#20
never had an issue with mould in my rig, but then again I do live in SoCal....hot and dry most of the year. The AC works very well, considering the interior space it needs to cool down it does take a few minutes. I usually leave the windows down on initail startup then rool up the front one's when cool air develops, afterwards rolling up the back window last. Eventually I have to turn down the theromstat since it gets freezing.......