A/C Light Flashes - AC Doesnt work - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

jrock80 · 03-17-2006, 06:51 PM

On my 90 Camry when I turn on the a/c it usually works for a while, then after a while of driving especially if you put the gas pedal down more than 3/4 of the way the a/c turns off and then the A/C light on the A/C button starts to flash. It doesnt make any noise or anything else. I had it checked out at the local radiatior/air conditioning shop and they said the system was full of freon, no leaks and that the radiator just needed washed out, it was dirty. They ran the a/c in their shop and it worked perfect. Any ideas?

throwback · 03-17-2006, 08:37 PM

well i can help some by telling you the same thing happened to my moms 2004 highlander. i took it to toyota and they said that it was from rain that gets in to the system and it should go away eventually. As they told me that, the next day it went away.

jrock80 · 03-17-2006, 09:03 PM

This doesnt happen when it is wet or dry. Just happens sometimes after you run it for a while or drive it hard sometimes.

jrock80 · 03-18-2006, 05:26 PM

I dont know what to do. I dont want to start just replacing parts.

***eyeball96*** · 03-18-2006, 05:34 PM

Why are you running the a/c at the end of winter in Erie Pa??

Wait till its warmer and see what happens then

Its been a mild winter....but not that mild....you that hot?

JetspeedCamry · 03-18-2006, 05:40 PM

A/C light flashing means there is a problem with the AC system. Could be the idle up VSV, could be the compressor. Full of gas is it?

dna59 · 03-18-2006, 07:29 PM

I know when I had my first camry, when the a/c light was flashing it was because I had to vacuum out the system and recharge it.

tarbasd · 03-18-2006, 07:32 PM

Started in the same way for me. In a few weeks the compressor started to seize up. My guess is that in my case, the compressor started to give up, so it stopped turning sometimes and clutch turned the system on.

But as it was said before, it can be anything. Flashing light only means there is a problem.

jrock80 · 03-19-2006, 10:25 AM

I run the a/c sometimes to help when the windows get fogged up. Plus I have always been in the habit of running the a/c once in a while in the winter anyway, it helps keep the system lubricated. This way the a/c hasnt been sitting for months unused. I am hoping its not the compressor, that sounds expensive, especially with the old type of freon in there.

The Car Newbie · 03-19-2006, 12:50 PM

it could your freon. sometimes if a cooling system doesnt have enough freon then it will work for a little bit then not work. most cars now use R34 Freon

jrock80 · 03-19-2006, 07:42 PM

I had the freon checked, it was full and had good pressure. So its not that.

Mike Gerber · 03-20-2006, 03:33 PM

Check the tension on the a/c belt and the condition of the belt itself. Is it glazed? If the belt slips, it will turn the compressor off and the light will flash. I had this problem on an 86 (generation 1), once in a while during heavy rain storms. It seemed that water would get on the belt and pulley combination and cause it to slip. The compressor would shut down and the light would start flashing. The fix for me was to stop and shut the car off and restart it and turn back on the a/c. It only happened about once a year, so I never really bothered changing out my belt.

Mike

gideon1331 · 03-20-2006, 03:44 PM

I know in my mom's Avalon the belt was stretching out and just loose enough to slip a little when the gas was punched and it would ocassionally make the light flash. It has also had the issue in heavy rain if enough is splashed up underneath the car. Hopefully its a similar problem as a new/tightened belt is an easy fix.

Digger1 · 05-21-2006, 10:42 PM

Sorry, but the only experience I have w/ this type of problem was w/ my 1985 Camry (w/ the I4).

The A/C light was blinking when I tried to run the A/C. I had to install a new RPM sensor into the compressor. It was a PIA, since the system needed to be opened.

marc780 · 05-21-2006, 11:07 PM

What Mike G. said, check the belt. Maybe it is loose or slipping or worn out. What makes me say that is you mentioned it varied with gas pedal postion, which indicates to me engine speed difference, and the A/c compressor is driven by the engine..so it might just be a belt problem

Also try cleaning the front of the radiator fins and the evaporator (which is sort of like a mini radiator in design). Maybe they are full of dirt. Blow them out from behind with low-pressure water or air. if they are clooged with dirt this could interefere with their operation, for sure.