Okay, everyone hold on to your socks and you better take a seat.....

Hi, my name is Matt, and my A/C doesn't work. I know I know shocking. But it's true.

Got an '85 4Runner SR5 with all the goodies. The A/C however is kaput. I got the truck from the bay area about 6mo. ago and word from previous owner is can't remember when last worked. Sounds like every other early model toy.

Status:
- Condenser: yes it has, functioning unknown
- belt to condenser: yes it has
- "ON" button: yes it has, light works green
- No cold air when on

I'm pretty handy with the mechanical of the truck but the electrical and plumbing escapes me at this point. Just don't get paid enough from uncle sam to fund my home schooling training on the hobby truck.

Can anyone give advise or a good tech write up for "trouble shooting A/C start to finish for dummies?". I don't know where to start. Had a Haynes manual but forgot it in Fallujah. Sure want A/C summer is a coming here in So Cal.

I know 80% of the people here have got the same problem. Let's fix it. Save the A/C!!! You can make a difference. Thanks.

 

See if the clutch engages the compressor when you turn it on. If not, it may be too low on refrigerant. Next, jump the clutch with a hot wire and see if it engages. If it does, you probably just need to add refrigerant and then test for leaks. If it still will not come on, the clutch may have a problem.

Start with determining if your compressor is coming on. The FSM is very helpful- that's how I just fixed mine. I have the link to it, but it is for the next generation of trucks. Maybe someone on here has it for 2nd gen. Good luck.

 

I know my truck's A/C is full of leaks, and proabably not even worth trying to fix....If I gas mine up it'll be cold for a day if that, but otherwise it isn't worth a damn.

 

I have a haynes and a chilton for the first gens, do they usually mirror the fsm pretty close??

 

You probably have a leak somewhere, most likely one of the o-rings. If the clutch is kicking in and out, then you probably have some charge left. There's a pressure switch in the system and if it dosen't sense pressure it won't let the clutch engage. You're going to have to find the leak, pull a vacuum then recharge it. Use R12 if you can find some (it's not cheap!) but don't waste your time with R134A. R134A works ok in a system designed for it because the condensor and evaporator cores are sized for it. R134A is considerably less efficient than R12 so when used with R12 sized components the results will be less than satifactory. Trust me on this, I went through the whole ordeal when I put A/C in my '85 p/u. I have had great results with this stuff: http://www.freeze12.com/ going on 2 yrs now (found it at Pep Boys of all places )---------Hans